Final answer:
An author establishes tension at the beginning of a story by describing the setting and characters in a way that evokes a sense of unease, using vivid language and imagery to draw readers into the narrative and build anticipation for the unfolding plot. The correct answer is option: B) 'by describing.'
Step-by-step explanation:
The author can establish tension at the beginning of a story in various ways, often utilizing techniques to draw readers into the narrative. In the context of the given prompt, the most relevant method would be that marked by option B, 'by describing.'
Describing the setting in detail is one crucial way to set the stage and build tension. An author might employ vivid, sensory language to create an atmosphere that immerses the reader.
For example, a passage describing a 'threatening, misty morning' with 'wind seizing our breath' uses personification and imagery to evoke a sense of unease, drawing readers into the story's mood. Similarly, describing the rising action through a sequence of events can slowly heighten the tension, as characters face challenges or conflicts that escalate the drama of the narrative.
Through showing rather than telling, and the careful depiction of settings and the unfolding plot, the author can effectively pull readers into the story, compelling them to continue reading to discover how the tension will resolve.