Question

chunk 1: tom and the fence
tom appeared on the sidewalk with a bucket of whitewash ... life to him seemed hollow, and existence but a burden.

1. what is the mood in this section? how does the author create it?

the mood is gloomy and burdensome. the author creates it by describing tom’s feelings (life hollow, existence a burden) and his task (whitewashing, a chore), using somber language to convey tom’s discontent,

1. what do we learn about tom’s characterization at the beginning of the story?

tom is reluctant, discontent, and sees life as a burden. he dislikes his chore (whitewashing), showing he may be rebellious or seek creative ways to avoid work.

1. how does tom’s attitude toward the fence help set up the plot?

tom’s negative attitude (hating whitewashing the fence) makes him seek to avoid it, leading to his scheme to trick

Explanation:

Sub - question 1

To determine the mood, we analyze the text. The phrases “life seemed hollow” and “existence but a burden” along with the chore of whitewashing show a gloomy mood. The author uses Tom's feelings and his task, with somber language, to create this mood.

From Tom's reaction to his chore (whitewashing) and his view of life, we can infer his character. His dislike for the chore and negative view of life show he is reluctant, discontent, and may be rebellious or creative to avoid work.

Tom's negative attitude towards whitewashing the fence (he hates it) makes him want to avoid it. This desire to avoid the chore leads him to come up with a scheme (like tricking others to do it for him), which is a key part of the plot development.

Answer:

The mood is gloomy and burdensome. The author creates it by describing Tom's feelings (life hollow, existence a burden) and his task (whitewashing, a chore), using somber language to convey Tom's discontent.

Sub - question 2