Final answer:
The reference to the clock in 'Object Lesson' enhances the suspense by emphasizing the urgency of time ticking away. Literary examples demonstrate how the specificity of time heightens tension and drives the narrative towards an impending climax.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reference to the clock in the passage from 'Object Lesson' by Ellery Queen contributes to a suspenseful pace by emphasizing the ticking of time and the sense of urgency it creates. Suspense is often built through the awareness of time running out, leading to heightened emotions and a focus on whether characters will achieve their goals within the constraints imposed by the clock. Throughout literature, time references are frequently used to create tension and anticipation.
For instance, in 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,' the meticulous tracking of time impresses upon the reader the slow passage of the protagonist's final moments. Similar methods are seen in the excerpts provided, ranging from the stopped clock that nonetheless tells the correct time by coincidence, furthering a thematic exploration of truth and knowledge, to the numerous examples of characters noting the time as a marker of impending events or deadlines.
Instances such as Nora checking her watch and calculating the hours she has left before the Tarantella in 'A Doll's House,' and Mrs. Linde watching the time closely for something expected to occur, both incorporate time as a critical element directly tied to character's fates and the narrative arc. The specificity of time, down to the minutes and hours, intensifies the reader's engagement with the characters' plights and the inevitable outcomes.
Each tick of the clock serves as a reminder of the looming climax, establishing a metronome-like beat that underscores the narrative and ensures that the reader is acutely aware of the finite nature of the characters' available time to resolve their conflicts.