Concept: Mood is the emotional atmosphere that a poem creates in the reader.
The night scene here is not calm but tense and uneasy.
Explanation: The words "serrated shadows" suggest sharp, jagged, and threatening darkness.
This chilling visual image creates discomfort rather than peace.
The speaker says "sensation pained me," showing that the experience causes emotional distress.
He feels "faceless, silent as night thieves".
Night thieves are dangerous because they move secretly and invisibly.
This comparison fills the speaker with fear of hidden evil.
He is alert, uneasy, and suspicious of what the night may bring.
There is no excitement or acceptance in the lines.
Instead, the speaker is gripped by worry and fearful anticipation.
All these images of pain, darkness, and hidden threats create a mood of anxiety.
This feeling is best described as apprehension.
Defiance, joy, and indifference do not match the fearful tone of the words.
Answer: The dominant mood is one of apprehension.