"Wolf" by Loren Eisley
Interpretive Questions:
1.) Why does Eiseley tell Wolf that “there is something in us that we had both better try to forget”? (p. 173)
Eiseley tells Wolf this because they are both trying to forget their past; their past about meeting each other, and they both have to start over.
2.) Why does Eiseley describe the past’s influence on Wolf as “shadows…whispering in his mind”? (p. 172)
Eiseley describes the past's influence on Wolf this way because his memories are still there, but they are undefinable, just outlines.
3.) What is the “understanding” that leads Eiseley to back away from Wolf? (p. 172)
The understanding that leads Eiseley to back away from Wolf is respect and trust in each other, knowing that they will both do the right thing to protect each other.
4.) Why does Eiseley imagine Wolf telling him, “Come back to the fire,…or you will be lost”? (p. 173)
Eiseley imagines Wolf telling him this because the Wolf knows the place better than Eiseley does.
5.) At the end of the essay, why does Eiseley put the bone back “high on a shelfin “his” cabinet?” (p. 173)
At the end of the essay, Eiseley does this because he thinks Wolf might stay, it could leave a memory of Wolf, or it could leave hope in Eiseley that Wolf might return.
6.) At the end of the essay, why does Eiseley call the bison fossil “our bone”? (p. 173)
At the end of the essay, Eiseley does this because it is a bond between Wolf and him.
7.) Is Eiseley saying that people, as well as animals, are what we are “and cannot be otherwise because of the shadows”? (p. 172)
Wolf is still a wolf, saying that just because they have had a past, but it could still attack Eiseley.
8.) Why does Eiseley imagine Wolf telling him that “we are in another time, in the snow”? (p. 172)
Eiseley imagines this because it is another time in their friendship, and they cannot rely on the past to dictate who they are now.
9.) Why does Eiseley tell us that “even to me the shadows had whispered – to me, that scholar in his study”? (p. 173)
Eiseley tells us this because he has something in common with the wolf; the instinct to survive.
10.) Why does Eiseley see Wolf as “civilized now” when he leads Eiseley back inside? (p. 173)
Eiseley sees Wolf this way because they are switching roles, the wolf is taking charge.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Remote (p. 171)
Quote: "A time comes when creatures whose destinies have crossed somewhere in the remote past are forced to appraise each other as though they were total strangers."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Far away.
Synonym: Secluded
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): In the remote field of snow and ice, I spotted a tall mountain in the distance.
2.) Appraise (p. 171)
Quote: "A time comes when creatures whose destinies have crossed somewhere in the remote past are forced to appraise each other as though they were total strangers."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Check
Synonym: Treat
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): People all around the house just appraise each other as if they were in the wrong house.
3.) Debris (p. 171)
Quote: "I was working, actually, amidst the debris of a far greater winter."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Destroyed pieces of something.
Synonym: Remnants
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The debris from houses were sent flying everywhere by the strong winds from the hurricane.
4.) Remnants (p. 171)
Quote: "No remnants of flesh attached to those relics."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Remaining pieces.
Synonym: Particles.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Remnants of fish were left all across the beach after the oil spill.
5.) Utterance (p. 172)
Quote: "There was nothing in that bone to taste, but ancient shapes were moving in his mind and determining his utterance."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Expressions
Synonym: Ignorance
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The boy was hard to understand over his utterance.
6.) Indifferently (p. 173)
Quote: " 'Wolf' I said, but this time, holding a familiar leash, I spoke from the door indifferently."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Without concern
Synonym:Carelessly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Indifferently, I let the fork drop on the floor without trying to catch it.
7.) Receded (p. 173)
Quote: "Instantly from his eyes that another visitant receded."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Move away.
Synonym: Retreat
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Athens was advancing, and the Spartans receded, letting Athens win the battle.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when Eiseley acts similar to a wolf and when Eiseley acts different from a wolf. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
1.) Why does Eiseley tell Wolf that “there is something in us that we had both better try to forget”? (p. 173)
Eiseley tells Wolf this because they are both trying to forget their past; their past about meeting each other, and they both have to start over.
2.) Why does Eiseley describe the past’s influence on Wolf as “shadows…whispering in his mind”? (p. 172)
Eiseley describes the past's influence on Wolf this way because his memories are still there, but they are undefinable, just outlines.
3.) What is the “understanding” that leads Eiseley to back away from Wolf? (p. 172)
The understanding that leads Eiseley to back away from Wolf is respect and trust in each other, knowing that they will both do the right thing to protect each other.
4.) Why does Eiseley imagine Wolf telling him, “Come back to the fire,…or you will be lost”? (p. 173)
Eiseley imagines Wolf telling him this because the Wolf knows the place better than Eiseley does.
5.) At the end of the essay, why does Eiseley put the bone back “high on a shelfin “his” cabinet?” (p. 173)
At the end of the essay, Eiseley does this because he thinks Wolf might stay, it could leave a memory of Wolf, or it could leave hope in Eiseley that Wolf might return.
6.) At the end of the essay, why does Eiseley call the bison fossil “our bone”? (p. 173)
At the end of the essay, Eiseley does this because it is a bond between Wolf and him.
7.) Is Eiseley saying that people, as well as animals, are what we are “and cannot be otherwise because of the shadows”? (p. 172)
Wolf is still a wolf, saying that just because they have had a past, but it could still attack Eiseley.
8.) Why does Eiseley imagine Wolf telling him that “we are in another time, in the snow”? (p. 172)
Eiseley imagines this because it is another time in their friendship, and they cannot rely on the past to dictate who they are now.
9.) Why does Eiseley tell us that “even to me the shadows had whispered – to me, that scholar in his study”? (p. 173)
Eiseley tells us this because he has something in common with the wolf; the instinct to survive.
10.) Why does Eiseley see Wolf as “civilized now” when he leads Eiseley back inside? (p. 173)
Eiseley sees Wolf this way because they are switching roles, the wolf is taking charge.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Remote (p. 171)
Quote: "A time comes when creatures whose destinies have crossed somewhere in the remote past are forced to appraise each other as though they were total strangers."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Far away.
Synonym: Secluded
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): In the remote field of snow and ice, I spotted a tall mountain in the distance.
2.) Appraise (p. 171)
Quote: "A time comes when creatures whose destinies have crossed somewhere in the remote past are forced to appraise each other as though they were total strangers."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Check
Synonym: Treat
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): People all around the house just appraise each other as if they were in the wrong house.
3.) Debris (p. 171)
Quote: "I was working, actually, amidst the debris of a far greater winter."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Destroyed pieces of something.
Synonym: Remnants
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The debris from houses were sent flying everywhere by the strong winds from the hurricane.
4.) Remnants (p. 171)
Quote: "No remnants of flesh attached to those relics."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Remaining pieces.
Synonym: Particles.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Remnants of fish were left all across the beach after the oil spill.
5.) Utterance (p. 172)
Quote: "There was nothing in that bone to taste, but ancient shapes were moving in his mind and determining his utterance."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Expressions
Synonym: Ignorance
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The boy was hard to understand over his utterance.
6.) Indifferently (p. 173)
Quote: " 'Wolf' I said, but this time, holding a familiar leash, I spoke from the door indifferently."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Without concern
Synonym:Carelessly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Indifferently, I let the fork drop on the floor without trying to catch it.
7.) Receded (p. 173)
Quote: "Instantly from his eyes that another visitant receded."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Move away.
Synonym: Retreat
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Athens was advancing, and the Spartans receded, letting Athens win the battle.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when Eiseley acts similar to a wolf and when Eiseley acts different from a wolf. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Similar
1. When they share the same instinct to survive. (Pg. 173) 2. When they are protecting each other. (Pg.173) 3. They share the bone as a bond. (Pg. 174) 4. They both have a past. (Pg. 174) 5. They are both lost in the blizzard. (Pg. 173) |
Different
1. Eiseley is a human and Wolf is a wolf. (Pg. 171) 2. Wolf has better instincts. (Pg. 173) 3. They want the bone for different reasons.(Pg. 173) 4. Eiseley remembers Wolf better than Wolf remembers Eiseley. (Pg.171) 5. Wolf is in charge. (Pg. 173) |