Question
At last, late in the day, they heard a bellowing, low and faint as though far away. They listened and soon heard it again, a little louder and very fierce and dreadful.
"It is he! it is he!" cried Theseus; "and now for the fight!"
Then he shouted, so loudly that the walls of the Labyrinth answered back, and the sound was carried upward to the sky and outward to the rocks and cliffs of the mountains. The Minotaur heard him, and his bellowings grew louder and fiercer every moment.
"He is coming!" cried Theseus, and he ran forward to meet the beast. The seven maidens shrieked, but tried to stand up bravely and face their fate; and the six young men stood together with firm-set teeth and clinched fists, ready to fight to the last.
Soon the Minotaur came into view, rushing down the passage towards Theseus, and roaring most terribly. He was twice as tall as a man, and his head was like that of a bull with huge sharp horns and fiery eyes and a mouth as large as a lion's; but the young men could not see the lower part of his body for the cloud of dust which he raised in running. When he saw Theseus with the sword in his hand coming to meet him, he paused, for no one had ever faced him in that way before. Then he put his head down, and rushed forward, bellowing. But Theseus leaped quickly aside, and made a sharp thrust with his sword as he passed, and hewed off one of the monster's legs above the knee.
–“The Cruel Tribute,”
James Baldwin
Explain how the author creates the suspenseful moment when the Minotaur arrives. Use the passage if you need to review the story’s climax.
"It is he! it is he!" cried Theseus; "and now for the fight!"
Then he shouted, so loudly that the walls of the Labyrinth answered back, and the sound was carried upward to the sky and outward to the rocks and cliffs of the mountains. The Minotaur heard him, and his bellowings grew louder and fiercer every moment.
"He is coming!" cried Theseus, and he ran forward to meet the beast. The seven maidens shrieked, but tried to stand up bravely and face their fate; and the six young men stood together with firm-set teeth and clinched fists, ready to fight to the last.
Soon the Minotaur came into view, rushing down the passage towards Theseus, and roaring most terribly. He was twice as tall as a man, and his head was like that of a bull with huge sharp horns and fiery eyes and a mouth as large as a lion's; but the young men could not see the lower part of his body for the cloud of dust which he raised in running. When he saw Theseus with the sword in his hand coming to meet him, he paused, for no one had ever faced him in that way before. Then he put his head down, and rushed forward, bellowing. But Theseus leaped quickly aside, and made a sharp thrust with his sword as he passed, and hewed off one of the monster's legs above the knee.
–“The Cruel Tribute,”
James Baldwin
Explain how the author creates the suspenseful moment when the Minotaur arrives. Use the passage if you need to review the story’s climax.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
In the passage, James Baldwin effectively creates a suspenseful moment when the Minotaur arrives through a combination of vivid imagery, the reactions of the characters, and the buildup of sound that signals the beast's approach.
1. **Imagery and Description**: Baldwin paints a vivid picture of the Minotaur as a terrifying creature, describing it with phrases like "twice as tall as a man," "head was like that of a bull," and "fiery eyes." The description of the beast as having "huge sharp horns" and "a mouth as large as a lion's" adds to the horror, making the reader visualize a formidable opponent. This detailed portrayal sets the stage for the battle, amplifying tension.
2. **Character Reactions**: The reactions of Theseus and the other characters contribute significantly to the suspense. Theseus's cry of "now for the fight!" indicates determination, yet his urgency reveals the gravity of the situation. The seven maidens shrieking but trying to appear brave highlights the fear in the air, while the six young men stand with "firm-set teeth and clinched fists," showcasing their resolve in the face of impending danger. This mix of bravery and fear enhances the atmosphere of dread.
3. **Sound and Build-Up**: The repeated description of the Minotaur's bellowing—first low and faint, then growing "louder and fiercer every moment"—creates an auditory build-up that signals the imminent arrival of the monster. The tension escalates as the sounds echo through the Labyrinth, making it clear that something monstrous is approaching.
4. **Immediate Conflict**: When the Minotaur finally appears, the moment is charged with action. The pause before it rushes at Theseus signifies that this is an unprecedented encounter, underscoring the danger. Theseus’s quick reflexes to leap aside and strike the beast encapsulate the intensity of the moment, bringing the conflict to a climax.
Overall, Baldwin's use of descriptive language, character emotional responses, and the escalating sound of the Minotaur crafts a suspenseful scene that grips the reader's attention and sets the stage for the confrontation between Theseus and the monster.
1. **Imagery and Description**: Baldwin paints a vivid picture of the Minotaur as a terrifying creature, describing it with phrases like "twice as tall as a man," "head was like that of a bull," and "fiery eyes." The description of the beast as having "huge sharp horns" and "a mouth as large as a lion's" adds to the horror, making the reader visualize a formidable opponent. This detailed portrayal sets the stage for the battle, amplifying tension.
2. **Character Reactions**: The reactions of Theseus and the other characters contribute significantly to the suspense. Theseus's cry of "now for the fight!" indicates determination, yet his urgency reveals the gravity of the situation. The seven maidens shrieking but trying to appear brave highlights the fear in the air, while the six young men stand with "firm-set teeth and clinched fists," showcasing their resolve in the face of impending danger. This mix of bravery and fear enhances the atmosphere of dread.
3. **Sound and Build-Up**: The repeated description of the Minotaur's bellowing—first low and faint, then growing "louder and fiercer every moment"—creates an auditory build-up that signals the imminent arrival of the monster. The tension escalates as the sounds echo through the Labyrinth, making it clear that something monstrous is approaching.
4. **Immediate Conflict**: When the Minotaur finally appears, the moment is charged with action. The pause before it rushes at Theseus signifies that this is an unprecedented encounter, underscoring the danger. Theseus’s quick reflexes to leap aside and strike the beast encapsulate the intensity of the moment, bringing the conflict to a climax.
Overall, Baldwin's use of descriptive language, character emotional responses, and the escalating sound of the Minotaur crafts a suspenseful scene that grips the reader's attention and sets the stage for the confrontation between Theseus and the monster.