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Copywork
About This Passage
After the friends have passed through the darkest hours of their voyage, they bring up a tortoise carrying sweet water inside it. Calling it 'a treasure,' they kneel together and thank God. Copying it shows how Poe lets the starving friends stop, all at once, to be grateful the moment real help arrives.
This was indeed a treasure; and, falling on our knees with one accord, we returned fervent thanks to God for so seasonable a relief.
Full copywork activity with handwriting lines available in the complete study guide.
Discussion Questions
Narration Prompt
Tell what happens in this chapter in order: how the starving friends, past all hope, make a terrible choice by drawing lots, and Parker is the one who must die so the others might live; how, days later, the narrator remembers an axe hidden in the ship; how the friends cut down to the store-room and find olives, ham, and wine; and how they bring up a tortoise full of sweet water and thank God for it. Slow down at the moment you find most hopeful and tell what you think about it.
Discussion Questions
- Parker believes one person should die so the others can live, but the narrator tries hard to stop him and would rather suffer himself. Why do you think the two men see this terrible moment so differently? What part of the chapter helps you decide?
- After so much fear and hunger, the narrator suddenly remembers the axe that Peters had passed him, hidden in the ship. Why do you think that memory changes the mood so quickly for the friends? What part of the chapter helps you decide?
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Vocabulary Builder
Item 1
Holy; deeply respected and important.
Item 2
Very great fear.
Item 3
Very weak.
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Critical Thinking
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