1: Based on what you have read so far, what do you think is the author’s purpose for writing this

story?

So far, I think that the authors purpose for the story is to tell us the story of Acuzena’s terrifying
experience. In the first sentence, we learn that her head is protruding from the mud pit while
calling soundlessly. From this, I can infer that something bad has happened to Acuzena and we
are going to learn more about it in the story.

2. Why do you think the people of the town ignored the warnings?

They ignored the warnings because they genuinely thought nothing bad would happen and
decided to just go about their daily lives without thinking much of it. The people had thought the
rumblings would pass, and the opposite happened. There was a lot of disaster.

3. At this point, can you guess what the theme of this story might be? Explain your answer.

I think that the theme of the story might be to always be cautious. For example, in the story the
people of the town chose to ignore the warnings of the rumbling of the mountain, and the
warnings from Geologists, and in line 42 I am inferring the author is using Antiphrasis when
referring to Rolf coming back.

4. Use context clues to write a meaning for equanimity. Underline clues in the text that helped
you find the meaning.

I think that the word equanimity is a synonym to fearless. The clues that helped me figure this
out was “it seemed as if nothing could shake his fortitude or deter his curiosity” meaning that no
matter how dangerous it was, if he was curious about it he would figure it out.

5. Why do you think Rolf would need protection “from his own emotions”?

I think that Rolf would need protection from his own emotions so that he could do his job
properly. He wanted to be able to be calm while attempting to save the girl in the mud, and with
his emotions in the way I think that he would feel to stressed to help, and he did not want to
break down in front of the camera.

6. Why do you think Rolf was trying to distract Azucena?

I think Rolf was trying to distract Azucena for multiple reasons. My first guess is that being
pulled out of the mud most likely hurt, and he didn’t want her to focus on the pain, and she
would calm down. My second guess is that if she was distracted, she wouldn’t move and it
would be easier for them to pull her out of the mud.

7. So far, what details might lead you to think that one of the author’s purposes for writing is to
have the reader feel sympathy for Azucena’s predicament?
I think a major detail that makes me believe the Author’s purpose is sympathy is that they
mentioned Azucena’s legs being pinned by the dead bodies of her brother and sister. This makes
the reader sympathize Azucena even more since we find out that not only her house has
collapsed, she is stuck in mud, but her siblings were also trapped and unfortunately died. This
makes me lose a little bit of hope that she will get out of the mud.

8. What are some ways Rolf tries to rescue Azucena?

Some ways Rolf tries to rescue Azucena is he ties a rope between her arms to pull her out, which
doesn’t work. He used poles and ropes to pull her, but it just hurt her. Then he tried to remove
the rubble and requested to drain the water, but there was no one available to get it until the
following morning.

9. What do you think it means that “time had stagnated and reality had been irreparably
distorted”?

I think that it means they have run out of time and reality will soon set in, so they will realize that
there is not a lot of hope for Azucena and face the truth is that she will forever be stuck in the
rubble.

10. What does Rolf realize about himself as a result of talking to Azucena?

Rolf realizes that he doesn’t know much about children since he could not keep her entertained
and has no idea what gifts to bring her if she possibly survives and goes to the hospital.

11. The word bear has multiple meanings. When the word is a noun, it refers to a large animal,
but in this sentence, bear is a verb. What do you think the word means here?

In this sentence, the word bear means she couldn’t stand the wait at home.

12. What purpose might the author have for writing this paragraph?

I think the purpose of this paragraph is to show us that people are desperately attempting to
Rescue Azucena, but at this point all they are getting is words, not actions and that they are
incredibly frustrated, losing hope by the minute.

13. What are the problems facing the rescuers and doctors?

The problems they are facing include not having drinking water, trouble with communication
and radios, and they were clawing through the rubble.

14. The root of embodying is embody, which means “express, personify, or give concrete form
to.” What does it mean that Azucena had been given the responsibility of embodying the horror
of what had happened?
This most likely means that Azucena is a perfect example on why you should be cautious, rather
safe than sorry when there are reports of the mountain rumbling and possibly causing a huge
disaster. That this serves as a lesson to the people, since they are losing someone from the result
of a tragic event.

15. What different techniques, or methods, has Rolf used to keep Azucena distracted and calm?

Rolf fed Azucena cornmeal mush and bananas and tried to dislodge all the obstacles in her way
to try and get her out, but didn’t want to hurt her with the tools so he only used his hands.

16. Why does the narrator think that Rolf is finally able to talk about his past traumas?

The narrator thinks Rolf is finally able to talk about his traumas because Azucena had told him
her fears, so we would expect him to do the same since they had also spent all night talking and
had opened the floodgates causing lots of emotion on Rolf’s side to come out.

17. What theme do you think the writer is touching on with the phrase “to flee from himself”?
Think about what Rolf is going through as a universal experience that many people go through
during their lives.

The theme the writer is touching on is hiding his past, burying fears and hiding from who he
really is. This is because Rolf tried to avoid his past, therefore that is the meaning to “flee from
himself”.

18. Aromas comes from the Latin word aroma, meaning “sweet odor.” How do the descriptions
in this sentence illustrate what Rolf is thinking?

This can illustrate that Rolf’s memories of Katharina are so good and strong, that he remembers
even the smell that was in the air when thinking of the memories.

19. Summarize what Rolf has come to understand about himself in this section.

Rolf now feels guilt for abandoning her sister Katharina, after she died. He understands now that
he was using his exploits as a reporter to try and escape reality in order to tolerate it.

20. What does the president do in response to the disaster?

The president announces that they go into a state of siege, armed forces would be merciless, gave
vague promises that everything would be ok, and he went to go see Azucena.

21. How do you think the narrator, from just watching the television screen, was able to tell that
Rolf’s “defenses had crumbled” and to tell “the precise moment at which Rolf gave up the
fight”?

The narrator can tell this because he was in the same position kneeling in the mudpit and
especially since Azucena had opened him up and consoled him due to his past traumas.
22. How did Azucena’s death change Rolf?

Azucena’s death changed Rolf because he loved her. He wanted to console her, to help her
somehow. Unfortunately, he could not in time and now spends his time dwelling, looking at the
videos and studies them looking for something he could have possibly done to help more. He
doesn’t do the things he used to enjoy anymore, and he is now healing.

23. I think the theme for the entire selection is that there isn’t always something you can do.
That when you lose someone, you grief. The difference is that in the other section, they at least
had some hope and everyone was pitching in to help save Azucena.

24. The author’s purpose for writing this selection is to make us sympathize and show us exactly
how close Rolf and Azucena got even during that short period of time.