From the excerpt of "Big Water," it can be inferred that Henry and Eva have been instrumental in providing support and care for Daniel and the narrator during a traumatic experience. The narrator expresses feelings of dread despite being in civilization again, indicating that the journey was perilous and emotionally taxing. The mention of Daniel "tunneled down beneath the blankets like a mole" suggests he is coping with the ordeal by retreating into a protective state, which implies that both Henry and Eva may have played a role in helping him and the narrator navigate their feelings of fear and trauma. Additionally, the detail about the environment changing into a bustling town filled with activity and movement underlines the stark contrast between their past experience of "certain death" and their current situation, highlighting the complexity of their emotions as they return to safety, likely facilitated by Henry and Eva's presence and assistance.
Big Water
by Andrea Curtis
Today I feel only dread. I’m sweating again—my cheeks are flushed. I thought I would feel relieved to be back in civilization, to be rescued from certain death, but instead, seeing the town and the men rushing about on the dock, the boats and sails and horse-drawn wagons, I’m struck again by what we have just endured. I want to find Daniel, see his face, know that he remembers too, but he’s tunneled down beneath the blankets like a mole.
“Parry Sound,” Henry calls out, and I see the blankets covering Daniel begin to stir.
Along the shore, lumber is stacked in piles as high as a schooner. It looks like a pencil drawing done with a ruler—perfect, straight lines. Boats, most of them small, meant for fishing, dot the bay here and there. Some are tied up at dock; others are anchored in the water just past the river. The chimney stacks of houses and large wood-frame buildings whisper smoky murmurs into the sky.
I hear the hwah of a seagull and look up, hoping absurdly to see the bird from the other day. But there are many seagulls, all of them flying around like tugboats escorting a ship into harbor.
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Question
Use the excerpt from “Big Water” to answer the question.
It is possible to infer from this excerpt something about what Henry and Eva have done for Daniel and the narrator.
What inference can you make?
In 3–5 sentences, state your inference and provide strong and thorough textual evidence from the excerpt to support the inference.
(4 points)
2 answers
1 answer