<span>Muir's use of diction creates a mood of urgency and fear. The highlighted words - difficult, difficult, force, crooked, struggling, tangled, fallen, fear, faint and hungry - come together to make you feel that the author is in danger. The imagery is clear so that it comes alive in your mind. Diction can help create a mood which can help bring everything else together.
Hope this helps.</span>
No, she is not handicapped. She is the one running the Handicapper General. As she probably sets herself as the standard, she likely sees herself as equal and doesn't give herself handicaps.
