How does the mood of the passage affect the reader's understanding of plot? 1. The unchanging quality of the sea creates a mood of stillness, emphasizing the peace and tranquility of the captain's life on the sea. 2. The emphasis on strange and unusual circumstances establishes a mood of fearfulness, revealing the captain's alarm about the stranger 3. The isolated setting and gray imagery produce a mood of loneliness, implying that the captain struggles to trust his crew despite his good nature. 4. The imagery of troubled birds and the gloomy weather contribute to a mood of suspense, suggesting that a conflict will occur between the captain and the stranger.​