Reread the beginning of “The Offering” and recall how the story ends.

By the time the wolf reaches her she has already eaten the other children. It studies her, blood still dribbling from her chin, and believing her more beast than child, it slinks off to the next town. But the children are still in her, as she knew they would be, and after some reassurance that she's a safe vessel, they start to come out again.

Which set of words from this passage work best to establish the story’s conflict?

time, children, knew, town

already, still, after, again

dribbling, beast, reassurance, safe

wolf, chin, some, start

1 answer

The set of words that works best to establish the story’s conflict is already, still, after, again. This set reflects the ongoing struggle of the character and hints at the cyclical nature of her actions and consequences, highlighting the tension in the story.