(1) In “The Landlady,” Roald Dahl masterfully builds suspense for readers.
(2) The seventeen-year-old finds a place to stay at a Bed and Breakfast owned by a peculiar proprietor. (3) Dahl starts building suspense immediately when Billy meets her. (4) The author initially gives readers subtle clues that something is amiss by the way the woman immediately answers the door and the unusually cheap rate she charges.
(5) Dahl continues to build suspense with subtle clues, such as the time Billy thinks he recognizes the name of one of the former guests after reading the guestbook: “That’s funny, they thought suddenly.” (6) Christopher Mulholland. (6) It rings a bell. (7) Now where on earth had he heard that unusual name before?”
(8) Eventually, Dahl’s subtle clues become flashing warning signs before Billy begins to understand he is in a troublesome situation. (9) Billy wonders aloud “Wait just a minute. Mulholland . . . Christopher Mulholland . . . wasn’t that the name of the Eton schoolboy who was on a walking-tour through the West Country, and then all of a sudden . . .” (10) The innkeeper’s creepy stuffed dog, strange-smelling tea and claim that she hasn’t had a guest in three years, make Billy even more suspicious.
(11) Dahl skillfully will maintain the suspense through the end of the story as he left readers wondering about the ultimate fate of Billy Weaver.
Multiple Choice Question
Which revision to sentence 1 (reproduced below) adds details that are most essential to the essay "A Suspenseful Lesson"?
In “The Landlady,” Roald Dahl masterfully builds suspense for readers.
A.
In “The Landlady,” Roald Dahl masterfully builds suspense for readers as his protagonist, Billy Weaver, realizes he has entered a harrowing situation.
B.
In “The Landlady,” Roald Dahl masterfully builds suspense for readers as Billy begins to understand his predicament.
C.
In “The Landlady,” Roald Dahl masterfully builds suspense for readers as a main character tries to get out of a bad situation.
D.
In “The Landlady,” Roald Dahl masterfully builds suspense for readers as Billy Weaver, in an interesting twist, finds a place to spend the night.
1 answer
A. In “The Landlady,” Roald Dahl masterfully builds suspense for readers as his protagonist, Billy Weaver, realizes he has entered a harrowing situation.
This option adds essential details about the protagonist, Billy Weaver, and emphasizes the tension of the situation he finds himself in, aligning well with the overall theme of suspense in the essay.
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