We are as clouds that veil the midnight moon;
how restlessly they speed, and gleam, and quiver,
streaking the darkness radiantly! —yet soon
night closes round, and they are lost for ever:

by contrasting "darkness” with "radiantly,” shelley :

-emphasizes that although life is fleeting, it is exciting.
-compares the spark of creativity to the enduring night sky.
-introduces the idea that people are destined to live life in darkness.
-explains that people are permanent, bright fixtures like the heavens.

emphasizes that although life is fleeting, it is exciting.

In this passage, Shelley compares people to clouds that appear at night. He states that these clouds pass through the darkness of the night, streaking it radiantly for a second, before they disappear forever. The metaphor is intended to reference human life. Just like the clouds, human life is brief. And for the moment that it lasts, it is radiant and exciting. However, it is soon over, swallowed by the darkness.

the word that best matches the meaning of the expression "went to the big ocean" is died.

the goldfish died, which is why the father looks at the children mournfully. the "big ocean" is the father's way of saying fish heaven. he could have just said that the goldfish died, but this way, the children imagine the fish in a bigger, better place instead of just picturing a dead fish.

explanation: