Question

The cold wind whipped as Stanton raced against it. This was no night for a calm ride. The horse's hooves clicked as Stanton whipped the reins. He clutched the king's message in one hand and his crossbow in the other. A wolf howled. He saw motion in the bushes ahead. Not a good sign. It could be an ambush. Stanton extended his finger over the trigger of the crossbow. More wolves howled together. What is the mood of this paragraph? What are the key words that helped you understand the mood?

Answer 1

The mood is tense and suspenseful, with key words like 'whipped', 'clutched', 'ambush', 'trigger', and 'wolves' contributing to a sense of danger and urgency in Stanton's nighttime journey.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mood of the paragraph presented can be characterized as tense and suspenseful. Key words that support this determination include 'whipped', indicating the harshness of the wind and the urgency of Stanton's actions, 'clutched', which shows Stanton's tight grip and concern for the items he holds, the sense of danger implied by 'ambush', the nervous anticipation associated with stretching a 'finger over the trigger', and the collective howling of 'wolves', which adds a layer of impending threat. These words and phrases all contribute to an overall mood of anxiety and heightened alertness, as Stanton is prepared for potential dangers during what appears to be a perilous journey at night.