tinkle, tinkle, babble, and gush! came the princess's laugh over the water from far away. There she was, swimming like a swan. Nor would she come out for king or queen, chancellor or daughter. She was perfectly obstinate.

Question

But at the same time she seemed more sedate than usual. Perhaps that was because a great pleasure spoils laughing. At all events, after this, the passion of her life was to get into the water, and she was always the better behaved and the more beautiful the more she had of it. Summer and winter it was quite the same; only she could not stay so long in the water when they had to break the ice to let her in. Any day, from morning till evening in summer, she might be descried—a streak of white in the blue water—lying as still as the shadow of a cloud, or shooting along like a dolphin; disappearing, and coming up again far off, just where one did not expect her. She would have been in the lake of a night, too, if she could have had her way; for the balcony of her window overhung a deep pool in it; and through a shallow reedy passage she could have swum out into the wide wet water, and no one would have been any the wiser. Indeed, when she happened to wake in the moonlight she could hardly resist the temptation. But there was the sad difficulty of getting into it. She had as great a dread of the air as some children have of the water. For the slightest gust of wind would blow her away; and a gust might arise in the stillest moment. And if she gave herself a push towards the water and just failed of reaching it, her situation would be dreadfully awkward, irrespective of the wind; for at best there she would have to remain, suspended in her nightgown, till she was seen and angled for by someone from the window.

"Oh! if I had my gravity," thought she, contemplating the water, "I would flash off this balcony like a long white sea-bird, headlong into the darling wetness. Heigh-ho!"
Create a T-CHART and respond to the following question:
How does the lake change the princess's life in the story?
Use the text "The Light Princess Excerpt" to support your answer.

Answer 1

Sure! Here’s a T-chart that outlines how the lake changes the princess's life in the story, with supporting evidence from the excerpt.

T-Chart

| Positive Changes | Negative Changes | |---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------| | Fulfillment of Desire: The lake allows the princess to indulge in her passion for swimming, making her happier and more content. <br> Evidence: "At all events, after this, the passion of her life was to get into the water." | Dread of the Air: Although she loves the water, she has a fear of the air, which limits her ability to enjoy swimming freely. <br> Evidence: "She had as great a dread of the air as some children have of the water." | | Increased Beauty and Behavior: The more she swims, the more beautiful and well-behaved she becomes, indicating the lake has a positive influence on her character. <br> Evidence: "She was always the better behaved and the more beautiful the more she had of it." | Isolation in the Night: Her desire to swim at night is hindered by her fear of getting caught out of the water. <br> Evidence: "But there was the sad difficulty of getting into it." | | Symbol of Freedom: The lake represents freedom and escape from royal duties and expectations, allowing her to be herself. <br> Evidence: "Swimming like a swan" shows her grace and freedom in the water. | Fear of Discovery: The risk of being seen if she ventures out at night creates a sense of anxiety and limits her freedom. <br> Evidence: "For at best there she would have to remain, suspended in her nightgown, till she was seen and angled for by someone from the window." |

Summary

The lake greatly enriches the princess's life by providing her with joy, beauty, and a sense of freedom. However, it also instills fears and limitations that complicate her relationship with the outside world, showcasing the duality of her experience.