Final answer:
The author uses words with negative connotations to create a specific mood, evoke emotional responses, and indicate deeper meanings. Words such as 'vacant' and 'rank' convey a sense of death, neglect, and decay, which establish a gloomy setting and influences the reader's interpretation of the text.
Step-by-step explanation:
The author most likely uses words with strong negative connotation in the excerpt to convey a certain mood or tone, influence the reader's emotional response, and convey deeper meaning beyond the literal interpretation of the words. For example, describing windows as 'vacant eye-like' suggests not only disuse but also a resemblance to lifeless bodies; the word 'rank' signifies overgrown vegetation but also implies neglect and decay. This choice of diction helps establish a gloomy and oppressive atmosphere, which can be important for setting the scene, creating a character's mindset, or developing thematic nuances within a narrative.
It's also vital to note that authors may utilize language in ways to meet or challenge conventional expectations in rhetorically effective manners, as a device to capture attention or to make a statement. This can be seen in how an author might describe a sullen scene or a character's disposition with moody and evocative language, playing upon the associations words carry in addition to their direct meanings.