What is the effect of the word choice in the phrase “when you are set down at random in that street in the middle of an inky black night” in Paragraph 2 of the passage?

It creates a strong, relatable image.

Explanation:

Word-choice always plays a vital role in creating the intended tone, mood, and imagery which allows the author to leave the intended impact(feeling) on the readers. The choice of words displays the author's attitude or approach towards a particular subject matter which offers a perspective to the readers to view or feel the text and associate themselves to the idea(being conveyed) and respond accordingly.

In the given paragraph from the passage, the choice of words in the phrase 'when...night' creates a 'very strong and relatable image' through which the readers can visualize and associate themselves to it. It allows the readers to connect to the troubling times in their life(signified by 'inky black night') and elicit the response accordingly.

first of all the mood needs to be defined: it is obviously a mood of deceitful relief and serenity. why? because the cape horn is one of the most violent maritime regions of earth and although it has been left behind, it is a personification of ahab’s delirium and the fact that the end of the passage speaks about it about being “hidden” but “raving” immediately conveys the feeling the calm is not permanent but fleeting.

furthermore, the oxymoron “mild stun'sails” is the first instance of such feeling as the adjective “mild” is associated with “stunned” underscoring the fleeting nature of this “tranquil” moment. and the contrasts keep piling up, with the opposition between “dark den” and “blessed light and air” to end with the final conclusion that leaves the reader with the uneasy knowledge that this is just a reprieve.