The forest lands of Gradwitz were of wide extent and well stocked with game; the narrow strip of precipitous woodland that lay on its outskirt was not remarkable for the game it harboured or the shooting it afforded, but it was the most jealously guarded of all its owner’s territorial possessions. A famous law suit, in the days of his grandfather, had wrested it from the illegal possession of a neighbouring family of petty landowners; the dispossessed party had never acquiesced in the judgment of the Courts, and a long series of poaching affrays and similar scandals had embittered the relationships between the families for three generations.

Question

The forest lands of Gradwitz were of wide extent and well stocked with game; the narrow strip of precipitous woodland that lay on its outskirt was not remarkable for the game it harboured or the shooting it afforded, but it was the most jealously guarded of all its owner’s territorial possessions. A famous law suit, in the days of his grandfather, had wrested it from the illegal possession of a neighbouring family of petty landowners; the dispossessed party had never acquiesced in the judgment of the Courts, and a long series of poaching affrays and similar scandals had embittered the relationships between the families for three generations.
Question
Use the passage to answer the question.

Analyze the author’s use of the words precipitous and embittered. What tone do these words convey?

(1 point)

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The author’s use of the word "precipitous" conveys a sense of steepness and danger, suggesting that the woodland is rugged and possibly difficult to navigate. This choice of word contributes to a tone of tension and foreboding, implying that the forest is not just a physical landscape but also a site of conflict and struggle.

The word "embittered" reflects deep-seated resentment and bitterness over the longstanding feud between the families. It evokes emotional intensity and suggests that the relationships have been irreparably damaged by the decades of animosity and conflict. This word choice adds a tone of hostility and unresolved conflict to the narrative.

Overall, the use of "precipitous" and "embittered" conveys a tone of danger and animosity, highlighting the fraught history and ongoing rivalry between the families over the land.