Which excerpt from "The Adventure of the Mysterious Picture" conveys the eerie tone of the passage?

Question

The uneasiness of my position made my slumber troubled, and laid me at the mercy of all kinds of wild and fearful dreams.
I was hag-ridden by a fat saddle of mutton; a plum pudding weighed like lead upon my conscience; the merry thought of a capon filled me with horrible suggestions.
As I heard the wind moan among the trees, I caught a reflection of this accursed visage in the pane of glass, as though it were staring through the window at me.
I determined to force myself not to look at the painting but to undress quickly and get into bed.

Answer 1

The excerpt that conveys the eerie tone of the passage is:

"As I heard the wind moan among the trees, I caught a reflection of this accursed visage in the pane of glass, as though it were staring through the window at me."

This line evokes a sense of dread and supernatural tension, capturing the unsettling atmosphere of the scene. The mention of the "accursed visage" and the wind moaning adds to the eeriness and fear experienced by the narrator.

Answer 2

Read the excerpt from a short story.
The beach teemed with tourists from boardwalk to shore. A canopy of colorful umbrellas covered the sand. Each was preoccupied with his own happy task, and none noticed the figure as it emerged from the surf. Its skin was blistered and raw, and it lumbered awkwardly in the foam. Its hideous eyes hungrily appraised the masses.
How does the excerpt exemplify the ideas King describes in "Danse Macabre"?
It allows readers to approach a “forbidden door.”
It provides a “single powerful spectacle” for the imagination’s eye.
It forces readers to “grapple” with their own mortality.
It introduces an unlikely “dancing partner.”

Answer 3

The excerpt exemplifies the ideas King describes in "Danse Macabre" by providing a “single powerful spectacle” for the imagination’s eye.

The vivid imagery of the figure emerging from the surf with "blistered and raw" skin and "hideous eyes" creates a striking and unsettling image that captures the reader's attention, allowing their imagination to engage with the horror of the scene. This powerful spectacle contrasts sharply with the idyllic beach setting filled with happy tourists, heightening the sense of dread.

Answer 4

Read the excerpt from "The Adventure of the Mysterious Picture."
“And now for the haunted chamber,” said the Irish captain, taking his candle.

“Aye, who’s to be the hero of the night?” said the gentleman with the ruined head.

“That we shall see in the morning,” said the old gentleman with the nose: “whoever looks pale and grizzly will have seen the ghost.”

“Well, gentlemen,” said the Baronet, “there’s many a true thing said in jest.”

How does the excerpt exemplify Gothic fiction?
by revealing an unhinged psychological state
by allowing readers to imagine the most dire conclusion
by involving the narrator with an odd cast of characters
by illustrating the confused plans of the narrator

Answer 5

The excerpt exemplifies Gothic fiction by involving the narrator with an odd cast of characters.

The dialogue between the characters—the Irish captain, the gentleman with the "ruined head," and the old gentleman with the nose—introduces a strange and eccentric group, which is a hallmark of Gothic literature. Their banter about the haunted chamber and the ghost adds to the eerie atmosphere and suggests themes of the supernatural, all while creating a sense of unease that is characteristic of Gothic fiction. This odd cast contributes to the mysterious and ominous tone typical of the genre.

Answer 6

Read the excerpt from a short story.
The Sonoran Desert route was his favorite. His friends were surprised he could endure the solitude of it, but he cherished the barren miles. Today he’d passed a mile of verbena in full bloom, followed by ten miles with nothing but sagebrush. The next leg promised cliffs, and he loved to imagine scaling them as he traversed the desolate highway. In fact, one was rising in the distance, and the highway would bear right around it. He looked down to cool the temperature, looked up again, and stared. The grill of a tractor trailer, in his lane, was bearing down upon him.
How does the excerpt exemplify the ideas King describes in "Danse Macabre"?
It allows readers to approach a “forbidden door.”
It provides a “single powerful spectacle” for the imagination’s eye.
It forces readers to “grapple” with their own mortality.
It introduces an unlikely “dancing partner.”

Answer 7

The excerpt exemplifies the ideas King describes in "Danse Macabre" by forcing readers to “grapple” with their own mortality.

As the protagonist enjoys the solitude and beauty of the desert, the sudden and imminent danger posed by the oncoming tractor trailer creates a stark confrontation with the fragility of life. This moment forces readers to acknowledge the reality of mortality, as they are reminded that life can change in an instant and that danger can lurk even in serene settings. The tension builds in this scene, highlighting the vulnerability of the character and prompting readers to reflect on their own existence and the ever-present possibility of sudden death.

Answer 8

Read the excerpt from a short story.
The young docent welcomed the class to the museum, explaining that the east wing was under construction and he’d be leading them to the first exhibit. His fingers leapt to his name tag as he nervously introduced himself as “Liam, a student of the arts.” Then he bade the group follow him. They traversed a vaulted hall lined with hulking objects, each one obscured by a faded tarpaulin. Some of the items stretched across the floor, others cast long shadows on the museum walls.
What technique does the author use to build suspense in the excerpt?
darkening the word choice
quickening the pace of the story
omitting specific setting details
making the outcome of events uncertain

Answer 9

The technique the author uses to build suspense in the excerpt is omitting specific setting details.

By describing the hall as being lined with "hulking objects" that are "obscured by a faded tarpaulin," the author creates an atmosphere of mystery and uncertainty. The lack of specific details about what the objects are adds to the suspense, as readers are left to imagine what might be hidden beneath the tarpaulin and what significance these obscured items may have. This technique effectively engages the reader's imagination and heightens the tension in the scene.

Answer 10

Read the excerpt from "The Adventure of the Mysterious Picture."
How was this vile nervous fit, for such I now persuaded myself it was, to be conquered? I determined to force myself not to look at the painting but to undress quickly and get into bed. I began to undress, but in spite of every effort I could not keep myself from stealing a glance every now and then at the picture; and a glance was now sufficient to distress me. Even when my back was turned to it, the idea of this strange face behind me, peering over my shoulder, was insufferable.
How does the excerpt exemplify Gothic fiction?
by revealing an unhinged psychological state
by describing a scene of blood and gore
by depicting the triumph of reason over the irrational
by illustrating the confused plans of the narrator

Answer 11

The excerpt exemplifies Gothic fiction by revealing an unhinged psychological state.

The narrator's intense anxiety and obsession with the painting demonstrate a disturbed mental state, characteristic of Gothic literature. The internal struggle between the desire to avoid the painting and the inability to resist looking at it creates a feeling of dread and paranoia. The sense of a "strange face behind me, peering over my shoulder," adds to the atmosphere of fear, further emphasizing the psychological torment that is a hallmark of Gothic fiction.