Question

at last, late in the day, they heard a bellowing, low and faint as though far away. they listened and soon heard it again, a little louder and very fierce and dreadful.
\it is he! it is he!\ cried theseus; \and now for the fight!\
then he shouted, so loudly that the walls of the labyrinth answered back, and the sound was carried upward to the sky and outward to the rocks and cliffs of the mountains. the minotaur heard him, and his bellowings grew louder and fiercer every moment.
\he is coming!\ cried theseus, and he ran forward to meet the beast. the seven maidens shrieked, but tried to stand up bravely and face their fate; and the six young men stood together with firm - set teeth and clinched fists, ready to fight to the last.
soon the minotaur came into view, rushing down the passage towards theseus, and roaring most terribly. he was twice as tall as a man, and his head was like that of a
explain how the author creates the suspenseful moment when the minotaur arrives. use the passage if you need to review the story’s climax.

Explanation:

1. Builds auditory tension: The author starts with a faint, distant bellow that grows progressively louder and fiercer, letting readers sense the Minotaur's approaching threat before seeing it.
2. Uses character reactions: Theseus's urgent cries, the maidens' shrieks, and the young men's tense, determined stance mirror the rising fear and stakes, amplifying the suspense.
3. Delays full reveal: The Minotaur is first only heard, then announced as coming, before finally being described as a massive, roaring figure rushing toward the group, drawing out the anticipation of the confrontation.

Answer:

The author creates suspense around the Minotaur's arrival through three key methods:

1. Gradually intensifying auditory cues: starting with a faint, distant bellow that grows louder and more menacing to signal the beast's approach.
2. Highlighting the emotional reactions of the characters: Theseus's urgent declarations, the maidens' terrified shrieks, and the young men's tense, defensive postures reflect the rising danger and stakes.
3. Delaying the full visual reveal: building anticipation by first only referencing the Minotaur's sound and impending arrival, before finally describing his massive, terrifying form rushing toward the group.