Question

Read the excerpt from H. G. Wells's The War of the Worlds.

There were raised voices, and some sort of struggle appeared to be going on about the pit. Strange imaginings passed through my mind. As I drew nearer I heard Stent's voice:

"Keep back! Keep back!"

A boy came running towards me.

"It's a-movin'," he said to me as he passed; "a-screwin' and a-screwin' out. I don't like it. I'm a-goin' 'ome, I am."

I went on to the crowd. There were really, I should think, two or three hundred people elbowing and jostling one another, the one or two ladies there being by no means the least active.

How does the author use tone to create an aesthetic impact in the excerpt?

A: through vivid adjectives
B: through tense dialogue
C: through expert testimony
D: through background information

Answer 1

The author uses tone to create an aesthetic impact in the excerpt primarily through **B: through tense dialogue**. The dialogue, including the raised voices and the urgency in the boy's statement ("It's a-movin'," and "I don't like it. I'm a-goin' 'ome, I am."), contributes to a sense of tension and unease. This creates an atmosphere of anxiety and anticipation among the crowd, enhancing the dramatic effect of the scene. The interaction and strained exchanges reflect the chaos and fear present, which engages the reader emotionally.