Shorter sentences work to speed up the pacing of the story.
Answer:
The central theme in "The Masque of the Red Death" is the inevitable, or perhaps more accurately, the inescapable nature, of death. Prospero and his companions attempt to shut themselves off from the rest of the world in an attempt to avoid the horrible plague (the "red death") that is ravaging the countryside.
By changing the type of obstacle the characters face
The answer is C. The sun is not purposely trying to burn leaves, as it is not sentient. The word fire may be used to exaggerate the tone, but it does not pertain to a simile. The sun’s rays resembling drops of fire may contribute to an energetic tone, but C is the only answer that suggests simile.