Question

Question
Read this passage from "The Stone":

Maibon tried now to pound the stone to dust with his heaviest mallet, but he could not so much as knock a chip from it. He put it against his grindstone without so much as scratching it. He set it on his anvil and belabored it with hammer and tongs, all to no avail.

How does Maibon most likely feel after he "belabored it with hammer and tongs, all to no avail"?

Responses

upset because he has injured himself with the tools
upset because he has injured himself with the tools

relieved because the stone is still in one piece

proud because the magic is stronger than his tools

tired because he has worked hard to try to destroy the stone

Answer 1

The most likely feeling Maibon experiences after he "belabored it with hammer and tongs, all to no avail" is **tired because he has worked hard to try to destroy the stone**. The passage suggests that he put in significant effort using various tools without achieving his goal, indicating physical exhaustion from the labor.