Make a list of three or four current, or at least recent, public figures that have “flown too close to the sun.” Who strove for something and failed, but did not live a long and dreary life? Explain the specific comparison you saw between Icarus and each person.

Bill Carradine springs to mind, he certainly flew too close to something.

Anyway, a bit of thought would have led you to the conclusion that a question about recent deaths probably does not belong in mythology and folklore even if you happen to mention a myth in the question.

Explanation:

d. it compares the speaker reflection to a predatory bird that haunts the speaker

see explanation.

explanation:

1. buoyant: happy and confident (e)

2. euphoric: in a state of great happiness (a)

3. jubilant: having a feeling of great happiness and excitement (b)

4. rapturous: feeling or expressing great joy (d)

*note that the difference in 1-4 can be shown by signal words such as "in a state of" for the term "euphoric," as "euphoric" would describe a state of euphoria.

5. untroubled: calm and tranquil (c)

6. cajole: to talk coaxingly and flatteringly (i)

7. harangue: to express oneself at considerable length (h)

8. quibble: to evade the truth of the point at issue by arguing over trifles (g)

9. whine: to complain in a childish, fretful manner and in a nasal tone (j)

10. rant: to talk bombastically (f)