The Man Without a

Question

Country
by Hackett, Walter (adaptation)
NARRATOR: Four more years passed, and Nolan's requests for news of his native land continued to be denied. His newspapers were scissored, his books censored. One evening he went up on deck of the ship he then called "home," where there was a small gathering of officers. Nolan approached them.
NOLAN: Please, don't let me disturb your conversation.
3RD OFFICER: We were just reading aloud.. it helps pass the time.
NOLAN: What an excellent idea! What are you reading?
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Use the scene to answer the question.
How does the playwright develop the mood in this scene?
(1 point)
The mood is joyful in the beginning of the scene,
• but as the scene goes on the mood becomes depressed.
The mood is calm in the beginning of the scene, but as the scene goes on the mood becomes sorrowful.
The mood is tense in the beginning of the scene, but as the scene goes on the mood becomes aggressive.
The mood is awkward in the beginning of the scene,
• but as the scene goes on the mood becomes haunted.

Answer 1

The playwright develops the mood in this scene by creating a calm atmosphere at the beginning when Nolan approaches the officers and shows interest in their reading. However, as the scene progresses and the context of Nolan's situation—having been denied news of his homeland and the emotional toll it takes on him—is revealed, the mood becomes sorrowful. Therefore, the correct answer is:

The mood is calm in the beginning of the scene, but as the scene goes on the mood becomes sorrowful.