Read the excerpt from "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." He unclosed his eyes and saw again the water below him. "If I could free my hands," he thought, "I might throw off the noose and spring into the stream. By diving I could evade the bullets and, swimming vigorously, reach the bank, take to the woods and get away home. My home, thank God, is as yet outside their lines; my wife and little ones are still beyond the invader’s farthest advance.”Which best describes the impact of the narration in the excerpt?
Answer
A
It helps the reader understand why the man is being hanged.
B
It introduces the reader to a new character through the character’s thoughts.
C
It allows the reader to understand the thoughts of a man preparing for death.
D
It reveals to the reader the man’s plan of escape.
Explanation
The narration gives direct access to the condemned man’s private thoughts as he imagines what he could do if he freed his hands. His thoughts show him preparing for the possibility of death while hoping to survive and return home to his family. The excerpt does describe a possible escape, but its main effect is to reveal his thoughts and state of mind.
AI-written and checked against the verified answer.