The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The author builds tension in paragraph 13 by creating a stark contrast between what the narrator is focused on and the unseen danger that is approaching him.
The author masterfully builds suspense in this excerpt by manipulating the narrator’s and the reader’s focus. The paragraph begins by establishing a retrospective point of view with the phrase “Most of these details I noted later,” which immediately alerts the reader that the narrator’s experience was cut short by a significant event. This line serves as subtle foreshadowing, creating an underlying feeling of unease.
The author then directs our attention to the “wonders” of the narrator’s discovery: the hatching eggs. The narrator is completely absorbed, watching the “hideous little monsters break from their shells.” This specific focus on a single, fascinating event creates a narrow field of vision, making the narrator oblivious to his surroundings. The reader is drawn into this moment of discovery alongside the narrator, sharing his intense concentration.
The tension culminates in the final clause of the sentence. After lulling the reader and the narrator into a state of focused observation, the author delivers the reveal. The narrator admits he “failed to note the approach of a score of full grown Martians from behind me.” This conclusion is powerful for several reasons. The phrase “failed to note” confirms the narrator’s vulnerability. The term “a score” indicates a large, overwhelming number of enemies, not just one or two. Finally, the placement of this threat “from behind me” is a classic technique to create suspense, as it highlights the unseen and imminent nature of the danger. By ending the paragraph on this cliffhanger, the author shifts the mood from scientific curiosity to sudden, mortal peril, leaving the reader in a state of high anxiety.
