The tension in the excerpt arises from the men’s hostile dialogue and the precariousness of their situation. Each man threatens the other, highlighting their desperate circumstances as they realize that not only are they trapped, but they also face an imminent threat from the arrival of their respective men. Ulrich’s remark about wishing Georg’s men would find him dead under the beech tree escalates the stakes, creating a sense of impending conflict and suspense in the story. This is evident when Ulrich retorts, "When my men come to release us you will wish, perhaps, that you were in a better plight," showcasing their mutual animosity and the tension surrounding their fates.
Studying Literary Text Unit Test
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“I’m caught in my own forest-land,” retorted Ulrich. “When my men come to release us you will wish, perhaps, that you were in a better plight than caught poaching on a neighbour’s land, shame on you.”
Georg was silent for a moment; then he answered quietly:
“Are you sure that your men will find much to release? I have men, too, in the forest to-night, close behind me, and THEY will be here first and do the releasing. When they drag me out from under these damned branches it won’t need much clumsiness on their part to roll this mass of trunk right over on the top of you. Your men will find you dead under a fallen beech tree. For form’s sake I shall send my condolences to your family.”
Question
Use paragraphs 8–10 from “The Interlopers” to answer the question.
In this excerpt, two men are trapped under a tree and accuse each other of trespassing on their land. How do the men’s situation and conversation create tension and mystery in the story? In 1-2 sentences, support your ideas with evidence from the paragraph.
(2 points)
Short Answer Rubric (2 points)
Points Awarded Criteria
2
The answer is very clear.
The answer is fully supported by details.
There may be a few errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics. Errors do not interfere with meaning.
1
The answer is somewhat clear.
Details are weak or not related.
There are some errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics. Errors interfere with meaning.
0 The question is not answered.
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1 answer