When the general, nursing his bruised shoulder, had gone, Rainsford took up his flight again. It was flight now, a desperate, hopeless flight, that carried him on for some hours. Dusk came, then darkness, and still he pressed on. The ground grew softer under his moccasins; the vegetation grew ranker, denser; insects bit him savagely. Then, as he stepped forward, his foot sank into the ooze. He tried to wrench it back, but the muck sucked viciously at his foot as if it were a giant leech. With a violent effort, he tore his foot loose. He knew where he was now. Death Swamp and its quicksand. Which of the following statements BEST describes impact of the setting in this paragraph?
A) The setting creates anticipation and suspense through vivid descriptions and figurative language.
Eliminate
B) The setting reinforces the strength and optimism of Rainsford by establishing a mood of exhilaration.
C) The setting is only minimally important in this paragraph because the focus is on the character traits of Rainsford.
D) The setting is only minimally important in this paragraph because the focus is on the character traits of the general.