A Descent into the Maelstrom
by Edgar Allan Poe
We had now reached the summit of the loftiest crag. For some minutes the old man seemed too much exhausted to speak.
"Not long ago," said he at length, "and I could have guided you on this route as well as the youngest of my sons; but, about three years past, there happened to me an event such as never happened to mortal manor at least such as no man ever survived to tell of and the six hours of deadly terror which I then endured have broken me up body and soul. You suppose me a very old man-but I am not. It took less than a single day to change these hairs from a jetty black to white, to weaken my limbs, and to unstring my nerves, so that I tremble at the least exertion, and am frightened at a shadow. Do you know I can scarcely look over this little cliff without getting giddy?'
Use the passage to answer the question.
How does the author use pacing in this excerpt?
Select the two correct answers.
(1 point)
• by including dialogue from only one character
• by avoiding the description of the setting
• by emphasizing observations and ideas
• by focusing on action and using action verbs
• by using long, complex sentences