Question

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. . . . I had grown nervous to a dismal degree.

–“The Adventure of the Mysterious Picture,”
Washington Irving

What suspenseful actions of the narrator contribute to the tone of the passage? Check the three best answers.

undressing uncomfortably

going to sleep

being unable to take his eyes away

being nervous

hearing the strange face make a noise

Answer 1

The answer is indeed:

undressing uncomfortably

being unable to take his eyes away

being nervous

Step-by-step explanation:

The suspenseful tone of this passage relies on the uneasy mood created by the author. The mood provokes an emotional response in readers and, in this case, it is set by the actions described. Even though the speaker wishes to not look at the picture, he is unable to do so. Readers can imagine him glancing at it as we glance at something we are afraid of; undressing uncomfortably as we do when we feel that someone is watching us; being nervous as if something is about to happen. All those actions contribute to a sense of suspense and uneasiness.

Answer 2

being unable to take his eyes away

undressing uncomfortably

being nervous

Step-by-step explanation:

Tone is suspenseful these three above explain the actions of the narrator the best as it correlates to the tone of the passage.