Question

Read the excerpt from "Fern” in Cane.

She sprang up. Rushed some distance from me. Fell to her knees, and began swaying, swaying.

Which best describes Toomer’s use of syntax in this excerpt?

The use of short sentences suggests that the narrator feels close to Fern.
The use of sentence fragments emphasizes the narrator’s feeling of urgency.
The use of simple sentences suggests the narrator cannot think clearly.
The use of short sentence fragments emphasizes the speed of Fern’s actions.

Answer 1

The use of short sentence fragments emphasizes the speed of Fern’s actions. The abrupt, clipped lines mirror her quick, jerky movements.