Questions: Read the excerpt from act 3 , scene 4 of The Tragedy of Macbeth. [Macbeth.] [To Ghost of BANQUO.] Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, The arm'd rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger; Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves Shall never tremble Which word best describes the mood the similes help create in this excerpt? anxious careless impatient infuriated

The answer is anxious: the original text in the question...

Explanation:

• Anxious: The similes in the excerpt—comparing the ghost to a "rugged Russian bear," an "arm'd rhinoceros," or a "Hyrcan tiger"—evoke a sense of fear and unease. Macbeth is expressing his anxiety and terror at the sight of Banquo's ghost, indicating that he would rather face any terrifying beast than the ghost itself. This creates a mood of anxiety and dread.

• Careless: This option is incorrect because Macbeth is clearly not indifferent or unconcerned. His vivid descriptions and the emotional intensity of his speech show that he is deeply affected and far from careless.

• Impatient: While Macbeth might be impatient in other parts of the play, this particular excerpt does not convey impatience. Instead, it focuses on his fear and anxiety about the ghost's appearance.

• Infuriated: Although Macbeth does display anger at various points in the play, the mood in this excerpt is more about his fear and anxiety rather than outright fury. The similes he uses are meant to convey his terror rather than his anger.

Thus, the word that best describes the mood created by the similes in this excerpt is "anxious."