How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #1
[...] He emerges
[...]
and nervously begins to scale the faces of the buildings. (11-13)
We can't help but to admire how the Man-Moth gets right down to business here. Just diving right in is one way to get over his anxiety.
Quote #3
he climbs fearfully, thinking that this time he will manage
to push his small head through that round clean opening
and be forced through, as from a tube, in black scrolls on the light. (19-21)
No wonder he's so ambitious; the end results sound so graceful and magical.
Quote #4
(Man, standing below him, has no such illusions.) (22)
This refers back to line 6-8. Is Man better off without these illusions, or is he missing out on some depth in his life?
Quote #5
But what the Man-Moth fears most he must do, although
he fails, of course, and falls back scared but quite unhurt. (23-24)
The Man-Moth is dreaming the impossible dream. He fails because it's impossible, but his failures don't bother him a bit. He gets up, dusts himself off, and goes about his business.