Wolf
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 that “there is something in us that we had both better try to forget”? (p. 173) because they are both trying to forget the past when they knew each other and now 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 of Wolf as “shadows…whispering in his mind”? (p. 172) because maybe the memories of when they knew each other in the past are fogged up in his mind and he can't remember what happened to them in the past exactly.
3.) What is the “understanding” that leads Eiseley to back away from Wolf? (p. 172)
The “understanding” (p.172) that leads Eiseley to back away from Wolf is that he trusts the wolf to do the right things from his mutual respect for the wolf.
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 “Come back to the fire,…or you will be lost” (p. 173) because it is the wolf's territory and he trusts the wolf to lead him back to where he belongs.
5.) At the end of the essay, why does Eiseley put the bone back “high on a shelfin “his” cabinet?” (p. 173)
Eiseley put the bone back “high on a shelfin “his” cabinet” (p. 173) because he might think that the wolf will stay if it is here or he could keep it as a memory of their relationship. Also, he might be keeping it so the wolf comes back.
6.) At the end of the essay, why does Eiseley call the bison fossil “our bone”? (p. 173)
Eiseley calls the bison fossil “our bone” (p. 173) as a memory of their relationship between man and animal.
7.) Is Eiseley saying that people, as well as animals, are what we are “and cannot be otherwise because of the shadows”? (p. 172)
Eiseley is saying that people as well as animals are what we are “and cannot be otherwise because of the shadows”? (p. 172) because he is warning him that just because they had a special moment, doesn't mean they are friends. The wolf could still injure him or kill him.
8.) Why does Eiseley imagine Wolf telling him that “we are in another time, in the snow”? (p. 172)
Eiseley imagines Wolf telling him that “we are in another time, in the snow” (p. 172) because the story is blinding everything that has happened in the past to show that that cannot dictate what the two 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 that “even to me the shadows had whispered – to me, that scholar in his study” (p. 173) because he is telling us that he had been tempted by the same things the wolf is survival instinct. He compares himself to the wolf and thinks of his animal instinct.
10.) Why does Eiseley see Wolf as “civilized now” when he leads Eiseley back inside? (p. 173)
Eiseley sees Wolf as "civilized now" (p.173) when he leads Eiseley back inside because since the Wolf had taken care of him, the tables turned and the Wolf became in charge when he led the human.
Eiseley tells Wolf that “there is something in us that we had both better try to forget”? (p. 173) because they are both trying to forget the past when they knew each other and now 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 of Wolf as “shadows…whispering in his mind”? (p. 172) because maybe the memories of when they knew each other in the past are fogged up in his mind and he can't remember what happened to them in the past exactly.
3.) What is the “understanding” that leads Eiseley to back away from Wolf? (p. 172)
The “understanding” (p.172) that leads Eiseley to back away from Wolf is that he trusts the wolf to do the right things from his mutual respect for the wolf.
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 “Come back to the fire,…or you will be lost” (p. 173) because it is the wolf's territory and he trusts the wolf to lead him back to where he belongs.
5.) At the end of the essay, why does Eiseley put the bone back “high on a shelfin “his” cabinet?” (p. 173)
Eiseley put the bone back “high on a shelfin “his” cabinet” (p. 173) because he might think that the wolf will stay if it is here or he could keep it as a memory of their relationship. Also, he might be keeping it so the wolf comes back.
6.) At the end of the essay, why does Eiseley call the bison fossil “our bone”? (p. 173)
Eiseley calls the bison fossil “our bone” (p. 173) as a memory of their relationship between man and animal.
7.) Is Eiseley saying that people, as well as animals, are what we are “and cannot be otherwise because of the shadows”? (p. 172)
Eiseley is saying that people as well as animals are what we are “and cannot be otherwise because of the shadows”? (p. 172) because he is warning him that just because they had a special moment, doesn't mean they are friends. The wolf could still injure him or kill him.
8.) Why does Eiseley imagine Wolf telling him that “we are in another time, in the snow”? (p. 172)
Eiseley imagines Wolf telling him that “we are in another time, in the snow” (p. 172) because the story is blinding everything that has happened in the past to show that that cannot dictate what the two 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 that “even to me the shadows had whispered – to me, that scholar in his study” (p. 173) because he is telling us that he had been tempted by the same things the wolf is survival instinct. He compares himself to the wolf and thinks of his animal instinct.
10.) Why does Eiseley see Wolf as “civilized now” when he leads Eiseley back inside? (p. 173)
Eiseley sees Wolf as "civilized now" (p.173) when he leads Eiseley back inside because since the Wolf had taken care of him, the tables turned and the Wolf became in charge when he led the human.
Vocabulary
1.) Remote (p. 171)
Quote: "...somewhere in the remote past..." (p.171)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): something far away
Synonym: distant, far
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The man was lost somewhere is the remote desert.
2.) Appraise (p. 171)
Quote: "...forced to appraise each other as through they were total strangers." (p.171)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to estimate the amount of
Synonym: price, estimate
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The family brought their 100 year old vase to be appraised.
3.) Debris (p. 171)
Quote: "...amidst the debris of a a far greater winter." (p.171)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): scattered pieces, usually from something broken
Synonym: pieces
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The people were hit by flying debris from the car crash.
4.) Remnants (p. 171)
Quote: "No remnants of flesh..." (p.171)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): left over pieces
Synonym: remains, left-overs
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The children had no remnants of their steak of their plate.
5.) Utterance (p. 172)
Quote: "...shapes were moving in his mind and determining his utterance." (p.172)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a word or sound
Synonym: speech, voice
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The student was sure to think before his utterance toward the teacher.
6.) Indifferently (p. 173)
Quote: "...I spoke from the door indifferently." (p.173)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): having no interest or sympathy
Synonym: apathetic
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The student indifferently stared at the bully he punched in the face.
7.) Receded (p. 173)
Quote: "...that other visitant receded." (p.173)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to leave or move from a previous position
Synonym: moving, leaving
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The students receded from the classroom in a single-file line.
Quote: "...somewhere in the remote past..." (p.171)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): something far away
Synonym: distant, far
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The man was lost somewhere is the remote desert.
2.) Appraise (p. 171)
Quote: "...forced to appraise each other as through they were total strangers." (p.171)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to estimate the amount of
Synonym: price, estimate
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The family brought their 100 year old vase to be appraised.
3.) Debris (p. 171)
Quote: "...amidst the debris of a a far greater winter." (p.171)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): scattered pieces, usually from something broken
Synonym: pieces
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The people were hit by flying debris from the car crash.
4.) Remnants (p. 171)
Quote: "No remnants of flesh..." (p.171)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): left over pieces
Synonym: remains, left-overs
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The children had no remnants of their steak of their plate.
5.) Utterance (p. 172)
Quote: "...shapes were moving in his mind and determining his utterance." (p.172)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a word or sound
Synonym: speech, voice
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The student was sure to think before his utterance toward the teacher.
6.) Indifferently (p. 173)
Quote: "...I spoke from the door indifferently." (p.173)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): having no interest or sympathy
Synonym: apathetic
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The student indifferently stared at the bully he punched in the face.
7.) Receded (p. 173)
Quote: "...that other visitant receded." (p.173)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to leave or move from a previous position
Synonym: moving, leaving
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The students receded from the classroom in a single-file line.