Final answer:
The setting in the excerpt from Kidnapped establishes a mood of tension and unease, heightened by the use of descriptive, conflict-like language, and a setting oscillating between threatening weather and moments of natural beauty.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mood established by the setting in the excerpt from Kidnapped can be determined by examining the descriptions and the choice of words within the narrative. For instance, words like "frazzled" and "frantic" alongside sentence structures that create a sense of panic—through the repetition of actions like 'seized' and 'dropped'—contribute to a tense and anxious atmosphere. Moreover, settings described as "threatening, misty morning" with personified weather elements such as the 'wind seizing our breath' imbue the scenes with a conflict-like tension, adding to the mood of apprehension and unease. On the other hand, settings marked by beautiful natural elements such as "primroses" and "woodsorrel" suggest contrasts within the narrative, momentarily offering a sense of beauty amid the suspense. The description of the weather oscillating between gloomy and stormy further reflects the fluctuating emotional landscape of the characters in the story.