How Does Harper Lee Build Up a Sense of Danger Within to Kill a Mockingbird

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What methods does Lee use to build up a sense of danger in his passage? This passage occurs in chapter 10 before the trial of Tim Robinson. In this chapter, the Maycomb community encounter a mad dog. Lee presents the build-up of danger through the use of quick verbs one after another such as ‘opened’, ‘latched’, ‘latched’ and ‘held’ all within the same sentence to emphasize the speed of the actions that are being undertaken due to the potential harm that this dog could bring about as well as building up the tension as well as the panic that Calpurnia is feeling. Lee also presents the build-up of danger through the actions of Calpurnia as she ‘block(s)’ Jem and Scout from harm. The use of this heavy and protective action emphasizes the fear of this dog suggesting that even looking at this dog was enough to cause harm. Lee presents a sense of danger through the monosyllabic, interrupted conversation between Atticus and Mr Tate such as ‘this is a one-shot job’, suggesting that the conversation between them is quick, building up the tension. The constant interruptions between the two men also emphasize that they don’t have enough time to even let each other finish due to the danger that is fast approaching them. Lee presents a sense of danger through the use of a simile: ‘he moved like an underwater swimmer’. This simile suggests that time has suddenly slowed down, contrasting to the earlier fast pace dialect and actions which further emphasizes how slow everything has suddenly seemed to become as all eyes are on Atticus. The sudden change in speed heightens the tension and so builds up the tension even higher. Lee presents a sense of danger when Scout hears Atticus’s glasses ‘crack’, the use of onomatopoeia shows the reader that the atmosphere was so still and quiet that even the sound of glass cracking could be heard and suggesting that the tension is so high
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