... so simple anyway? Of their own accord, my eyes took on the accustomed act of watching my grandmother's small steps. I took notes of her each movement, which was not at all new to me; I have observed, learned, and mimicked her movements and idiosyncrasies many times, her powerful loving persona never becoming ... our roles? My grandmother had always loved and protected me, guiding me through every possible difficulty in life, making sure I passed through each complication with ease. And now, I watched her as she took a shallow breath with every step, engulfed in agony, making damn sure s...

• Word Count: 913
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... . For example, he thought, "But thank God, they are not as intelligent as we who kill them; although they are more noble and more able" (63). Santiago's thoughts helped him ease his worried spirit, and continue on with his purpose. He had never seen a fish so large before, so when the Marlin came out of the water, his thoughts helped give ... a flight of wild ducks etching themselves against the sky over the water...and he knew no man was ever alone on the sea..." (61). Santiago was not alone out at sea, the comfort he felt from the surroundings helped display his bravery. He was no long...

• Word Count: 714
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husbands death" (Paragraph 1). At first, this appears as foreshadowing allowing readers to ponder whether or not she will die when she is broken the news. After she ran up to her ... were all aquiver with new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares. The notes of a distant song which some one was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves" (Paragraph 5). This was a picture p...

• Word Count: 794
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... is where Hans reaches out to lisle and concern to her, "He looked over at Liesel and winked. She would have no trouble calling him Papa" (35). Even though it was a simple gesture, he was able to ease Lisle through his light-hearted personality even though they lived in a world of chaos. This ... additional example is when Hans offers to teach her to read in his 'classes', "Unofficially, it was called the midnight class, even though it commenced at around two in the morning" (39). He fearlessly would teach Liesel to read, even if that meant teaching her to read stolen books, illegal,...

• Word Count: 1144
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School