Final answer:
Option d, 'Fate slew him, but he did not drop instantly,' aptly completes the sentence by aligning with the provided literary excerpts, which describe a build-up before a character's end or moment of descent. The characters’ experiences illustrate a progression toward their fate rather than an abrupt conclusion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sentence should likely be completed with option d: Fate slew him, but he did not drop instantly. This choice corresponds with the scenes from the various texts provided, as the characters often face their ends or moments of impact not abruptly, but with a progression or sequence of actions leading to their final moments. The recurring theme of anticipation before a fall or the culmination of events suggests that while these individuals were overtaken by fate, their end did not come without a lead-up, hence ruling out suddenness as their primary characteristic.
- In one scenario, a character does not simply fall after being hit, but rather staggers, touches a rock with a bleeding hand, and then falls.
- In another excerpt, Wolfe contemplates the aftermath of his life's trial as night envelops the sky in a gradual change from crimson and scarlet to dull and ash-colored, indicating a slow progression of time and events.
- Similarly, the leaning rock described does not fall straight away. Instead, it undergoes a build-up of grinding and groaning before it eventually collapses.