Question

When she had finished her work, wiped down the table, dusted the mantelpiece and put the plates on the high dresser close to the wooden clock with its loud tick-tock, she drew a long breath, as she felt rather oppressed, without exactly knowing why. She looked at the black clay walls, the rafters that were blackened with smoke and from which hung spiders' webs, smoked herrings and strings of onions, and then she sat down, rather overcome by the stale odor from the earthen floor, on which so many things had been continually spilled and which the heat brought out. With this there was mingled the sour smell of the pans of milk which were set out to raise the cream in the adjoining dairy. "The Story of a Farm Girl" by Guy de Maupassant Use the passage below to answer the question. How does the author's development of the setting help a reader better understand the main character? (1 point)
The description of the sour smell of milk helps the reader unders tand that the main charac ter is irresponsible in caring for her chores The description of the dusted mantle piece helps the reader unders tand that the main charac ter likes things to look expen sive. The description of the wooden clock and the loud noise it makes helps the reader understand that the main character is sensitive to sounds. The description of the eerie home helps the reader unders tand why the main character feels oppressed.

Answer 1

The description of the eerie home helps the reader understand why the main character feels oppressed. The imagery of the black clay walls, smoke-damaged rafters, and stale odors creates an atmosphere that is heavy and uncomfortable. This setting reflects the character's emotional state, revealing her sense of confinement and unease in her environment.