B. Using humor is likely to draw more attention to his words, as varying tones and tactics leave people wondering what is next to come.
I would say suspense or tension but I'm not entirely sure because a motif is just a design, a catharsis is like releasing emotion from a suppressed feeling, tension is dragging things out, and suspense leaves readers on the edge of their seat.
In a fictional narrative , the first paragraph should hook the reader and grab their attention. You might do this by describing the setting and giving specific detail in a way that sets the tone for the rest of the story. ... The reader knows the location of the story and the voice of the main character.