Nick describes Tom's body as?

Nick describes Tom's body as?

• A. Athletic
• B. Cruel
• C. Slender
• D. Gentle

Answer: (B)

Describing a character’s body with a morally charged adjective is a way for the narrator to signal how that character behaves or feels toward others. When Nick calls Tom’s body cruel, the choice of word isn’t about size or shape alone; it suggests a harsh, threatening presence and a disposition that’s unkind or capacity for harm. The term carries strong negative connotations, making readers infer that Tom embodies danger or ruthlessness even before we see his actions. This helps establish tension and foreshadow interactions, guiding us to anticipate conflict. Other descriptors like athletic or slender focus on physical attributes without implying how Tom treats people, while gentle suggests kindness, which would conflict with the sense of menace the narrator is pushing through this particular description.

Describing a character’s body with a morally charged adjective is a way for the narrator to signal how that character behaves or feels toward others. When Nick calls Tom’s body cruel, the choice of word isn’t about size or shape alone; it suggests a harsh, threatening presence and a disposition that’s unkind or capacity for harm. The term carries strong negative connotations, making readers infer that Tom embodies danger or ruthlessness even before we see his actions. This helps establish tension and foreshadow interactions, guiding us to anticipate conflict. Other descriptors like athletic or slender focus on physical attributes without implying how Tom treats people, while gentle suggests kindness, which would conflict with the sense of menace the narrator is pushing through this particular description.