What is the meaning of the simile “a bright girdle” in this excerpt from “dover beach” by matthew arnold?

the sea of faith
was once, too, at the full, and round earth's shore
lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled.
but now i only hear
its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,
retreating, to the breath

In the story "a very old man with enormous wings", why does the young girl get changed into a spider?

[v]ast numbers of our people are compelled to seek their livelihood by begging, robbing, stealing, cheating, flattering, suborning, forswearing, forging . . which satirical element is most dominant in the passage above?

Read the excerpt below and answer the question. nice town, y'know what i mean? nobody very remarkable ever come out of it, s'far as we know. the earliest tombstones in the cemetery up there on the mountain say 1670-1680-they're grovers and cartwrights and gibbses and herseys-same names as are around here now. in at least one hundred words, discuss the significance of the stage manager's narration in our town. analyze the text in terms of its tone, word choice, and meaning. what purpose does this narration serve in the play?