All the same, when I came to the Place of the Gods, I was afraid, afraid. The current of the great river is very strong—it gripped my raft with its hands. That was magic, for the river itself is wide and calm. I could feel evil spirits about me, I was swept down the stream. Never have I been so much alone—I tried to think of my knowledge, but it was a squirrel’s heap of winter nuts. There was no strength in my knowledge any more and I felt small and naked as a new-hatched bird—alone upon the great river, the servant of the gods. –“By the Waters of Babylon,”

Stephen Vincent Benét

Which external conflict does the character face in this passage?

Which line from this passage serves as evidence that supports the conflict?

How does the character respond to the conflict?

4. at the conclusion of frankenstein, robert walton has an encounter with the monster, who arrives after victor frankenstein has died. perhaps surprisingly, the monster mourns his creator and expresses remorse over the fate that victor suffered. the monster pledges to destroy himself and then departs, disappearing as he goes further north. how does the monster’s behavior and attitude in this part of the novel affect the way readers view him? is he sympathetic? is he more hateful because it is only after victor has died that he relents? how does the change in the monster fit with the theme of duality in the novel?

Read the excerpt from part 3 of the call of the wild. but it was in giving the law and making his mates live up to it, that buck excelled. dave and sol-leks did not mind the change in leadership. it was none of their business. their business was to toil, and toil mightily, in the traces. so long as that were not interfered with, they did not care what happened. billee, the good-natured, could lead for all they cared, so long as he kept order. the rest of the team, however, had grown unruly during the last days of spitz, and their surprise was great now that buck proceeded to lick them into shape. what theme is most supported by the ideas in this excerpt? good leaders are strong and intelligent. loyalty can be a very powerful force. only the strong survive in the wilderness. we are all ruled by our natural instincts.

Read the excerpt from rena's promise: two sisters in auschwitz. “i have a favor to ask of you, andrzej . . this is very difficult for me, but i must ask. it is no longer safe in tylicz for rena. her mother and i are worried for her safety every day.” “i heard what happened last night, mr. kornreich. i understand your concern.” “i have no money to pay you for this favor.” “sir, i would not take any money from you. she is my friend since childhood. i will do whatever you ask to your daughter.” “ you.” papa paused, stroking his chin where his beard should have been. “you seem like a man of your word. if you would bring rena across the border to slovakia, her mother and i might find sleep at night.” which best summarizes the excerpt? although he does not trust andrzej, rena’s father fears for his daughter’s life and finally agrees to leave her with him. slovakia is the only safe place for the jews of europe, and andrzej has agreed to take rena there. rena’s father asks andrzej to take her to safety in slovakia, and he agrees to do so. after much deliberation, rena’s father pays a polish man to take her safely across the border to slovakia. mark this and return