Asked by julie

Read the excerpt from "Surrendering” by Ocean Vuong.

After a few days, the poem appeared as gray graphite words. The paper a white flag. I had surrendered, had written.

How does the author’s use of short sentences affect the tone of the excerpt?

It contributes to a regretful tone.
It contributes to a sentimental tone.
It contributes to a relieved tone.

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
It contributes to a relieved tone.

The short, clipped sentences emphasize finality and release — “The paper a white flag. I had surrendered, had written.” — making surrender feel like acceptance and relief rather than lingering regret or overt sentimentality.