Read the passage about a prisoner being taken to the gallows and answer: What was the tone of the essay at the beginning of the description?

Introduction / Context:
This reading comprehension question is based on a passage describing a group of officials escorting a prisoner to the gallows for execution. The scene opens with the line We set out for the gallows and then explains how warders with rifles surround the prisoner as they walk. The question asks about the tone of the essay at the very beginning. Tone refers to the general emotional quality or attitude conveyed by the author words, such as gloomy, cheerful, humorous, or fearful.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The passage begins with the description of a prisoner being taken to be hanged at the gallows.
• The officials, including warders and magistrates, are walking in a formal procession.
• The language focuses on rifles, gripping the prisoner, and the serious atmosphere before a death sentence is carried out.
• We need to decide which option best summarises this initial emotional tone.

Concept / Approach:
To identify tone, we must pay attention to subject matter and word choice. A gallows is a structure used for hanging condemned prisoners, which immediately signals a serious and tragic situation. The description of warders marching with rifles and gripping the prisoner emphasises control, fear, and inevitability. Nothing in the beginning suggests celebration or humour. Instead, the mood is heavy and somber, which is best captured by the word gloomy. Recognising that tone comes from both what is described and how it is described helps us choose accurately among the given options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the opening sentence: We set out for the gallows. Step 2: Recall that the gallows is associated with execution by hanging, a sad and serious event. Step 3: Notice how the passage describes warders with rifles at the slope and others gripping the prisoner by his arm and shoulder. Step 4: Observe that there is no humour, joy, or lightness in this description; it is formal, tense, and grim. Step 5: Compare these observations with the options: celebrative, emotionally charged, gloomy, and light hearted. Step 6: Conclude that gloomy best matches the heavy and depressing mood of leading a man to his execution.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, we can contrast the opening with examples of other tones. A celebrative tone would talk about happiness, success, or festivity, which is absent here. A light hearted tone would use humour or casual language, but the passage instead uses serious and precise descriptions of uniforms, rifles, and formal movement. Emotionally charged could suggest intense emotion, but the narrative is rather controlled and observational, not full of exclamations or personal feelings. The steady, sombre description of a condemned man final walk clearly fits under the label gloomy. The absence of positive or playful elements further confirms this conclusion.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Celebrative: There is no sign of celebration in the description. Execution is a tragic event, and the narrator does not show any joy or triumph.
Emotionally charged: While the situation is serious, the narrative style at the beginning is calm and descriptive, not filled with vivid emotional outbursts or strong personal reactions.
Light-hearted: The passage begins with references to gallows, rifles, and a prisoner being escorted to his death, which are completely incompatible with a playful or humorous tone.
Gloomy: This option accurately reflects the dark and depressing mood created by the setting and subject matter.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the emotional nature of a situation with the narrator tone. They may think that because an execution is emotional, the tone must be emotionally charged. However, tone depends on how the author chooses to present the scene, not just on the event itself. Another pitfall is ignoring key words like gallows and rifles, which strongly suggest gloom rather than lightness. To avoid these mistakes, learners should carefully read both the subject and the style of writing before deciding on a tone label.

Final Answer:
The tone of the essay at the beginning of the passage is clearly Gloomy.