Question

The Crow-Child
by Mary Mapes Dodge Use the story to answer the question.

In 3–5 sentences, draw conclusions about how the author’s use of sensory language affects the mood of the story. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Answer 1

Mary Mapes Dodge uses vivid sensory details to shape a mood that moves between bleakness and tenderness. Visual and auditory images—the crow’s dark, glossy feathers and harsh caw, the cold, quiet landscape—create a lonely, mysterious tone. By contrast, tactile and warm sensory details—the heat of a hearth, the softness of a comforting touch, the smell of food—bring moments of safety and compassion. The contrast between these sensory impressions makes the story feel both stark and consoling, so the reader experiences the child’s hardship alongside growing hope.