English 12B Lesson 13

Which excerpts from The Mysteries of Udolpho most effectively push the plot forward while contributing an eerie tone?

... while she had been so eloquently haranguing on ghosts and fairies, wandered about through other passages and galleries, till, at length, frightened by their intricacies and desolation, she called aloud for assistance: but they were beyond the hearing of the servants, who were on the other side of the castle. She was going she scarcely knew whither, under the dominion of a person, from whose arbitrary disposition she had already suffered so much.

Read the excerpt from The Mysteries of Udolpho, which describes a portion of Emily's travels to the castle. As the travellers still ascended among the pine forests, steep rose over steep, the mountains seemed to multiply, as they went, and what was the summit of one eminence proved to be only the base of another. Which option most accurately explains the significance of the excerpt in relation to Emily's personal journey?

Each time Emily thinks they have reached the final mountain, she finds the journey will go on. In the same way, each time Emily overcomes a personal obstacle, such as her separation from Valancourt, she is soon faced with a new difficulty.

Read the excerpt from The Mysteries of Udolpho. Another gate delivered them into the second court, grass-grown, and more wild than the first, where, as she surveyed through the twilight its desolation—its lofty walls, overtopt with briony, moss and nightshade, and the embattled towers that rose above,—long-suffering and murder came to her thoughts. One of those instantaneous and unaccountable convictions, which sometimes conquer even strong minds, impressed her with its horror. The sentiment was not diminished, when she entered an extensive gothic hall, obscured by the gloom of evening, which a light, glimmering at a distance through a long perspective of arches, only rendered more striking. As a servant brought the lamp nearer partial gleams fell upon the pillars and the pointed arches, forming a strong contrast with their shadows, that stretched along the pavement and the walls. Which inference is most accurate, based on the information in the excerpt?

The description "as she surveyed through the twilight its desolation" indicates the castle is filling Emily with uneasiness because it looks like a place that breeds solitude and despair.

Read the excerpt from The Mysteries of Udolpho, which describes the castle as Emily approaches. While they waited till the servant within should come to open the gates, she anxiously surveyed the edifice: but the gloom, that overspread it, allowed her to distinguish little more than a part of its outline, with the massy walls of the ramparts, and to know, that it was vast, ancient and dreary. From the parts she saw, she judged of the heavy strength and extent of the whole. The gateway before her, leading into the courts, was of gigantic size, and was defended by two round towers, crowned by overhanging turrets, embattled, where, instead of banners, now waved long grass and wild plants, that had taken root among the mouldering stones, and which seemed to sigh, as the breeze rolled past, over the desolation around them. Which option most accurately describes how Emily's emotions are reflected in this description?

Words like "heavy strength," "defended," and "embattled" show that Emily feels like a prisoner in this life with Montoni.

In The Mysteries of Udolpho, Annette tells Emily that the previous owner of Udolpho went missing. Which excerpt from The Mysteries of Udolpho most effectively contributes to the apprehensive tone of their conversation?

'The wind blew cold, and strewed the leaves about, and whistled dismally among those great old chesnut trees, that we passed, ma'amselle, as we came to the castle ...'

Read the excerpt from The Mysteries of Udolpho, in which Annette and Emily discuss Udolpho's mysterious past. 'That is stranger still, Annette,' said Emily, smiling, and rousing herself from her reverie. 'But, when Signora Laurentini was afterwards seen in the castle, did nobody speak to her?' 'Speak—speak to her!' cried Annette, with a look of terror; 'no, to be sure.' 'And why not?' rejoined Emily, willing to hear further. 'Holy Mother! speak to a spirit!' Which option most accurately identifies how Emily's character is developed in the excerpt?

Emily is trying to be level-headed and avoid being afraid. She does not want to jump to irrational conclusions, which is shown by her questions to Annette.

Read the sentence from The Mysteries of Udolpho. He was darting his spear upon a man, who lay under the feet of the horse, and who held up one hand in a supplicating attitude. Which sentences use the word supplicating in the same way it is used in this sentence?

The robber was exhausted after running from the crime scene, and he gave the police officer a supplicating look as he slowly lowered his weapon and said that he didn't want to go to jail. His English teacher was more irate than she had ever been previously, and the student made a heartfelt apology in a supplicating voice in the hope that she would not call the principal.

Read the excerpt from The Mysteries of Udolpho, in which Annette describes the previous owner's disappearance. 'Well, they saw her go down among the woods, but night came, and she did not return: ten o'clock, eleven o'clock, twelve o'clock came, and no lady! Well, the servants thought to be sure, some accident had befallen her, and they went out to seek her. They searched all night long, but could not find her, or any trace of her; and, from that day to this, ma'amselle, she has never been heard of.' Which option most effectively outlines what is explicitly and implicitly stated in the excerpt about the previous owner's disappearance?

Though no explicit evidence is given to explain her disappearance, it is implied that she was the victim of some supernatural force or of murder.

Read the excerpt from The Mysteries of Udolpho, which describes Emily's entrance into the castle. Another gate delivered them into the second court, grass-grown, and more wild than the first, where, as she surveyed through the twilight its desolation—its lofty walls, overtopt with briony, moss and nightshade, and the embattled towers that rose above,—long-suffering and murder came to her thoughts. One of those instantaneous and unaccountable convictions, which sometimes conquer even strong minds, impressed her with its horror. Which option most accurately depicts how the author's description of the setting indicates the tone of this excerpt?

Words like "long-suffering," "desolation" and "horror" contribute to a fearful tone.

Read the excerpt from The Mysteries of Udolpho. 'But all this was told me for a great secret,' rejoined Annette, without noticing the remark, 'I am sure, ma'am, you would not hurt either me or Benedetto, so much as to go and tell it again.' Emily remained silent, and Annette repeated her last sentence. 'You have nothing to fear from my indiscretion,' replied Emily ... Which context clue is most helpful in defining the word indiscretion as it is used in this passage?

all this was told me for a great secret

Read the excerpt from The Mysteries of Udolpho, which describes the Italian countryside through which Emily travels. The gloom of these shades, their solitary silence, except when the breeze swept over their summits, the tremendous precipices of the mountains, that came partially to the eye, each assisted to raise the solemnity of Emily's feelings into awe; she saw only images of gloomy grandeur, or of dreadful sublimity, around her; other images, equally gloomy and equally terrible, gleamed on her imagination. Which options most clearly indicate how this description reflects Emily's feelings about her upcoming marriage to Morano?

Emily's upcoming marriage to Morano makes her upset, as indicated in phrases such as "The gloom of these shades" and "equally gloomy and equally terrible." Emily's upcoming marriage to Morano makes her feel insignificant, as indicated in phrases such as "the tremendous precipices" and "over the summits."

Which excerpt from The Mysteries of Udolpho most effectively demonstrates how author Ann Radcliffe uses descriptions of the castle to portray Emily's reluctance to stay at Udolpho?

Silent, lonely, and sublime, it seemed to stand the sovereign of the scene, and to frown defiance on all, who dared to invade its solitary reign. As the twilight deepened, its features became more awful in obscurity ...

Read the excerpt from The Mysteries of Udolpho, which includes a portion of Annette's tale to Emily. 'It was one evening, they say, at the latter end of the year, it might be about the middle of September, I suppose, or the beginning of October; nay, for that matter, it might be November, for that, too, is the latter end of the year, but that I cannot say for certain, because they did not tell me for certain themselves. However, it was at the latter end of the year ...' Which inferences are most accurate, based on the information in the excerpt?

Annette enjoys talking and gossiping, indicated by her non-stop chatter and verbose storytelling. Annette has a habit of focusing on insignificant details, indicated by her emphasis on exact dates.

Which excerpt from The Mysteries of Udolpho most effectively demonstrates how author Ann Radcliffe uses the Italian setting to foreshadow the melancholy that awaits the visitors at Udolpho?

The gloom of these shades, their solitary silence, except when the breeze swept over their summits, the tremendous precipices of the mountains, that came partially to the eye ...

In The Mysteries of Udolpho, consider the story Annette tells Emily about how the previous owner of Udolpho went missing. Which answer most accurately explains what effect this story has on Emily's mental state?

The story is disturbing to Emily because she already feels alone and afraid, and Annette's story reaffirms Emily's fears and apprehension about her new life in the desolate castle.