Identity, Land, and Power
The source of the feud between Ulrich and Georg
What is a generations-long dispute over a strip of forest land?
The event that forces Ulrich and Georg to confront nature directly
What is a tree falling and trapping them?
The classes of Georg and Ulrich differ in that
What is Ulrich is a wealthy aristocrat whereas Georg is a less wealthy landowner?
Ulrich offers friendship to Georg because
What is he realizes the futility of their feud?
Ulrich and Georg's predicament stuck under the tree is ironic because
What is they were hunting each other but are now helpless together?
In the story, the forest symbolizes:
What is the indifference of nature to human conflicts?
In the story, the fallen tree represents
What is the idea that nature will always triumph?
Ulrich's "jealous guarding" of the land shows that he sees Georg as
What is a threat, a lowerclassman, etc.
Georg responds to Ulrich's offer of reconciliation by
What is immediately agreeing to resolve their dispute?
The imminence of death changes Ulrich's priorities in that
What is he decides that life is worth more than winning a property dispute?
The land is so important to Ulrich and Georg because:
What is it represents their family lineage and pride?
Nature challenges the men's sense of control by
What is rendering their weapons useless?
The wine is a class equalizer in that
What is that the wine flask, despite all of his wealth is all Ulrich can offer Georg
Ulrich and Georg's reconciliation suggests about human conflict that
What is that it is often unnecessary and based on pride?
Ulrich and Georg see the opportunity to rescue each other from death as
What is an opportunity for graciousness and a chance to make amends?
The land dispute reflect broader themes of human identity by:
What is showing that identity is tied to material possessions?
Nature serves as an equalizer by
What is affecting both Ulrich and Georg?
Class barriers are affected by the men's reconciliation in that
What is they disappear?
Ulrich and Georg's reconciliation can be considered tragic because
What is it is too late to save them from nature?
The story's ending suggests the following about death
What is death will come no matter one’s status in or understanding of the world?
The men's obsession with the land is ironic because
What is the land is ultimately worthless to both of them?
The arrival of the wolves at the end reinforces this theme by
What is demonstrating that humans lack power against the natural world?
The fact that Ulrich and Georg are alone allows them to reconcile because
What is there are observers there to maintain and enforce the social hierarchy?
Ulrich and Georg's reconciliation reveals the following about the human capacity for change in extreme situations
What is extreme situations can force people to reevaluate their priorities and let go of hatred?
Ulrich and Georg's perspective on death changes over the course of the story in that
What is they initially want to murder each other, but once death becomes real, they realize that potential to kill feels different/more difficult?