Question

Read the passage from “Cruel Tribute.”

Years passed by. Every spring when the roses began to bloom seven youths and seven maidens were put on board of a black-sailed ship and sent to Crete to pay the tribute which King Minos required. In every house in Athens there was sorrow and dread, and the people lifted up their hands to Athena on the hilltop and cried out, "How long, O Queen of the Air, how long shall this thing be?" In the meanwhile the little child at Troezen on the other side of the sea had grown to be a man. His name, Theseus, was in everybody's mouth, for he had done great deeds of daring; and at last he had come to Athens to find his father, King Aegeus, who had never heard whether he was alive or dead; and when the youth had made himself known, the king had welcomed him to his home and all the people were glad because so noble a prince had come to dwell among them and, in time, to rule over their city.

In this excerpt, the sequence of events creates suspense by

starting the story in the middle of things.
describing a setting that causes anticipation.
slowing down the plot to focus on an important character.
speeding up the plot to move the story forward and build tension.

Answer 1

slowing down the plot to focus on an important character i think this is what you are asking

Answer 2

slowing down the plot to focus on an important character.

Plot, in literature, refers to a sequence of events.

In the passage, the author took time to describe the travails of the people of Athens and their constant prayers for solution. This slow pace is to ensure that focus is eventually shifted to a new character (Theseus) when he is later mentioned.

The thorough description of the woes of the people of Athens is aimed at painting a messianic picture of the little child at Troezen who has now grown up.

By creating suspense through this sequence of events, readers will be anxious to know what will become of the people of Athens, and that will present Theseus as a very important character

Therefore, the choice "slowing down the plot to focus on an important character." is the correct option.