Question

Part 1: Narrative Techniques to Develop Plot, Characters, and
Setting
Read the passage below and answer the questions:
Passage:
Lucy crept quietly through the dark forest, her heart pounding. The trees
seemed to close in around her, and the distant hoot of an owl sent
shivers down her spine. Suddenly, a soft rustling sound came from the
bushes nearby, making her freeze in place.
Questions:
1. What narrative technique is used to show Lucy’s feelings and build
suspense in the story?
2. How does the description of the forest help develop the setting?
3. What do the sounds and Lucy’s reactions tell you about the plot at
this moment?

Answer 1

1. The passage uses close third-person focalization with sensory detail — "show, don't tell." Instead of naming emotions, the narrator shows Lucy’s feelings through physical reactions (heart pounding, shivers, freezing) and short, tense action verbs ("crept," "freeze"), which builds suspense.

2. The forest is described with dark, enclosing imagery and personification ("trees seemed to close in"), plus night sounds (owl) — this establishes a claustrophobic, eerie setting and the time (night), making the scene feel isolated and threatening.

3. The rustling and Lucy’s fearful reactions signal rising danger and imminent conflict: something or someone is nearby, and the plot is moving into a suspenseful moment where Lucy may be discovered or must confront whatever is in the bushes.