From the excerpt of "Big Water," it can be inferred that Henry and Eva have provided comfort and safety to Daniel and the narrator after a traumatic experience. The fact that Daniel is described as "tunneled down beneath the blankets like a mole" suggests that he is seeking refuge and is possibly overwhelmed by their recent ordeal. The narrator’s dread upon returning to civilization indicates a shared experience of trauma that both she and Daniel are grappling with, while Henry’s call of “Parry Sound” signifies an attempt to reconnect them to the present reality and signal that they have indeed reached safety. Thus, Henry and Eva's presence seems to play a crucial role in helping Daniel and the narrator transition from the trauma they endured to a place of physical safety, albeit with emotional challenges still present.
Big Water%0D%0Aby Andrea Curtis%0D%0A%0D%0AToday 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.%0D%0A%0D%0A“Parry Sound,” Henry calls out, and I see the blankets covering Daniel begin to stir.%0D%0A%0D%0AAlong 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.%0D%0A%0D%0AI 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.%0D%0A%0D%0A1 of 3%0D%0AQuestion%0D%0AUse the excerpt from “Big Water” to answer the question.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt is possible to infer from this excerpt something about what Henry and Eva have done for Daniel and the narrator.%0D%0A%0D%0AWhat inference can you make?%0D%0A%0D%0AIn 3–5 sentences, state your inference and provide strong and thorough textual evidence from the excerpt to support the inference.
3 answers
4 sentences
In the excerpt from "Big Water," it can be inferred that Henry and Eva have been protective figures for Daniel and the narrator during a challenging and traumatic time. The narrator's feeling of dread and Daniel's retreat under the blankets suggest that they are struggling to process their recent experiences. Henry's call of "Parry Sound" indicates an effort to ground them in their current situation and reassure them of their safety. Overall, Henry and Eva's actions seem to provide a sense of security, even as the emotional fallout of their ordeal lingers.