Use paragraphs 8–10 from “The Interlopers” to answer the question.

Question

Use paragraphs 8–10 from “The Interlopers” to answer the question.

In this excerpt, two men are trapped under a tree and accuse each other of trespassing on their land. How do the men’s situation and conversation create tension and mystery in the story? In 1-2 sentences, support your ideas with evidence from the paragraph.

Answer 1

The men's situation of being trapped under a tree creates tension and mystery because it intensifies their animosity towards each other. This is evident when the narrator states, "Each prayed that the other's prayer might be answered [...] before it died away on their lips." This suggests that their murderous intentions towards each other raise the stakes and add suspense to the story.