In literature, what is a contrivance?
a. a device used to force action in a story rather than letting events unfold naturally
b. the increase of tension within a story that drives the plot toward the climax
c. an unexpected drop in tension that ends the plot without resolving the conflict
d. a struggle or problem that causes the events in a story to move forward

In literature, contrivance is a)  a device used to force action in a story rather than letting events unfold naturally.

Contrivances often give a sense of artificiality.

for example: in, he, a,from

for me, i'd go with (c) satisfied or (b) overjoyed because if you read it a couple of times, it makes since that it is c or b. it can't b (a) angry because booker was never angry about anything. at the end of the paragraph, booker states, "i think there are not many men in our country who have had the privilege of naming themselves in the way that i " i think that sentence kind of gives away the also, some words in the paragraph can also you like for example, "indulged," "calmly," "perplexity," "privilege," and defining words that you don't know, can you understand more of that paragraph and it can also increase your comprehension. : )

i'm really rally sorry if i'm incorrect, but if i'm hope this ! : )