Read the excerpt from "The Oval Portrait," by Edgar Allan Poe.
The rays of the numerous candles (for there were many) now fell within a niche of the room which had hitherto
been thrown into deep shade by one of the bed-posts. I thus saw in vivid light a picture all unnoticed before. It
was the portrait of a young girl just ripening into womanhood. I glanced at the painting hurriedly, and then
closed my eyes. Why I did this was not at first apparent even to my own perception. But while my lids remained
thus shut, I ran over in my mind my reason for so shutting them. It was an impulsive movement to gain time for
thought?-to make sure that my vision had not deceived me—to calm and subdue my fancy for a more sober
and more certain gaze.
Which statement best describes the effect of the narration on the story?
The narration imparts romance.
O The narration imparts curiosity.
The narration imparts frustration.
The narration imparts apprehension.