In this story, the setting is the biggest factor in setting the mood. The author uses it to create tension, fear and negativity. Sinclair Ross uses the wind, dust, lack or rain and poor soil to help us understand the problems of the couple. The darkness and constant wind create conflict between Ellen and Paul as well as between Paul and his environment. This causes us to have a pessimistic view of the land and in turn of the story. The lack of rain caused the the soil to be dry and infertile, which meant that Paul and Ellen couldn't grow the necesary crops and make a profit. THis caused a lot of tension between the two of them, which drastically affected the mood. Instead of a cheerful lunch it became a tense, angry lunch which affects the outcome of the story. The prairies are portrayed as a desolate, barren, horrible place which the author uses to create a tension. "They lay black, naked. Beaten and mounded smoot

Ellen's "immobile stare" represents her feelings about their situation. She feels trapped and fearful on the prairies. The wind scares her and forces her to stay inside her house day in and day out. She is constantly watching and waiting for the wind to die down and the rain to come but it doesn't, and there is nothing she can do about that. She waits all day for her husband and keeps her eyes open, watching for him to come in. The storm strains her eyes and she widens them to try and see. Ellen is so tired and sick of the dust that she can't even close her eyes anymore. Ellen is also forced to seek refuge within her small home, which is also the place where she feels the most secluded.The winds cause her to be tense and she can't stop and relax, she just keeps watching and waiting, caged in her house while she waits for it to end.

2. What is signifigant about Ellen's "immobile stare"?

Some topics in this essay:
Paul Ellen, , Sinclair Ross, Paul Paul, Ellen Paul, watching waiting, ellen's immobile stare, immobile stare, author create tension, lack rain, author create, create tension, causes reader, ellen's immobile, ellen paul, helps deal,