Question

Write a paragraph in the space below explaining how theme develops in the story "The Nest."

Randall squinted up through the trees, trying to gauge the time, but gave up quickly. He should have paid attention when his father taught the family to read the position of the sun. He should have paid attention, too, before sneaking off this morning on his first solo hike, forgetting the whistle his mother stressed he always bring.

He pictured his parents now at their camp beneath the tree with the eagle’s nest, wondering where he was. Randall was wondering the same thing. Lost and out of food, he feared he had but a few hours before darkness closed in, trapping him in the bitter cold with the creatures of the night.

He closed his eyes to fight back tears, when he heard it in the distance. Water! His father’s words came flowing into his mind; one tip he actually remembered. “If you’re ever lost, find a river and follow it.”

In a flash, he was on his feet, scaling fallen trees, tearing through brush, frantically following the sound. The sky grew darker, but the noise grew louder, and Randall, tired and scared, forged ahead until he found it. He reached the river bank and was mulling his next move when a sudden splash caught his eye.

A majestic eagle rose from the water, soaring skyward with a freshly caught fish in its talons. Could it be the same eagle nested above his camp? It glided triumphantly into a high nest a short distance away, eager to greet its family. Randall smiled, equally triumphant, eager to do the same as he followed the eagle’s flight.

In the distance, he saw his mother, his whistle clutched in her hand.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

I think the theme is the importance of listening to your parents. When Randall went on his first solo hike he instantly regretted not paying attention when "his father taught the family to read the position of the sun" and "forgetting the whistle his mother stressed he always bring." Randall suffers the consequences of his disobedience as he struggles to find his way back to his parents. He was frightened, alone, and lost. Randall nearly gave up but thankfully he remembered one tip his father had told him: "If you're ever lost, find a river and follow it." This proves that even the slightest bit of advice from our parents could help us eventually. He utilizes his father's tip and finds himself at a river bank. His hope is restored when he noticed the eagle that rose from the water is the same one that is nested above his camp. Randall follows the eagle and finally returns back to his parents. Without his father's tip he had remembered Randall would've been lost for a while. Sometimes disregarding our parents words can lead to a similar situation such as Randall's. Our parents have plenty of knowledge in different aspects of life and "The Nest" is an excellent example of what could transpire when we disobey our parents.

hope this helps^^