Question

Read the following excerpt from "the gift of the magi" and answer the question. a furnished flat at $8 per week. it did not exactly beggar description, but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad. in the vestibule below was a letter-box into which no letter would go, and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring. in the passage above, the author’s word choice creates a mood of _____. hopefulness barrenness romance mystery

Answer 1

The mood created by the author's word choice in the provided excerpt is one of barrenness. The author's description of the scarcely furnished flat and the dysfunctional amenities evokes a feeling of emptiness and lack.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the description given in the passage, the author's word choice creates a sense of barrenness. The references to the scarcely furnished flat and the dysfunctional letter box and electric button convey a feeling of dreariness and lack, thus suggesting barrenness. The words used do not evoke hopefulness, romance or mystery. Rather, they paint a picture of a desolate and lifeless scene, implying a distinct sense of emptiness or barrenness. For instance, the term vestibule, which refers to a small entryway within a building, literally describes a space, but also metaphorically suggests a sense of emptiness or lack of warmth.

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