" of the eagles, and the "wings" of
the eagles hovering above are an omen of the
coming disaster which is to overtake "the
gilded eagles of France" below.

What is described in the next paragraph? The
"voice" from the "heights".

How does the author make this paragraph
impressive? As he wishes to indicate the
critical moment, he still uses the present
tense, direct narration, short sentences,
exclamation, and interrogation; he suggests,
through a mysterious voice far up the heights,
that supernatural agents are at work. The army,
in its helpless length, is compared to an
"uncoiled serpent".

What is the subject of the next paragraph? The
destruction of the entire army.

How is this ruin accomplished? Unseen in the
heights above, the Tyrolese peasantry hurl down
rocks, roots, and trunks of pine trees, as well
as sending a "deadly hail" from their rifles
along the "whole line" of the defenceless army
below.

Notice the richness of detail. What words help
to make the description of their destruction
more vivid? "Bounding", "thundering",
"gathering speed", "headlong way", "launched
down", "powerless foe", "deadly hail", "fearful
storm", "crushed to death", "tumbled, horse and
man, into the choked and swollen river".

Notice the contrast of this paragraph with the
picture in the second paragraph of this vision
of the gallant invading army.

What is the subject of the last paragraph? The
reflections of the author.

Of what does he speak? Of the wonders and
beauties of creation and the sad power that man
possesses of spoiling and staining these
wonders by giving rein to his own "evil
ambitions and fierce revenges".

How has he emphasized this? By the use of
exclamation, question, ellipses, and the
mention of the "serpent" as the symbol of evil.

How does the interrogative form of the sentence
give it vividness? Contrast the effect of
saying, "Who would willingly linger on the
hideous details?" with "No one would willingly
linger", etc. The author does not expect an
answer, he throws the sentence into the
question form fo