Question

12 identify one theme the reader can infer from the details of the story, and explain how the author develops the theme. include evidence from the text to support your response.

1. explain how the lightning strike during the trapeze performance changes the course of anna’s life. use evidence from the text to support your answer.

1. describe one way the narrator’s perception of her mother changes from childhood to adulthood. u details from the story to explain your answer.

1. identify a theme related to courage or sacrifice in “the leap.” explain how at least two events f different points in the story work together to develop this theme.

Explanation:

To answer these questions, we analyze the story "The Leap" and use textual evidence. Here are sample responses for each:

Question 12

One theme is family bonds and sacrifice. The author develops it through Anna’s actions: she risks her life to save her daughter (climbing the burning house) and earlier, she left trapeze (after the accident) to start a new life with the narrator’s father. Evidence: “I owe her my existence three times” (narrator) shows sacrifices for family.

The lightning strike during the trapeze performance changes Anna’s life. It causes the death of her first husband (Harry) and her unborn child, and she loses her trapeze partner (Adele). Physically, she is injured (broken arm, leg). This forces her to leave trapeze, marry the narrator’s father, and start a new life. Evidence: “The lightning bolt … hit the main pole … Harry died … Anna was injured” and later she “left the circus” to marry.

As a child, the narrator sees her mother (Anna) as a former trapeze artist with a “fragile” body. In adulthood, she realizes Anna’s courage and resilience. As a child, she may view Anna’s past as a story; as an adult, she understands Anna’s sacrifices (saving her from fire, leaving trapeze). Evidence: As a child, she notes Anna’s “slight build”, but as an adult, she sees Anna climb a burning house: “My mother … climbed up … to save me”, realizing her bravery.

Answer:

Theme: Family bonds are strengthened through sacrifice. Development: Anna sacrifices her trapeze career after the accident to marry the narrator’s father, and later risks her life to save the narrator from a fire. Evidence: “I owe her my existence three times” highlights these sacrifices, showing how the author uses Anna’s actions to develop the theme of family - centered sacrifice.

Question 13