Read the excerpt from "The Masque of the Red Death." It was then, however, that the Prince Prospero, maddening with rage and the shame of his own momentary cowardice, rushed hurriedly through the six chambers, while none followed him on account of a deadly terror that had seized upon all. He bore aloft a drawn dagger, and had approached, in rapid impetuosity, to within three or four feet of the retreating figure, when the latter, having attained the extremity of the velvet apartment, turned suddenly and confronted his pursuer. What effect does the tone of the excerpt have on the reader?
Answer
A
It produces a contradictory urge to stop reading and to continue.
B
It encourages surprising delight in blood and gore.
C
It fosters a belief that the narrator is unreliable.
D
It inspires confidence that everything will work out fine in the end.
Explanation
The urgent, ominous tone builds suspense as Prospero chases the mysterious figure with a dagger and finally confronts it. The danger makes the reader uneasy, yet curiosity about what happens next encourages continued reading. This creates the mixed urge to stop and keep reading; the passage does not suggest a happy resolution or focus on gore.
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