Question

What does the word “shells” figuratively stand for?
A.ruins of a destroyed building
B.the soul rising to life
C.remains of a human corpse
D.eggshells after a bird hatches

Answer 1

Read these lines from “Death” by George Herbert.

Death, thou wast once an uncouth hideous thing,
Nothing but bones,
The sad effect of sadder groans:
Thy mouth was open, but thou couldst not sing.

For we considered thee as at some six
Or ten years hence,
After the loss of life and sense,
Flesh being turned to dust, and bones to sticks.

We looked on this side of thee, shooting short;
Where we did find
The shells of fledge souls left behind,
Dry dust, which sheds no tears, but may extort.
(from "Death" by George Herbert)