I would go with use direct quotations. Because while the other options will help you to gain a range of research it won't necessarily help to ensure it is accurate. If you use direct quotations you can be sure that your research is accurate as it is from a primary source.
Hope I helped.
B. He wants to communicate directly with the readers
Strung is an action verb.
Gothic fiction is characterised by an atmosphere of suspense or mystery, shown in this case when the writer is saying that "something painful had met his eye".
Moreover, the word "tormented" when describing how the character feels and the phrase "a sudden jrk" when describing how he reacts, create the image of the character being afflicted and even frightened by something, which is also a characteristic of Gothic fiction.
The whole paragraph is conveying mystery, fright and even darkness.
