What is the main topic of the conversations between Paula and eva

Which two passages in this excerpt from the death of ivan illych does leo tolstoy use to suggest that ivan ilych feels like his life is slipping away from him? "what's the use? it makes no difference," he said to himself, staring with wide-open eyes into the darkness. "death. yes, death. and none of them knows or wishes to know it, and they have no pity for me. now they are playing." (he heard through the door the distant sound of a song and its accompaniment.) "it's all the same to them, but they will die too! fools! i first, and they later, but it will be the same for them. and now they are merry . . the beasts! " anger choked him and he was agonizingly, unbearably miserable. "it is impossible that all men have been doomed to suffer this awful horror! " he raised himself. "something must be wrong. i must calm myself—must think it all over from the beginning." and he again began thinking. "yes, the beginning of my illness: i knocked my side, but i was still quite well that day and the next. it hurt a little, then rather more. i saw the doctors, then followed despondency and anguish, more doctors, and i drew nearer to the abyss. my strength grew less and i kept coming nearer and nearer, and now i have wasted away and there is no light in my eyes.

In the poem, collins compares his love to a pigeon on a generals head

Which line from the story of my life by helen keller is an example of a simile? during the whole trip i did not have one fit of temper, there were so many things to keep my mind and fingers busy. i was like that ship before my education began, only i was without compass or sounding-line, and had no way of knowing how near the harbour was. one day, while i was playing with my new doll, miss sullivan put my big rag doll into my lap also, spelled "d-o-l-l" and tried to make me understand that "d-o-l-l" applied to both. child as i was, i at once felt the tenderness and sympathy which endeared dr. bell to so many hearts, as his wonderful achievements enlist their admiration.