Question

What is the mood of this excerpt from "The Open Boat" by Stephen Crane?

The January water was icy, and he reflected immediately that it was colder than he had expected to find it off the coast of Florida. This appeared to his dazed mind as a fact important enough to be noted at the time. The coldness of the water was sad; it was tragic. This fact was somehow so mixed and confused with his opinion of his own situation that it seemed almost a proper reason for tears. The water was cold.

A.
overwhelmed
B.
optimistic
C.
condescending
D.
grateful
E.
expectant

Answer 1

Answer: A (overwhelmed)

Explanation: The last sentence says, “This fact was somehow mixed and confused with his opinion of his own situation that it seemed almost a proper reason for tears.” This shows that the guy was so sad because his situation was making him overwhelmed and want to cry.

Answer 2

A, explanation in the second to last sentence (sentence before ‘the water was cold’