Excerpt from The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
Use the passage to answer the question.
Which purpose do the crowds serve in this passage?
A.
to show Gringoire’s involvement in the community
B.
to contrast with Gringoire’s melancholy
C.
to foreshadow future acts of mob violence
D.
to provide background for the historical context
E.
to suggest that Gringoire wants to be part of the celebration
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C. to foreshadow future acts of mob violence
The passage does not explicitly state the purpose of the crowds, but option C. to foreshadow future acts of mob violence seems to be the most fitting interpretation. The passage describes the crowds as "bewildered, expectant, like those who are waiting for a piece of magic," which suggests that they are easily swayed by events and prone to mob mentality. This foreshadows the eventual mob violence that occurs later in the novel.
To answer this question, you will need to analyze the passage from The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo. Look for clues about the purpose or role of the crowds mentioned in the passage. Here is an excerpted passage from the book:
"And then it was that, deafened, blinded, and rendered breathless by the terrific whirlwind which suddenly burst forth around him, dizzy with the wind, and staggering amid the invisible feet which whipped up the earth around him, the unhappy poet fell upon the heap of corpses, crying, 'The sack! the sack! the sack!'"
In this passage, the crowds are described as a "terrific whirlwind" that overwhelms the poet Gringoire. They surround him and cause chaos, leading to a scene of violence where the poet cries out for a "sack."
Based on this information, the purpose the crowds serve in this passage is to foreshadow future acts of mob violence. Their presence and actions contribute to the chaotic and tumultuous atmosphere of the scene, creating a sense of impending danger or conflict.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is C. to foreshadow future acts of mob violence.