A throng of bearded men, in sad-colored garments and gray, steeple-crowned hats, intermixed with women, some wearing hoods, and others bareheaded, was assembled in front of a wooden edifice, the door of which was heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron spikes. Which best describes the effect of the words "sad-colored," "steeple-crowned," and "iron spikes"?

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A throng of bearded men, in sad-colored garments and gray, steeple-crowned hats, intermixed with women, some wearing hoods, and others bareheaded, was assembled in front of a wooden edifice, the door of which was heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron spikes. Which best describes the effect of the words "sad-colored," "steeple-crowned," and "iron spikes"?

A. They establish the mournful mood.

B. They establish the hostile mood.

C. They establish the austere Puritan setting.

D. They establish the spiritual Puritan setting.

Answer:

The correct answer is letter C. They establish the austere Puritan setting.

Explanation:

The excerpt we are analyzing here was taken from Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel "The Scarlet Letter". The plot takes place in a Puritan environment, where religion and morals serve as an excuse to judge and condemn others harshly, no matter how big or small the sin. The Puritan Age was austere. People believed everyone was inevitably a sinner and should, therefore, repent greatly. They were strict in their morals and customs, and modest in their appearance. That is what the author intends to show when he uses expressions such as "sad-colored," "steeple-crowned," and "iron spikes": austerity, severity, stoniness of those people's lives and culture.