Author's Style Practice

Diction: In the sentence "The decrepit house loomed over the abandoned street, its shutters hanging like broken limbs," what affect do the words "decrepit," "loomed," and "broken limbs" have? How do they shape the reader’s interpretation of the house?

• They create a warm and inviting image of the house.

• They suggest that the house is old but charming.

• They convey an eerie, decaying, and ominous atmosphere.

• They imply that the house is sturdy and well-maintained.

Answer explanation

The words "decrepit," "loomed," and "broken limbs" create a vivid image of decay and foreboding. They suggest the house is not just old, but also ominous and unsettling, shaping a dark atmosphere that evokes unease in the reader.

Diction: How would changing the word "shriveled" to "small" in the sentence "The old man’s shriveled hands trembled as he reached for the cup" affect the meaning and imagery?

• It would make the description more vivid and emotional.

• It would remove the connotation of age and frailty.

• It would make the sentence more formal and poetic.

• It would not change the meaning at all.

Answer explanation

Changing 'shriveled' to 'small' removes the connotation of age and frailty, as 'shriveled' implies a loss of vitality and suggests the man's advanced age, while 'small' lacks that emotional weight.

Diction: In Job 3:3, Job says, "Let the day perish wherein I was born." What effect does the word "perish" have compared to a more neutral word like "end" or "pass"?

• It is more aggressive, and adds a stronger sense of finality and destruction.

• It makes the statement feel less emotional.

• It makes the passage more optimistic.

• It suggests Job is hopeful about his future.

Answer explanation

The word 'perish' conveys a sense of aggression and finality, suggesting destruction rather than a neutral ending. This intensifies Job's despair, highlighting his wish for the day of his birth to be obliterated.

Syntax: "He ran. He stumbled. He fell." How does the sentence's use of short, choppy sentences affect the pacing and intensity of the scene?

• It slows down the action, making it feel calm.

• It creates a sense of urgency and rapid movement.

• It makes the scene confusing and unclear.

• It has no effect on the pacing.

Answer explanation

The use of short, choppy sentences accelerates the pacing, creating a sense of urgency and rapid movement. Each action is presented distinctly, heightening the intensity of the scene and immersing the reader in the moment.

Syntax: Compare these two sentences:

• "The wind howled, the trees bent, and the storm raged on."

• "The wind howled. The trees bent. The storm raged on."

How does using commas in the first version versus periods in the second impact the flow and emphasis?

• The first sentence feels smoother and more connected, while the second feels abrupt and dramatic.

• The first sentence is harder to read, while the second is clearer.

• Both sentences have the same effect.

• The second sentence feels more peaceful.

Answer explanation

The first sentence, with commas, creates a smoother flow, linking the actions together. In contrast, the second sentence uses periods, making each action feel more abrupt and dramatic, emphasizing the intensity of the storm.

Syntax: In Job 3:11, Job asks, "Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?" How does the use of a rhetorical question shape the reader’s understanding of Job's tone?

• It makes Job’s emotions feel distant and unemotional.

• It emphasizes the feeling that Job is groaning because of his deep sorrow and hopelessness.

• It makes the passage feel more humorous.

• It suggests that Job is speaking in a logical, detached manner.

Answer explanation

Job's rhetorical question reveals his profound sorrow and hopelessness, emphasizing his emotional turmoil rather than detachment or humor. It highlights his desire to escape suffering, deepening the reader's understanding of his despair.

Figurative Language: Identify the type of figurative language in this sentence: "Grief is a shadow that never leaves your side."

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Personification

• Hyperbole

Answer explanation

The sentence "Grief is a shadow that never leaves your side" compares grief to a shadow, suggesting it is always present. This is a metaphor, as it directly equates grief with a shadow without using 'like' or 'as', distinguishing it from a simile.

Figurative Language: In Job 3:5, Job says, "Let gloom and utter darkness claim it once more; let a cloud settle over it; let blackness overwhelm it." How does the imagery in this verse enhance the mood?

• It makes the scene feel bright and hopeful.

• It creates a feeling of being trapped in darkness and sorrow.

• It suggests that Job is indifferent to his suffering.

• It has no effect on the mood.

Answer explanation

The imagery of gloom, darkness, and blackness in Job 3:5 evokes a sense of despair and entrapment, enhancing the mood of sorrow and hopelessness that Job feels in his suffering.

Figurative Language: In The Raven, Poe writes, "And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor." What effect does personifying the embers as ghosts have on the mood?

• It makes the poem feel cheerful and lighthearted.

• It adds to the eerie, haunting atmosphere of the poem.

• It suggests that the speaker is happy and at peace.

• It makes the poem feel scientific and factual.

Answer explanation

Personifying the embers as ghosts enhances the eerie, haunting atmosphere of the poem, reflecting themes of loss and despair, which aligns with the overall mood of 'The Raven'.

Mood: How do the following descriptions of the setting in "The Raven" add to the mood?

"midnight dreary"; "it was in the bleak December"; "silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain"

• Joyful and celebratory

• Dangerous and aggressive

• Dark and melancholy

• Boring and dull

Answer explanation

The phrases "midnight dreary" and "bleak December" evoke a sense of darkness and sadness, while the "silken, sad, uncertain rustling" suggests a haunting atmosphere. Together, they create a mood that is dark and melancholy.