What is the meaning of the oxymoron courageous retreat in this excerpt? the firefighters were stuck.
they had given all they could to prevent the fire from spreading, but they were having little success. and the fire was closing in around them. to avoid possible casualties, the firefighters made a courageous retreat out of harm’s way.
a. because the two words are opposites, together they emphasize the idea that the firefighters are heroes.
b. although the two words are opposites, together they convey the idea that the firefighters’ decision to retreat is justified.
c. although the two words are opposites, together they convey the idea that the firefighters acted selfishly.
d. because the two words are opposites, together they emphasize the idea that the firefighters’ decision to retreat is suspicious.

Select the correct text in the passage. which part of this excerpt from homer's odyssey uses an epic simile? the king himself the vases ranged with care; then bade his followers to the feast prepare. a victim ox beneath the sacred hand of great alcinous falls, and stains the sand. to jove the eternal (power above all powers! who wings the winds, and darkens heaven with showers) the flames ascend: till evening they prolong the rites, more sacred made by heavenly song; for in the midst, with public honours graced, thy lyre divine, demodocus! was placed. all, but ulysses, heard with fix'd delight; he sate, and eyed the sun, and wish’d the night; slow seem’d the sun to move, the hours to roll, his native home deep-imaged in his soul. as the tired ploughman, spent with stubborn toil, whose oxen long have torn the furrow'd soil, sees with delight the sun's declining ray, when home with feeble knees he bends his way to late repast (the day's hard labour done); so to ulysses welcome set the sun; then instant to alcinous and the rest (the scherian states) he turn’d, and thus address'd: "o thou, the first in merit and command! and you the peers and princes of the land! may every joy be yours! nor this the least, when due libation shall have crown'd the feast,