Use paragraphs 8–10 from “The Interlopers” to answer the question.

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.

Answer 1

The men's situation creates tension and mystery in the story by trapping them under a tree, leaving their fates uncertain. The conversation adds to the tension and mystery as they accuse each other of trespassing on their land, hinting at a long-standing feud between the two families. Evidence from the paragraphs includes the line, "This feud is between you and me. So far as I can see it's a little difficult to arrange a meeting." Additionally, the line, "The old man, motionless, made no sign of reply; the pressure of their position was building up too much for speech," suggests that their dire circumstances are adding to the suspense and mystique of the story.