In “Excerpt from 100 Days and 99 Nights,” what effect does the children saying “Sir, yes, sir!” in paragraph 6 have on the story’s tone? Use two details from the story to support your response.

Answer 1

The children saying "Sir, yes, sir!" in paragraph 6 of "Excerpt from 100 Days and 99 Nights" adds a militaristic and authoritarian tone to the story. This can be seen in two ways. Firstly, it suggests that the school environment is regimented and highly structured, with students expected to follow orders unquestioningly. Secondly, it highlights the power dynamics between the students and the teachers, with the latter being positioned as authority figures who are in complete control.

This tone is also evident in other parts of the story. For instance, when the narrator describes the teacher's "steel-toed boots" in paragraph 3, it emphasizes the teacher's power and the sense of fear she instills in her students. Likewise, when the narrator describes the classroom as being "like a dungeon" in paragraph 2, it creates a further sense of confinement and control. Together, these details contribute to the overall militaristic and authoritarian tone of the story.