Question

Read the passage from "The Willow-Wren and the Bear." When the fox felt the first sting, he started so that he lifted one leg, from pain, but he bore it, and still kept his tail high in the air; at the second sting, he was forced to put it down for a moment; at the third, he could hold out no longer, screamed, and put his tail between his legs. When the animals saw that, they thought all was lost, and began to flee, each into his hole, and the birds had won the battle. Then the King and Queen flew home to their children and cried: "Children, rejoice, eat and drink to your heart's content, we have won the battle!” But the young wrens said: "We will not eat yet, the bear must come to the nest, and beg for pardon and say that we are honourable children, before we will do that.” Then the willow-wren flew to the bear's hole and cried: "Growler, you are to come to the nest to my children, and beg their pardon, or else every rib of your body shall be broken.” So the bear crept thither in the greatest fear, and begged their pardon. And now at last the young wrens were satisfied, and sat down together and ate and drank, and made merry till quite late into the night.

Which excerpt from the passage encompasses the falling action of the story?

“When the fox felt the first sting, he started so that he lifted one leg, from pain, but he bore it, and still kept his tail high in the air.”

“When the animals saw that, they thought all was lost, and began to flee, each into his hole, and the birds had won the battle.”

“Then the King and Queen flew home to their children and cried: ‘Children, rejoice, eat and drink to your heart's content, we have won the battle!’”

“And now at last the young wrens were satisfied, and sat down together and ate and drank, and made merry till quite late into the night.”

Answer 1

The falling action in the story is shown in the excerpt where the young wrens finally feel satisfied, signaling the return to a normal state after the conflict is resolved.

Step-by-step explanation:

The excerpt from the passage "The Willow-Wren and the Bear" that encompasses the falling action of the story is: "And now at last the young wrens were satisfied, and sat down together and ate and drank, and made merry till quite late into the night."

This part of the story follows the climax, where the battle tensions are resolved, and shows the characters beginning to return to their normal state, thus representing the falling action which leads towards the story's conclusion. It details the resolution and the sense of normalcy returning to the characters after the conflict has been resolved, in this case, the bear begging for pardon and the young wrens feeling satisfied.

Answer 2

The excerpt encompassing the falling action of the story is the last one: “And now at last the young wrens were satisfied, and sat down together and ate and drank, and made merry till quite late into the night.”

The king and queen attack the bear to satisfy their children, but they wouldn't be so until the bear apologises. When the bear apologises, the action of the story ends because it has achieved its purpose.