Paul Dominic,
Lisa Vuong,
Daniel Napierski and Mohammad Khalil
- Narrator lives with her mother Anna in New Hampshire
- Anna lost sight as a result of aging
- Anna used to be part of a blindfold trapeze act when she was younger
- Mother’s first husband dies
- Meets narrator’s father and falls in love
- Moves to a farm house
- House catches fire
- Her mother strips down to undergarments and risks her life to save her daughter
The mother grabs her and leaps out of the window and they safely land in the fire fighters’ net.
The narrator and her mother are a lot older and they live together in the farm that was rebuilt after the first one burned.
Appearance
•Blind but least bit clumsy, walks very slowly but does things with “catlike” precision
•Saves herself from a blindfold trapeze act
•Saves the narrator from a case of house fire by climbing up to the window then quickly jumping down
•Believes that one can always think or do something upon the act of falling
•Courageous, strong-willed, brave, caring and loving
How Narrator sees her
Theme of "The Leap"
- One must determine what is most important and live according to the well-being of the important figure.
- Anna Avalon did not choose to die with her husband, but rather, protect her child’s life and give it a chance to live happily.
- Anna Avalon did not hesitate to risk her life in order to save her child from the fire since her child’s life was more important than her own.
The Conflict in "The Leap"
Conflict: Opposition between characters or forces in a work of drama or fiction, especially opposition that motivates or shapes the action of the plot.
- Self vs. Self conflict occurs when the mother must decide her fate by choosing whether to save her own life or her husbands.
- Self vs. fear conflict occurs when the mother risks her life to save her daughter from a fire. The conflict in this situation is overcoming her fears.
• Circus Trapeze Artiste
• Seen in undergarments
(cotton stitched bra,
lace trimmed drawers)
One’s life should be devoted to caring for and protecting what is most dear to them.
Characterization of Anna
Character traits, personality, and actions
•Narrator finds trust and
security in her mother’s arms
Plot Diagram
•As a hero for saving the
narrator and herself, owed
her existence to Anna three times
What is conflict?
Climax
Examples of Conflict from "The Leap";
Exposition
Resolution
The Leap
By Louise Erdrich