English Language – 3. Writing | e-Consult

Model Answer:

The writer uses vivid imagery and carefully chosen language to create a distinctly eerie and unsettling atmosphere in this extract. The description of the house – 'windows like dark, empty eyes' – immediately establishes a sense of foreboding. The sensory details, such as 'wind whispered,' 'scent of damp earth,' 'dust motes danced,' and 'creaked rhythmically,' engage the reader's senses and contribute to the overall feeling of decay and neglect.

The use of personification – 'wind whispered' – adds to the atmosphere of mystery and suggests a hidden presence. The language is deliberately evocative, employing words like 'gloom,' 'shiver,' 'chilled,' and 'certainty that chilled him to the bone' to create a feeling of unease and suspense. The short, fragmented sentences, particularly 'He hesitated at the doorway,' and 'He knew, with a certainty...', heighten the tension and draw the reader into the character's apprehension.

Overall Grade Level: 6-7