Question

Marvelous Feats
1
Many years ago, a tightrope walker named Garrat stopped in a small town to perform. At
the edge of the town square, he tied his rope to two fir trees on either side of a glistening
pond. He then proceeded to entertain the townspeople with daring stunts. During the
performance, the audience shrieked at his courage, gasped at his risks, and cheered at his
successes.
2
After the show, neighbors Timon, Margot, and Ivan had a picnic on the grass and discussed
the performance.
3
“I climbed a tree to watch,” Timon told his friends. “Only I saw how Garrat balanced a tray
of lit candles on his head as he crossed the tightrope. It was marvelous!”
4
“That was an accomplishment,” Margot conceded, “but I sat on a rock beneath your tree.
Only I saw how—”
“No, it wasn’t,” Ivan interrupted. “I rowed a boat into the pond. From the pond, I could see
that when Garrat stopped in the middle of the rope, he balanced on one foot and dropped
bread crumbs for the fish! It was astounding.”
Timon, Margot, and Ivan bickered back and forth about what had been Garrat’s most
impressive trick. Soon, other townspeople heard the disagreement and joined in; their
voices grew sharper and louder until everyone was talking and no one was listening.
When someone clapped his hands loudly, they all stopped midsentence to identify who
had interrupted them.
Garrat stood at the edge of the crowd with a coil of rope, a long wooden pole, and a
knapsack at his feet. He frowned as he said, “This welcoming town should never let any
disputes tarnish their friendships. Let me settle the matter, for I know which of my feats
deserves the greatest honor.”
He held up the wooden pole that he used during the performance.
10
“This simple pole performs the most marvelous feat,” Garrat declared. “When I perch on
my rope like a bird on a twig, this pole becomes my wings and allows me to balance. No
trick is more significant. If you do not trust my judgment, walk across a rope without a pole.
The ground will jump up to meet you.”
11
Chuckling at his joke, Garrat gathered his belongings and walked away from the now-silent
crowd.
What was the theme?

Answer 1

The theme was balance — literally (the tightrope stunts: candles on his head, standing on one foot, the pole as “wings” to steady him) and metaphorically (Garrat’s admonition about keeping friendships steady instead of letting disputes upset them).