Mood and Narrative Techniques in "Lather and Nothing Else”

Question 1

Read the excerpt from "Lather and Nothing Else"A little more lather here under the chin, on the Adam’s apple, right near the great vein. How hot it is! Torres must be sweating just as I am. But he is not afraid. He is a tranquil man, who is not even giving thought to what he will do to his prisoners this evening. I, on the other hand, polishing his skin with this razor but avoiding the drawing of blood, careful with every stroke—I cannot keep my thoughts in order.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Short sentences and confused thoughts speed the pace toward the barber’s important decision.

Question 2

How does writer Hernando Tellez use pacing to create suspense in "Lather and Nothing Else"?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

The story moves slowly at first, then the tension increases as the barber’s inner thoughts become quicker and more intense.

Question 3

Read the excerpt from "Lather and Nothing Else."I’m sure that with a good strong blow, a deep cut, he would feel no pain. He would not suffer at all. And what would I do then with the body? Where would I hide it? I would have to flee, leave all this behind, take shelter far away, very far away. But they would follow until they caught up with me. "The murderer of Captain Torres. He slit his throat while he was shaving him. What a cowardly thing to do!”And others would say, "The avenger of our people. A name to remember”—my name here. "He was the town barber. No one knew he was fighting for our cause.”

Revolt · Accepted Answer

coward vs. avenger

Question 4

Read the excerpt from "Lather and Nothing Else."I went on lathering his face. My hands began to tremble again. The man could not be aware of this, which was lucky for me. But I wished he had not come in. Probably many of our men had seen him enter the shop. And with the enemy in my house I felt a certain responsibility.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

tremble

Question 5

Choose the word with a positive connotation.Young Farmer Johnson ________ the baby lambs into the pen.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

coaxed

Question 6

Read the excerpt from "Lather and Nothing Else."I went on lathering his face. My hands began to tremble again. The man could not be aware of this, which was lucky for me. But I wished he had not come in. Probably many of our men had seen him enter the shop. And with the enemy in my house I felt a certain responsibility.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

His goal is to be a loyal revolutionary.

Question 7

Which is an example of internal conflict?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

making a difficult decision

Question 8

Review the passage from "Lather and Nothing Else."The chin was now clean, polished, soft. The man got up and looked at himself in the glass. He ran his hand over the skin and felt its freshness, its newness.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

pleasant.

Question 9

Which words best set a suspenseful scene and create an anxious mood? Select 4 options.nervouslycalmlystartledtenseduneasyblanklyevenly

Revolt · Accepted Answer

nervously; startled; tensed; uneasy

Mood and Narrative Techniques in "Lather and Nothing Else” Answers

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