Final answer:
The author's use of short sentences in the passage from 'Obasan' elicits a sentimental mood, highlighting nostalgia and an emotional connection to memories.
Step-by-step explanation:
The author's use of short sentences in the excerpt from chapter 8 of Obasan by Joy Kogawa tends to create a sense of sentimentality. The succinct structure of the sentences, coupled with the context of reflecting on past memories and a mother's tender heart, conveys a feeling of nostalgia and deep emotional connection. Moreover, the physical act of turning the photo around searching for identification, and finding none, adds to a contemplative and thoughtful mood rather than confusion, sadness, or urgency.