Plot Events
What was the name of the narrator's mother's trapeze act?
The Flying Avalons
How does the narrator describe her mother’s movements in old age?
Catlike precision, never bumping into things or losing her balance.
What figurative language is used in paragraph 26 to describe the narrator’s thoughts during the fall from the window?
“The beat of her heart in my ears, loud as thunder, long as the roll of drums” (simile).
How is the narrator like her mother, based on the fire scene?
She shows calmness and level-headedness, much like her mother, by following the fire safety procedures exactly as she was taught.
What does "illiterate" mean in the context of the story?
Unable to read or write.
How many times did the narrator's mother save her life, according to the narrator?
Three times
What does the narrator admire about her mother?
Her strength, resourcefulness, and ability to survive in difficult situations.
Why did the author likely use the simile “loud as thunder, long as the roll of drums” in paragraph 26?
To emphasize the intensity and dramatic nature of the fall, highlighting the bond between mother and daughter during the life-threatening moment.
What can we infer about the narrator’s feelings when her mother rescues her from the fire?
She feels both relief and admiration for her mother’s courage but is also embarrassed by her mother’s state of undress.
Why did the narrator's mother learn to read and write in the hospital?
She wanted to have something to do while she was bored during her long hospital stay.
What happened to Harry Avalon during the trapeze accident?
His hands didn’t meet Anna’s during their performance. He fell into the crowd after lightning struck the tent, and died.
What are some examples of the narrator's mother’s strength and resourcefulness?
Surviving the trapeze accident by grabbing a hot wire, learning to read and write while in the hospital, and saving her daughter from a fire.
What is the effect of the flashback in paragraph 3?
It builds tension by introducing a past event that led to a disaster and hints at the impending danger.
What does the mother’s decision to perform while pregnant suggest about her character?
It shows her fearlessness and comfort with taking risks, even in extreme situations.
How does the story emphasize the theme of resilience?
The mother’s survival of the trapeze accident, her loss of a child, and her blindness all demonstrate her ability to endure hardships.
What happened to the narrator during the fire?
She followed her fire drill instructions and waited in her room until her mother rescued her by climbing through the window.
How does the narrator’s mother show resilience (successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences)?
She continues to move through life after her tragic losses and injuries, finds new love, and learns new skills like reading and writing despite her difficult circumstances.
How do shifts in time in paragraph 6 reveal the narrator’s thoughts?
The shifts between the past and present reflect the narrator’s admiration for her mother’s resilience and her memories of how her mother survived difficult situations.
How do we know that the narrator feels indebted (being grateful) to her mother?
She returns home to care for her blind mother after her father’s death, acknowledging her mother’s sacrifices.
What does the storm during the trapeze accident symbolize?
The storm represents chaos, danger, and the unpredictability of life.
What did the narrator's mother do to save her daughter from the fire?
She climbed up a tree and jumped onto the roof to reach her daughter.
What does it mean to be a survivor, and how does the narrator’s mother embody this?
A survivor overcomes life-threatening challenges. The mother survived a trapeze accident, the loss of her child, and later blindness, demonstrating resilience and determination.
How does the phrase "I owe her my existence three times" contribute to the theme?
It emphasizes the mother’s recurring role as a life-saver, reflecting themes of survival, love, and sacrifice.
What might the carved lamb on the gravestone symbolize in the story?
The lamb symbolizes the loss of innocence and the narrator’s connection to her lost sibling, which grows more significant over time.
How does the title "The Leap" connect to the story’s themes?
"The Leap" represents literal and figurative acts of bravery and survival, highlighting the mother’s ability to overcome life-threatening challenges.