Yagub Naghiyev
He saw nothing but sensed blue, cold blue-green, and he raked at the seatbelt catch, tore his nails loose on one hand. He ripped at it until it released and somehow—the water trying to kill him, to end him— somehow he pulled himself out of the shattered front window and clawed up into the blue, felt something hold him back, felt his windbreaker tear and he was free. Tearing free. Ripping free. But so far! So far to the surface and his lungs could not do this thing, could not hold and were through, and he sucked water, took a great pull of water that would—finally—win, finally take him, and his head broke into light What do "rake at", "rip at", "claw", "Tearing free. Ripping free", and "take" mean here?
Feb 19, 2023 6:30 AM
Answers · 2
Invitee
1
Hello! :) 1. rake at = rake is a gardening tool with a row of metal teeth at the end of a long handle. To use this tool is "to rake". The person is doing the same motion with his fingers. "at" indicates motion towards. 2. rip at = He is struggling very hard. He is not ripping anything, but he is making motions with his hands, as if he is ripping something. He is ripping "towards" the thing. 3. Claw = When an animal uses its claw, the verb is "to claw." A person can do the same action: "to claw." It's kind of a poetic use of the verb. It means that the person is using the hand, but in a simple, aggressive way. 4. tearing free/ ripping free = It's rather poetic. He's "tearing" himself from the difficult situation. Because of his tearing, he is becoming free. 5. take = Here, the verb "to take" means "to kill." It means "to take his life." I hope it helps! :)
February 19, 2023
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