Question

Read the excerpt from a creative nonfiction assignment.

The dog trotted behind me as I hiked through the woods. A dog is a loyal companion, I thought to myself, even when the person it's loyal to is a total stranger. Up ahead, I saw my old friend, Lake Tasika. I looked at the dog. He looked at me, tail waving. I looked at the lake. It looked back at me. "Jump in,” it said in cool laps against the bank, though I’d never jumped in before. "Why not?” I said aloud to the dog. The dog barked his affirmation, though I was no expert on the meaning behind dog barks. I dropped my pack and ran.

How does the author’s use of parallelism contribute to the mood of the excerpt?

It creates an eager mood by repeating actions taken and observed by the narrator.
It creates an annoyed mood by showing how the narrator views the dog as a nuisance.
It creates a serene mood by emphasizing the solace and joy the lake provides to the narrator.
It creates a lonely mood by imitating an echo sometimes found near a remote mountain lake

Answer 1

It creates a serene mood by emphasizing the solace and joy the lake provides to the narrator.

Explanation: The repeated short clauses ("I looked at the dog. He looked at me... I looked at the lake. It looked back at me.") slow the pace and create a reflective, mirror-like rhythm. The personification of the lake and the quiet exchange with the dog emphasize companionship and calm invitation rather than annoyance or loneliness.