To learn about pacing, Marcos is analyzing a famous short story, “The Gift of the Magi” by the author O. Henry. Marcos notices the varied pacing in the opening paragraph. Read the paragraph and then answer the question.
One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation [accusation] of parsimony [stinginess] that such close dealing implied. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas.
How did O. Henry vary the pacing in this paragraph?
A.
He wrote sentences of different lengths.
B.
He included a flashback about shopping.
C.
He described the money in extreme detail.
D.
He used reflection throughout the paragraph.
A. He wrote sentences of different lengths.
A. He wrote sentences of different lengths.
To determine how O. Henry varied the pacing in the opening paragraph of "The Gift of the Magi," we need to analyze the paragraph itself. Here are the different elements to consider:
A. Sentence Length: O. Henry does indeed write sentences of different lengths in this paragraph. Some sentences are short and concise, like "One dollar and eighty-seven cents." Others are longer and more descriptive, like "Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation [accusation] of parsimony [stinginess] that such close dealing implied." This variation in sentence length can create a sense of rhythm and pace.
B. Flashback: There is no flashback about shopping in this paragraph. The paragraph focuses on the current situation and the amount of money Della has saved.
C. Detail Description: O. Henry does describe the money in extreme detail, mentioning that sixty cents of the total is in pennies and emphasizing the process of saving them one or two at a time. This level of detail helps to slow down the pace and immerse the reader into the characters' world.
D. Reflection: The paragraph does not contain any evident reflections. It mainly presents the facts about the amount of money Della has saved and mentions that the next day would be Christmas.
Based on the above analysis, the correct answer is:
A. He wrote sentences of different lengths.