Read the excerpt from Ovid’s "Pyramus and Thisbe". Pyramus had left a little later than his Thisbe had, and he could see what surely were the tracks of a wild beast left clearly on deep dust. His face grew ashen. And when he had found the bloodstained shawl, he cried: "Now this same night will see two lovers lose their lives: she was the one more worthy of long life: it's I who bear the guilt for this. Which statement best describes how the order of events creates tension?
Answer
A
Because Pyramus does not see the beast, readers fear confrontation.
B
Because Pyramus is late, he misunderstands Thisbe’s situation.
C
Because Pyramus is late, readers question his devotion.
D
Because Pyramus does not see the beast, he believes he is lost.
Explanation
Pyramus arrives after Thisbe has already fled from the beast. He sees its tracks and her bloodstained shawl, but not Thisbe, so he assumes she has been killed and blames himself. This delay creates tension because readers can see how he misinterprets what happened. The best choice is “Because Pyramus is late, he misunderstands Thisbe’s situation.”
AI-written and checked against the verified answer.