Question

How does the author's description of the pendulum build suspense in the passage?

a. The author describes the slow descent of the pendulum, creating suspense by
showing how little change the narrator has of escape from its steady, mechanical
path.
b. The author describes the slow, rhythmic down of the pendulum, which resembles
the pendulum of a clock, suggesting the one fate that no one can escape is time.
c. The author describes the swift swing of the pendulum as it descends, creating
suspense by forcing the narrator to hurriedly look for a means to escape.
d. The author describes the pendulum as razor sharp and extremely large, creating
suspense by implying that the narrator's death will be gruesome but quick.

Answer 1

The author's depiction of the pendulum builds suspense by emphasizing its slow, rhythmic, and mechanical motion, symbolically representing the inescapable passage of time and the character's dwindling chance of escape.

Step-by-step explanation:

The author's description of the pendulum in the passage indeed builds suspense, primarily through the use of vivid imagery and the symbolic representation of the inexorable passage of time. The slow, rhythmic description of the pendulum's movement creates a sense of inevitable doom, echoing the rhythmic tolling of a death knell. This technique effectively conveys a chilling mood and heightens the tension as the reader anticipates the fate of the character. The pendulum's relentless movement and the attention to its mechanical and rhythmic qualities suggest an impending sense of finality, evoking anxiety and suspense as the character's chances of escape diminish with each passing moment.