"Free People, and ye too, jackals of Shere Khan, for twelve seasons I have led ye to and from the kill, and in all that time not one has been trapped or maimed. Now I have missed my kill. Ye know how that plot was made. Ye know how ye brought me up to an untried buck to make my weakness known. It was cleverly done. Your right is to kill me here on the Council Rock now. Therefore I ask, 'Who comes to make an end of the Lone Wolf?' For it is my right, by the Law of the Jungle, that ye come one by one."

Question

—“Mowgli’s Brothers,” The Jungle Book,
Rudyard Kipling

Which connection might best help you understand how Akela feels here?

thinking about a time when I followed the rules even though it would have been easier to go against them
thinking about a time when people tried to outsmart me
thinking about a time when I was not able to meet a challenge and had to leave a group

Answer 1

To understand how Akela feels in this moment, the best connection would be thinking about a time when I was not able to meet a challenge and had to leave a group.

In this passage, Akela expresses feelings of disappointment and vulnerability. He acknowledges that he has led the group successfully for many seasons, but now he has failed to secure a kill, which puts him in a precarious position. This situation resonates with someone who has faced a significant challenge, struggled to meet expectations, and ultimately felt compelled to step back from a role or group because of that failure. Akela's sense of honor and the acknowledgment of his own limitations can parallel personal experiences of facing challenges and the emotions tied to being unable to fulfill a responsibility within a community or group setting.