Which two parts of this excerpt from W. W. Jacobs's "The Monkey's Paw" develop a suspenseful mood?
Answers
The parts of the except that develop a suspenseful mood are, first:
He darted around the table, pursued by the maligned Mrs. White armed with an antimacassar. Mr. White took the paw from his pocket and eyed it dubiously. "I don't know what to wish for, and that's a fact," he said slowly.
In this lines, the author is explaining the anxiety the character was feeling, moving around the table, having doubts about what to do, staring at the paw questioning if it was a good idea or what would the best possible wish to make. The whole description makes the reader feel the doubt and the fear of not making the right decision.
The second part that involves suspense is:
His father, smiling shamefacedly at his own credulity, held up the talisman, as his son, with a solemn face, somewhat marred by a wink at his mother, sat down and struck a few impressive chords.
In this sentence, the author is describing the way the father and his son were expecting something incredible, decided to make the wish and not knowing what would happen next. The father seems quite afraid and nervous and the son, a little bit more relaxed but as expectant as their parents is waiting in silence the next move. The reader cannot stop asking ‘what will happen next? Is it really going to work?’ The suspense is evident and everyone wants to know how the paw with ‘help’ the family and grant the wish. Therefore, I believe this two parts are the ones that best develop an atmosphere of suspense and fear at the same time.