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Difficulty: MediumTextual Tone, Mood, and Atmosphere

Read the dramatic excerpt below carefully:

BISI: (Clenching her fists, eyes fixed on the empty vault) "They took the harvest, they took the titles, and now they dance upon our father's grave! But hear me, brother, as long as blood flows in these veins, no council of elders will sleep in peace!"
KUNLE: "Quiet, Bisi! The walls themselves have ears tonight."

Which of the following best describes the dominant tone of Bisi's speech?

  1. Defiant and vengefulAnswer
  2. B
    Fearful and apprehensive
  3. C
    Sorrowful and resigned
  4. D
    Cautious and evasive

Answer

Defiant and vengeful
Bisi's speech demonstrates explicit defiance and revenge. Her physical gesture of clenching her fists combined with declarations that the elders will not 'sleep in peace' emphasizes active resistance and retaliatory intent.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the speaker and evaluate word choice
Bisi uses strong, aggressive phrasing such as 'clenching her fists', 'no council of elders will sleep in peace', and 'as long as blood flows in these veins'.
Tone reflects the speaker's emotional attitude toward the subject matter through diction.
2
Distinguish speaker tone from surrounding scene atmosphere
While the scene carries a tense atmosphere due to Kunle's warning, Bisi's attitude remains resolute and retaliatory.
Tone belongs specifically to the speaker (Bisi), whereas mood or atmosphere reflects the overall environment or listener reaction.
3
Match diction with literary tone descriptors
'Defiant' captures her refusal to accept the elders' actions, and 'vengeful' matches her pledge to disturb their peace.
Selected descriptors must fully encapsulate both aspects of her expression.

Key Concept

Textual Tone, Mood, and Atmosphere
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Topics

Textual Tone, Mood, and Atmosphere

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