Read this excerpt from chapter 1 of The Scarlet Letter . A throng of bearded men, in sad-colored garments and gray, steeple-crowned hats, intermixed with women, some wearing hoods, and others bareheaded, was assembled in front of a wooden edifice, the door of which was heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron spikes. Which best describes the effect of the words “sad-colored,” “steeple-crowned,” and “iron spikes”?
Answer
A
They establish the spiritual Puritan setting.
B
They establish the hostile mood.
C
They establish the austere Puritan setting.
D
They establish the mournful mood.
Explanation
The details describe plain, severe clothing and a heavy, forbidding building: the garments are “sad-colored,” the hats are tall and simple, and the door is reinforced with iron spikes. Together, they create an austere picture of the Puritan setting. The words may feel gloomy, but their main effect is to characterize the setting rather than establish a mournful mood.
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