Question

Read the following passage and answer the corresponding question. For hours they stood there, hearing no sound, and seeing nothing but the smooth, high walls on either side of the passage and the calm blue sky so high above them. then the maidens sat down upon the ground and covered their faces and sobbed, and said: "oh, that he would come and put an end to our misery and our lives." How does the author create suspense in the passage? a) by highlighting the calm blue sky b) by making theseus appear weak c) by allowing a long period of time to pass d) by creating a conflict between characters.

Answer 1

The suspense in the passage is created by the extended period of waiting and the contrast between the characters' distress and the calm blue sky.

Step-by-step explanation:

The author creates suspense in the passage by allowing a long period of time to pass without any resolution to the characters' predicament. This prolonged period of waiting heightens the tension as the maidens express their despair and wish for an end to their misery, thereby increasing the reader's anticipation for what might happen next. The calm blue sky, in contrast to the characters' distress, serves to amplify the suspense by portraying an eerie calmness in the midst of desperation.