Final answer:
The words that best convey the mood in the excerpt are 'direful madness,' 'hidden self,' and 'raved on.'
Therefore, option C is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The words from the excerpt that best convey the mood are direful madness, hidden self, raved on. These words suggest a sense of intense turmoil, frenzy, and inner chaos that Ahab is experiencing despite presenting a composed exterior. The use of direful madness conveys the idea of madness or insanity, while hidden self and raved on indicate Ahab's inner turmoil and uncontrollable emotional state.
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