Responding to Theme and Character in a Narrative

Brandon has been asked to write about the theme of law keeping order in society found in The Jungle Book. He reads the following excerpt. The Law of the Jungle, which never orders anything without a reason, forbids every beast to eat Man except when he is killing to show his children how to kill, and then he must hunt outside the hunting grounds of his pack or tribe. The real reason for this is that man-killing means, sooner or later, the arrival of white men on elephants, with guns, and hundreds of brown men with guns and rockets and torches. Then everybody in the jungle suffers. The reason the beasts give among themselves is that Man is the weakest and most defenseless of all living things, and it is unsportsmanlike to touch him. They say too—and it is true—that man-eaters become mangy, and lose their teeth. After reading this excerpt, which claim can Brandon correctly make about the role of law in keeping order?

Animals do not kill Man because it results in danger.

Which action from The Jungle Book best supports the claim that Father Wolf respects the Law of the Jungle?

Father takes his cubs and Mowgli to be inspected at Council Rock.

Which action from The Jungle Book best supports the claim that Shere Khan tries to bend the rules of Jungle Law?

Shere Khan tries to take Mowgli from Mother.

Carlos is writing about this excerpt from The Jungle Book. Akela lifted his head again, and said: "He has eaten our food; he has slept with us; he has driven game for us; he has broken no word of the Law of the Jungle." "Also, I paid for him with a bull when he was accepted. The worth of a bull is little, but Bagheera's honor is something that he will perhaps fight for," said Bagheera in his gentlest voice. "A bull paid ten years ago!" the Pack snarled. "What do we care for bones ten years old?" "Or for a pledge?" said Bagheera, his white teeth bared under his lip. "Well are ye called the Free People!" "No man's cub can run with the people of the jungle!" roared Shere Khan. "Give him to me." Carlos makes the claim "Shere Khan and his followers have lost all respect for the Jungle Law." Which detail from the passage best supports this claim?

"A bull paid ten years ago!" the Pack snarled. "What do we care for bones ten years old?"

Read this passage from The Jungle Book. "It was well done," said Akela. "Men and their cubs are very wise. He may be a help in time." "Truly, a help in time of need; for none can hope to lead the Pack forever," said Bagheera. Akela said nothing. He was thinking of the time that comes to every leader of every pack when his strength goes from him and he gets feebler and feebler, till at last he is killed by the wolves and a new leader comes up—to be killed in his turn. "Take him away," he said to Father Wolf, "and train him as befits one of the Free People." And that is how Mowgli was entered into the Seeonee Wolf Pack for the price of a bull and on Baloo's good word. How is Akela affected by the Law of the Pack?

Akela is the leader of the pack, but he knows someday he will be replaced according to the law.

Which is the best example of a character following the Law of the Jungle in The Jungle Book?

Akela leads at Council.

Paxton has been asked to write and reflect on the theme of law maintaining order in society. He is using this passage from The Jungle Book. He loved better than anything else to go with Bagheera into the dark warm heart of the forest, to sleep all through the drowsy day, and at night see how Bagheera did his killing. Bagheera killed right and left as he felt hungry, and so did Mowgli—with one exception. As soon as he was old enough to understand things, Bagheera told him that he must never touch cattle because he had been bought into the Pack at the price of a bull's life. "All the jungle is thine," said Bagheera, "and thou canst kill everything that thou art strong enough to kill; but for the sake of the bull that bought thee thou must never kill or eat any cattle young or old. That is the Law of the Jungle." Mowgli obeyed faithfully. Which writing sample is the best reflection of this important theme?

Laws keep society orderly and safe. When Mowgli was small, Bagheera paid a bull as a price for his life. To show respect for that bull, Mowgli must obey the law. Mowgli follows this law, which keeps him safe.

Megan is writing about this excerpt from The Jungle Book. Mowgli sprang to his feet. "Free People," he cried, "does Shere Khan lead the Pack? What has a tiger to do with our leadership?" "Seeing that the leadership is yet open, and being asked to speak—" Shere Khan began. "By whom?" said Mowgli. "Are we all jackals, to fawn on this cattle butcher? The leadership of the Pack is with the Pack alone." There were yells of "Silence, thou man's cub!" "Let him speak. He has kept our law!" And at last the seniors of the Pack thundered: "Let the Dead Wolf speak!" When a leader of the Pack has missed his kill, he is called the Dead Wolf as long as he lives, which is not long, as a rule. Megan makes the claim "Respecting leadership is an important part of the Jungle Law." Which action best supports this claim?

The senior wolves in the pack allow Akela, the Dead Wolf, to speak at Council Rock.

Read this passage from The Jungle Book. There was very little talking at the Rock. The cubs tumbled over one another in the center of the circle where their mothers and fathers sat, and now and again a senior wolf would go quietly up to a cub, look at him carefully, and return to his place on noiseless feet. Sometimes a mother would push her cub far out into the moonlight, to be sure that he had not been overlooked. Akela from his rock would cry: "Ye know the Law—ye know the Law! Look well, O Wolves!" And the anxious mothers would take up the call: "Look—look well, O Wolves!" How are the mother wolves affected by the Law of the Jungle?

They are careful to show their cubs to Pack leaders.

Read Bagheera's words in this passage from The Jungle Book. "O Akela, and ye, the Free People," he purred, "I have no right in your assembly; but the Law of the Jungle says that if there is a doubt which is not a killing matter in regard to a new cub, the life of that cub may be bought at a price. And the Law does not say who may or may not pay that price. Am I right?" "Good! Good!" said the young wolves, who are always hungry. "Listen to Bagheera. The cub can be bought for a price. It is the Law." . . . "To kill a naked cub is a shame. Besides, he may make better sport for you when he is grown. Baloo has spoken in his behalf. Now to Baloo's word I will add one bull, and a fat one, newly killed, not half a mile from here, if ye will accept the man's cub according to the Law. Is it difficult?" Bagheera follows the Law of the Jungle by

paying a price to keep Mowgli alive