Answer to Question #220048 in English for Neineo

Question

What two possible meaning can be attached to the sentence. "The breezes of the West African night were intimate and shy? (Line 1)

Answer 1

"The breezes of the West African night were intimate and shy" can have two possible meanings.

1. It could mean the night breezes hit the writer very gently and lightly. "Intimate" means quite warm and friendly while "shy" means reserved. Thus, the breezes blew slowly and in a friendly manner.
2. It could mean the writer was familiar with night breezes of the West African night and had a close and personal relationship with them. "Intimate" also means of a close or personal nature. This meaning is supported by the rest of the text "licking the hair, sweeping through cotton dresses with unseemly intimacy."

"The breezes of the West African night were intimate and shy" can have two possible meanings. It could mean the night breezes hit the writer very gently and lightly. "Intimate" means quite warm and friendly while "shy" means reserved. Thus, the breezes blew slowly and in a friendly manner.