The correct answer is 3. Shelley because this comparison comes from Percy Bysshe Shelley's essay "A Defence of Poetry" (1821). In this work, Shelley uses the metaphor of a "fading coal" to describe the mind in the process of creation, particularly poetic creation. The passage reads:
"The mind in creation is as a fading coal, which some invisible influence, like an inconstant wind, awakens to transitory brightness."
This imagery reflects the fleeting and ephemeral nature of inspiration and creativity, likening the poetic mind to a dying ember that can briefly glow with brilliance when rekindled. This metaphor is central to Shelley's romantic vision of the creative process, emphasizing its unpredictability and the necessity of an external spark or influence.
Year-wise PYQs
