Answer: sample answer
Explanation:
Possible conflicts:
the main character’s desire to recapture Nab versus Nab’s desire to escape
the main character’s desire to respect Nab versus his desire to capture and control Nab
Possible themes:
the human need to maintain pride in the presence of other animals
the right of other animals to play their own role in nature’s struggles
the helplessness of humans against the forces of nature
the human belief that humans can tame and control the wild
the human need to feel superior to other animals
learning when to disobey your parents or act against your own better judgment
the difficulty of overcoming pride and accepting limitations
Some questions you might have explored:
Why is it so important to the main character that he recapture Nab?
Is the story saying that people are wrong to try to control nature?
The main character admires Nab’s intelligence greatly. Does the main character see human qualities in Nab that the seal doesn’t actually have? Does he fail to see that Nab has special strengths that humans don’t have?
Could a writer tell a similar story in a different setting that didn’t involve sea life?
Thoughts raised by the ideas and questions listed above:
It’s important for the main character to recapture Nab because the main character wants to enjoy Nab’s company. This desire is also important because it creates the main conflict in the story. The main character sees something special in Nab. But the traits that make Nab special also make it clear that Nab doesn’t belong in a circus. In fact, capturing Nab makes Nab less truly himself.
The main character and his father are in a business that benefits from controlling wildlife. To do their job, they need some special abilities and an understanding of sea life. They end up using their superior abilities to control the animals they admire. But the animals suffer as a result. In this way, the author seems to be saying that humans are wrong to control nature.
What drives people to put themselves at risk? Many great athletic tasks require overcoming limitations and risking personal safely. The main character takes such a risk when he tries to recapture Nab. Is the main character determined to get Nab so his father can make money? Or is his pride hurt by Nab’s ability to escape?
One possible theme of the story is the difficulty of overcoming your pride. The main character faces this challenge when he realizes that a seal has strengths he doesn’t share. Even so, I don’t think he really learns to deal with his pride and be more humble. I wonder if he’ll have to take a similar risk more times to overcome his pride.
