Before Reading

Two Friends
Short Story by Guy de Maupassant

What would you do

for a FRIEND?
Faced with a life-or-death situation, do people who have a close
RL 1 Cite textual evidence to friendship come to each other’s aid? Or do they only worry about
support analysis of what the saving their own skins? In this short story, you will meet two men
text says explicitly as well as
inferences drawn from the text. who remain true to each other in the face of great peril.
RL 6 Analyze a particular point of
view reflected in a work of world
literature. QUICKWRITE With a group, list meaningful acts of
Acts of Friend
friendship you’ve witnessed or experienced. Add to ship
1. Rescued frien
or delete from the list that is shown. Then write a d from a
dangerous situa
tion
paragraph describing how far you would go for your 2. Consoled frien
closest friends. d when
his grandparen
t died
3. Enjoyed many
summers
together at ca
mp
4.
5.

438
 Meet the Author
text analysis: symbol
A symbol is a person, place, object, or activity that represents Guy de Maupassant
something beyond itself. Flags, for example, often serve as 1850–1893
symbols of national heritage and patriotism. In literature, a Learning from a Master
symbol takes its meaning from its context. In “Two Friends,” In 1867, at the age of 17, Guy de Maupassant
for example, the bleak landscape might be said to symbolize (gCP dE mI-pB-säNP) met Gustave Flaubert,
a family friend and one of France’s most
the loss of vitality in France. To identify other symbols in the
respected novelists. Flaubert served as
selection, use these strategies as you read: Maupassant’s mentor, offering him advice,
• Note what is described at length or repeated. including the following message: “Whatever
you want to say, there is only one word to
• Note words that suggest broad ideas about humanity. express it, only one verb to give it movement,
Review: Setting only one adjective to qualify it.” Maupassant
went on to become a celebrated author in his
own right.
reading skill: make inferences about character
Skilled readers make inferences, or logical guesses, about On Fire!
Although Maupassant wrote several novels,
characters on the basis of story details and their own
his specialty was the short story, a form
knowledge. Sometimes called “reading between the lines,” he helped popularize. From 1880 to 1890,
making inferences allows readers to build a more complete Maupassant enjoyed his most prolific
understanding of the characters and the entire story. years as an author, remarkably producing
As you read the selection, pay attention to the details 300 stories. His best works are often
that Maupassant uses to describe the two friends and characterized by precise language and
realistic portrayals of everyday life.
the Prussian soldiers. Record your inferences about these
characters in an organizer like the one shown. background to the story
The Franco-Prussian War
For most of the 1800s, Germany was a
Character Details + My Experiences = My Inferences
collection of separate German-speaking
Morrisot fishes every Fishing requires Morrisot probably states. Among these, the northern state
Sunday from early + calm, patience, and = demonstrates all of Prussia emerged as the most powerful.
morning until dark. an enjoyment of the these qualities.
Under the leadership of the Prussian
outdoors.
chancellor Otto von Bismarck, the German
states began to unite. In July 1870, fearing
a unified Germany, Emperor Napoleon III
vocabulary in context of France began what was later called the
Franco-Prussian War. “Two Friends” takes
To see how many vocabulary words you already know, place in 1871, while Paris is under siege, or
substitute a different word or phrase for each boldfaced term. attack, by the Prussian army. The story
reflects Maupassant’s
ssant’s firsthand
1. She sat in her room dejectedly after she lost the race.
experiences of the war, in
2. Fanatical followers of the band waited hours for tickets. which he fought ht briefly as
3. This relaxing vacation has rejuvenated my spirits! a young French h soldier.
4. Why the pensive look on your face?
5. The clown’s eccentric costume made the children laugh. Author
Online
6. This atrocity should not go unpunished.
Go to thinkcentral.com.
ntral.com..
7. This large tree will afford some nice shade for our picnic. KEYWORD: HML10-439
L10-439
8. The child remained unperturbed during the storm.

Complete the activities in your Reader/Writer Notebook.

439
 TwoFriends
Gu y d e Mau p assant

Paris was under siege, in the grip of famine, at its last gasp. There were few What details suggest
sparrows on the rooftops now, and even the sewers were losing some of their that the two main figures
in the painting are close
inhabitants. The fact is that people were eating anything they could get their
friends?
hands on.
One bright January morning Monsieur Morissot1 was strolling dejectedly dejectedly (dG-jDkPtGd-lC)
along one of the outer boulevards, with an empty stomach and his hands in adv. in a disheartened,
depressed way
the pockets of his old army trousers. He was a watchmaker by trade and a man
who liked to make the most of his leisure. Suddenly, he came upon one of his fanatical (fE-nBtPG-kEl) adj.
close friends, and he stopped short. It was Monsieur Sauvage,2 whom he had extremely enthusiastic
10 got to know on fishing expeditions.
Every Sunday before the war it was Morissot’s custom to set off at the crack
of dawn with his bamboo rod in his hand and a tin box slung over his back.
He would catch the Argenteuil train and get off at Colombes, from where he
would walk to the island of Marante. The minute he reached this land of his
dreams he would start to fish—and he would go on fishing till it got dark.
And it was here, every Sunday, that he met a tubby, jolly little man by
the name of Sauvage. He was a haberdasher3 from the Rue Notre-Dame-de-
Lorette, and as fanatical an angler4 as Morissot himself. They often spent
half the day sitting side by side, rod in hand, with their feet dangling over
20 the water. And they had become firm friends. a MAKE INFERENCES
There were some days when they hardly spoke to each other. On other Reread lines 16–24. What
can you infer about
occasions they would chat all the time. But they understood each other Morisott and Sauvage
perfectly without needing to exchange any words, because their tastes were from the details of their
so alike and their feelings identical. a friendship?

1. Monsieur Morissot (mE-syœP mô-rC-sIP).

2. Sauvage (sI-väzhP).
3. haberdasher: one who sells men’s clothing, such as shirts, hats, and gloves.
4. angler: a fisherman. Detail of At the Inn of Mother Anthony (1866),
Pierre Auguste Renoir. Oil on canvas. National
Museum, Stockholm, Sweden. Photo ©
440 unit 4: theme The Bridgeman Art Library.
 On spring mornings at about ten o’clock, when the rejuvenated sun sent rejuvenated
floating over the river that light mist which moves along with the current, (rG-jLPvE-nAQtGd) adj.
made new or young
warming the backs of the two enthusiastic fishermen with the welcome glow
again rejuvenate v.
of a new season, Morissot would say to his neighbor:
“Ah! It’s grand here, isn’t it?”
30 And Monsieur Sauvage would reply:
“There’s nothing I like better.”
This simple exchange of words was all that was needed for them to under-
stand each other and confirm their mutual appreciation.
In the autumn towards the close of day, when the sky was blood-red and the
water reflected strange shapes of scarlet clouds which reddened the whole river,
and the glowing sun set the distant horizon ablaze, making the two friends
look as though they were on fire, and touching with gold the russet leaves
which were already trembling with a wintry shudder, Monsieur Sauvage would
turn to Morissot with a smile and say:
40 “What a marvelous sight!”
And Morissot, equally taken up with the wonder of it all, but not taking his
eyes off his float, would answer:
“It’s better than walking down the boulevards, eh?” b b SYMBOL
As soon as the two friends had recognized each other, they shook hands Reread lines 25–43.
Notice that the men’s
warmly, feeling quite emotional over the fact that they had come across each
fishing trips are described
other in such different circumstances. Monsieur Sauvage gave a sigh and at length and in vivid
remarked: detail. What might these
“What a lot has happened since we last met!” experiences symbolize?
Morissot, in mournful tones, lamented:
50 “And what awful weather we’ve been having! This is the first fine day of
the year.”
And, indeed, the sky was a cloudless blue, brilliant with light.
They started to walk on together side by side, pensive and melancholy. pensive (pDnPsGv)
Then Morissot said: adj. thoughtful in
a wistful, sad way
“And what about those fishing trips, eh? There’s something worth
remembering!”
“When shall we be able to get back to it?” mused Monsieur Sauvage.
They went into a little café and drank a glass of absinthe.5 Then they
resumed their stroll along the boulevards.
60 Morissot suddenly stopped and said:
“What about another glass of the green stuff, eh?”
“Just as you wish,” consented Monsieur Sauvage, and they went into a
second bar. c MAKE INFERENCES
What inferences can you
When they came out they both felt very fuzzy, as people do when they drink make so far about how
alcohol on an empty stomach. The weather was very mild. A gentle breeze the war has affected the
caressed their faces. c two men?

5. absinthe: a syrupy green alcoholic beverage that has a licorice flavor.

442 unit 4: theme

 Monsieur Sauvage, who felt even more fuddled6 in this warm air, stopped
and said:
“What about it, then? Shall we go?”
70 “Go where?”
“Fishing!”
“But where can we go?”
“To our island, of course. The French frontline is near Colombes. I know
the colonel in command—fellow called Dumoulin. I’m sure we’d have no
trouble in getting through.”
Morissot began to quiver with excitement.
“Right!” he said. “I’m your man!”
And the two friends separated and went off to get their fishing tackle.
An hour later they were striding down the main road together. They reached
80 the villa in which the colonel had set up his headquarters. When he heard their
request, he smiled at their eccentric enthusiasm but gave them permission. eccentric (Gk-sDnPtrGk) adj.
They set off once again, armed with an official pass. strange; peculiar
They soon crossed the frontline, then went through Colombes, which
had been evacuated, and now found themselves on the fringe of the area of
vineyards which rise in terraces above the Seine. It was about eleven o’clock.
On the opposite bank they could see the village of Argenteuil, which looked
deserted and dead. The hills of Orgemont and Sannois dominated the horizon,
and the great plain which stretches as far as Nanterre was empty, completely
empty, with nothing to be seen but its leafless cherry trees and gray earth.
90 Pointing towards the high ground Monsieur Sauvage muttered:
“The Prussians are up there.”
And as the two friends gazed at the deserted countryside, they felt almost
paralyzed by the sense of uneasiness which was creeping through them.
The Prussians! They had never so much as set eyes on them, but for four
months now they had been aware of their presence on the outskirts of Paris,
occupying part of France, looting, committing atrocities, reducing people atrocity (E-trJsPG-tC) n. a
to starvation . . . the invisible yet all-powerful Prussians. As they thought of very cruel or brutal act
them, a kind of superstitious dread was added to their natural hatred for this
unknown, victorious race.
100 “What if we should happen to run into some of them?” said Morissot
nervously.
Monsieur Sauvage gave the sort of reply which showed that cheerful Parisian
banter survived in spite of everything.
“Oh, we’ll just offer them some nice fish to fry!” d MAKE INFERENCES
Even so, they were so worried by the silence of the surrounding countryside What does the men’s
decision to continue their
that they hesitated about going any further. fishing trip reveal about
It was Monsieur Sauvage who finally made up his mind. their personalities and
“Come on!” he said. “We’ll go on—but we must keep a sharp lookout!” d view of the world?

6. fuddled: drunk and confused.

two friends 443

 And they scrambled down the slope of one of the vineyards, bent double,
110 crawling on their hands and knees, taking advantage of the cover afforded by afford (E-fôrdP) v.
the vines, keeping their eyes wide open and their ears on the alert. to provide or offer
All that now separated them from the riverbank was a strip of open ground.
They ran across it, and as soon as they reached the river, they crouched
amongst the dry rushes.
Morissot pressed his ear to the ground to see if he could detect the sound of
marching feet. He could hear nothing. They were alone, completely alone.
They told each other there was nothing to worry about, and started to fish.
Opposite them the deserted island of Marante concealed them from the e SYMBOL
other bank. The little building which once housed the restaurant was closed A gudgeon is both a small
120 and shuttered, and looked as though it had been abandoned for years. fish used as bait and
It was Monsieur Sauvage who caught the first fish—a gudgeon. Morissot a person who is easily
tricked. On the basis of
caught the second, and then, almost without a pause, they jerked up their rods this information, whom or
time after time to find a little silvery creature wriggling away on the hook. This what might the gudgeon
really was a miraculous draft of fishes. e symbolize?
They carefully placed each fish into a fine-meshed net which was suspended
in the water at their feet. And as they did so they were overcome by a
delightful sense of joy, the kind of joy you only experience when you resume
something you really love after being deprived of it for a long time.

Line fishermen, study for La Grand Jatte (1883), Georges Seurat. Oil on canvas, 16 cm × 25 cm. Musée d’Art Moderne, Troyes, France.
Photo © Réunion des Musées Nationaux/Art Resource, New York.

444 unit 4: theme

 A kindly sun was shedding its warmth across their backs. They were so
130 absorbed that they no longer heard, or thought, or paid the least attention to
the outside world. What did anything matter now? They were fishing!
But suddenly, the bank beneath them shook with a dull rumble which
seemed to come from underground.
The distant cannon were starting to fire again.
Morissot turned his head, and above the bank, over to the left, he saw the
great bulk of Mont Valérien. On the mountainside was a white plume of
smoke, showing where the gunpowder had just bellowed out.
Almost immediately another jet of smoke spurted from the fort on the
summit, and a few seconds later the rumble of another detonation reached
140 their ears.
Other cannon shots followed, and every now and then the mountain spat
out its deadly breath, exhaled its clouds of milky vapor, which rose slowly into
the calm sky above. f f SETTING
“There they go again!” said Monsieur Sauvage with a shrug of his shoulders. Compare and contrast
this fishing trip with
Morissot, who was anxiously watching the feather on his float as it bobbed
earlier ones described in
up and down, was suddenly filled with the anger of a peace-loving man for the story. How has the
these maniacs who indulge in fighting. setting changed?
“They’ve got to be really stupid,” he growled, “to go on killing each other
like that!”
150 “They’re worse than animals,” said Monsieur Sauvage.
Morissot, who had just caught another fish, called out:
“And it’ll never be any different so long as we have governments!”
“Oh, no,” disagreed Monsieur Sauvage. “The Republic7 would never have
declared war . . .”
“Look!” interrupted Morissot. “Under kings you have war against other
countries. Under republican governments you have civil war.”
And they began to argue, in a calm and friendly way, sorting out all the world’s
great political problems with the commonsense approach of mild and reasonable
men. On one point they were in absolute agreement: mankind would never be
160 free. And as they talked, Mont Valérien went thundering on without respite,
demolishing French homes with its cannonades,8 pounding lives to dust, crushing
human beings to pulp, putting an end to so many dreams, to so many long-awaited
joys, so much long-expected happiness, tearing into the hearts of all those wives
and daughters and mothers with pain and suffering that would never be eased.
“Such is life,” said Monsieur Sauvage.
“Better to call it death,” laughed Morissot. g g MAKE INFERENCES
But at that moment they both gave a start, scared by the feeling that Reread lines 157–166.
Why is the argument
somebody had been walking just behind them. They looked round and saw
between Morissot and
standing above them four men, four tall, bearded men, armed to the teeth, Sauvage ironic?

7. the Republic: the Second Republic of France (1848–1852), which was France’s first truly
representative government.
8. cannonades: numerous firings of cannons.

two friends 445

170 dressed like liveried9 footmen, with flat military caps on their heads—and rifles
which they were pointing straight at the two friends.
The fishing rods dropped from their hands and went floating down
the river.
In a matter of seconds they were seized, tied up, hustled along, thrown into
a boat and carried across to the island. h h GRAMMAR AND STYLE
Behind the building which they had thought deserted they saw a group of Reread lines 174–175.
By using a compound
about twenty German soldiers.
predicate, Maupassant is
A sort of hairy giant who was sitting astride a chair and smoking a large clay able to describe a series
pipe asked them in excellent French: of actions in one concise
180 “Well, messieurs, did the fishing go well?” sentence.
One of the soldiers placed at the officer’s feet the net full of fish which he
had been careful to bring along. The Prussian smiled and said:
“Well, well! I can see you didn’t do badly at all! . . . But I have to deal with
a very different matter. Now, listen to me carefully, and don’t get alarmed . . .
As far as I am concerned you are a couple of spies sent out here to keep an eye
on me. I’ve caught you and I’ve every right to shoot you. You were obviously
pretending to fish as a cover for your real purposes. It’s too bad for you that
you’ve fallen into my hands. But war is war . . . Now, since you’ve come out
here past your own lines, you’re bound to have a password so you can get back.
190 Just give me that password and I’ll spare your lives.” i i MAKE INFERENCES
The two friends, ghastly pale, stood there side by side with their hands What can you infer about
the Prussian soldiers from
trembling. They said nothing.
their actions toward the
“Nobody will ever get to know about it,” continued the officer. “You will go fishermen?
back without any trouble, and the secret will go with you . . . If you refuse to
cooperate, you’ll die—straight away. So take your choice!”
They stood there motionless, keeping their mouths firmly shut.
The Prussian, who was still quite calm, pointed in the direction of the river
and said:
“Just think! In five minutes you’ll be at the bottom of that river. In five
200 minutes! You must have families. Think of them!”
The rumbling of the cannon was still coming from Mont Valérien.
The two fishermen simply stood there, refusing to speak. The German now
gave some orders in his own language. Then he moved his chair some distance
away from the prisoners. Twelve men marched up and formed a line twenty Language Coach
yards from them with their rifles at their sides. Fixed Expressions Some
“I’ll give you one minute to make up your minds,” called the officer. “And concepts have a
not two seconds more.” standard, or fixed, way
Then he jumped to his feet, went up to the two Frenchmen, took Morissot of being expressed.
Reread line 211. Which
by the arm, and led him to one side. Then he said to him in a very low voice: fixed expression in this
210 “Quick! Just let me have that password! Your friend won’t know you’ve told sentence means “shown
me. I’ll make it look as though I’ve taken pity on you both.” mercy to”?

9. liveried: uniformed.

446 unit 4: theme

 Morissot said nothing.
The Prussian then dragged Monsieur Sauvage to one side and made the
same proposition to him.
Monsieur Sauvage said nothing. j j MAKE INFERENCES
So they were pushed together again, side by side. Why do Morissot and
Sauvage refuse to offer
It was then that Morissot happened to glance down at the net full of
the Prussian officer a
gudgeon which was lying in the grass a few yards away. password?
A ray of sunlight fell on the heap of glittering fish, which were still quivering
220 with life. As he looked at them he felt a momentary weakness. In spite of his
efforts to hold them back, tears filled his eyes. k k SYMBOL
“Farewell, Monsieur Sauvage,” he mumbled. Reread lines 216–221.
How does this description
And Monsieur Sauvage replied:
contribute to your under-
“Farewell, Monsieur Morissot.” standing of the fish as a
They shook hands, trembling uncontrollably from head to foot. symbol in the story?
“Fire!” shouted the officer.
Twelve shots rang out simultaneously.

Detail of Execution of the Emperor Maximilian (1867), Édouard Manet. Oil on canvas, 771/8˝ × 1021/4˝.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gair Macomber (30.444).

two friends 447

 Monsieur Sauvage fell like a log onto his face. Morissot, who was taller,
swayed, spun round, then collapsed on top of his friend, with his face staring
230 up at the sky and the blood welling from where his coat had been burst open
across his chest.
The German shouted out more orders. His men went off and came back
with some lengths of rope and a few heavy stones which they fastened to the
feet of the two bodies. Then they carried them to the riverbank.
All the time Mont Valérien continued to rumble, and now it was capped by
a great mountain of smoke.
Two soldiers got hold of Morissot by the head and feet. Two others lifted
up Monsieur Sauvage in the same way. The two bodies were swung violently
backwards and forwards, then thrown with great force. They curved through
240 the air, then plunged upright into the river, with the stones dragging them
down, feet first.
The water spurted up, bubbled, swirled round, then grew calm again, with
little waves rippling across to break against the bank. There was just a small
unperturbed
amount of blood discoloring the surface. (OnQpEr-tûrbdP) adj. calm
The officer, still quite unperturbed, said, half aloud: and serene; untroubled
“Well, now it’s the fishes’ turn.”
As he was going back towards the building, he noticed the net full of L WORLD LITERATURE
gudgeon lying in the grass. He picked it up, looked at the fish, then smiled, Maupassant was a
soldier during the
and called out:
Franco-Prussian war, at
250 “Wilhelm!” which time this story is
A soldier came running up. He was wearing a white apron. The Prussian set. How do you think
officer threw across to him the catch made by the two executed fishermen, and this experience may
gave another order: have influenced his
particular point of view
“Fry me these little creatures—straight away, while they’re still alive. They’ll in this story? Could this
be delicious!” same story take place
Then he lit his pipe again.  L at another time and
in another part of the
world?
Translated by Arnold Kellett

448 unit 4: theme

After Reading

Comprehension
1. Recall Who are Morissot and Sauvage? RL 1 Cite textual evidence to
support analysis of what the
2. Recall How do the wartime conditions affect their habits? text says explicitly as well as
inferences drawn from the text.
3. Recall What prompts the two Frenchmen to cross the frontline of the war? RL 6 Analyze a particular point of
view reflected in a work of world
literature.
4. Summarize What happens to Morissot and Sauvage as a result of their
venturing into enemy territory?

Text Analysis
5. Make Inferences Review the chart you made as you read. Do Morissot and
Sauvage seem to understand the dangers of war? Cite evidence to support
your answer.
6. Interpret Symbol References to fish and fishing are repeated throughout the
story. What do they symbolize? To help you interpret their meaning, create
a chart like the one shown. Record descriptions of fish and fishing as well as
the ideas you associate with them.

Descriptions of Fish/Fishing Associations

7. Examine Setting and Theme Reread lines 25–40 and 118–143. Compare
the conditions on the island of Marante before and during the Prussian
occupation. What theme about war do these changes communicate?
8. Analyze Irony Explain the contrast between what you expected and what
actually happens at the end of the story. Support your answer with details.
9. Draw Conclusions Describe how Morissot and Sauvage behave while in the
enemy camp. What conclusions can you draw about their friendship from
their final actions?

Text Criticism
10. Biographical Context “War! When I think of this word,” declared Maupassant,
“I feel bewildered, as though they were speaking to me of sorcery, of the
Inquisition, of a distant, finished, abominable, monstrous, unnatural thing.”
How are Maupassant’s feelings about war reflected in the story? Support
your response with details.

What would you do for a FRIEND?

Would you truly be willing to give your life for a friend?

two friends 449

Vocabulary in Context word list
vocabulary practice afford
Decide if each statement is true or false. atrocity
dejectedly
1. To afford privacy to someone is to offer it to him or her.
eccentric
2. To be unperturbed is to be disturbed and agitated.
fanatical
3. To be rejuvenated is to be worn down and tired.
pensive
4. If you are fanatical about something, you are obsessed with it.
rejuvenated
5. An eccentric person has a normal, traditional way of doing things.
unperturbed
6. An atrocity is offensive and outrageous.
7. To speak dejectedly is to speak with excitement and energy.
8. If you are pensive, you are thoughtful.

academic vocabulary in writing

• alter • layer • symbol • theme • unify

Imagine that you are a reporter writing at the time of the story. How could your
writing help to unify opposition to the Prussians? Write a paragraph article
about what happened to Morissot and Sauvage. Consider the theme that you
want to highlight. Use at least one Academic Vocabulary word in your response.

vocabulary strategy: analogies

Analogies express relationships between pairs of words. Some common L 5 Demonstrate understanding
of word relationships.
relationships are described in the chart below.

Type Relationship

Synonym means the same as

Antonym means the opposite of

Cause and effect results in or leads to

Degree of intensity is less (or more) than

Complete each analogy by choosing the appropriate vocabulary word. Identify

the kind of relationship on which the analogy is based.
1. intelligent : clever :: strange : ________
2. annoyed : furious :: interested : _________
Interactive
3. gift : delighted :: problem : __________ Vocabulary
4. bored : excited :: fatigued : __________ Go to thinkcentral.com.
KEYWORD: HML10-450
5. goodwill : charity :: cruelty : ___________

450 unit 4: theme

Language
grammar and style: Write Concisely L 3 Apply knowledge of language
to make effective choices for
Review the Grammar and Style note on page 446. A predicate indicates what a meaning or style.
subject is or does or what happens to a subject. By combining predicates, you
can avoid writing a series of short, choppy sentences that begin with the same
noun or pronoun. Here are two additional examples of how Maupassant uses
compound predicates to make his writing more concise:
Then he jumped to his feet, went up to the two Frenchmen, took Morissot
by the arm, and led him to one side. (lines 208–209)
The water spurted up, bubbled, swirled round, then grew calm again . . .
(line 242)
Notice how the revisions in blue use compound predicates to concisely describe
a series of events. Use similar methods to revise your own writing.

student model

The fishing scene is especially effective. On their last day, Morrisot and
and They
Sauvage receive a pass. They also cross enemy lines. Morrisot and Sauvage
and
then scramble down a hill and crawl on their hands and knees. Finally they

reach their beloved fishing ground.

reading-writing connection


YOUR Deepen your understanding of “Two Friends” by responding to this
prompt. Then use the revising tip to improve your writing.
TURN

writing prompt revising tip

Short Constructed Response: Analysis Review your response.
What scenes in “Two Friends” stick out in your mind Have you used
as particularly memorable? Choose one that you compound predicates
find especially effective. Then, write a one- to two- to make your writing Interactive
paragraph analysis of the scene, describing how it more concise? If not, Revision
contributes to the plot as a whole. revise. Go to thinkcentral.com.
KEYWORD: HML10-451

two friends 451

 Name Date

Two Friends Copy Master

Text Analysis
Symbol
A symbol is a person, place, object, or activity that represents something beyond itself. Some
symbols are traditional and occur in many works of literature. For example, a dove is a
common symbol for peace. In “Two Friends,” de Maupassant uses symbols to convey his
meaning.

Directions:  Complete the following chart to analyze this symbol and others. One example
has been done for you.

Reference Symbol Meaning

Line 34 autumn toward the close of day death
Copyright © Holt McDougal, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Two Friends

Resource Manager Unit 4 43

Grade 10
 Name Date

Two Friends Copy Master

Reading Check
Directions:  Recall the events from the short story by Guy de Maupassant. Then answer the
questions in phrases or sentences.

1. What is happening in Paris at the time of the story?

2. What activity do Morissot and Sauvage share?

3. Who are Morissot and Sauvage worried about meeting?

4. Why don’t Morissot and Sauvage reveal the password to the enemy?

Copyright © Holt McDougal, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Two Friends

5. Why are Morissot and Sauvage killed?

50 Unit 4 Resource Manager

Grade 10
 Name Date

Two Friends Copy Master

Question Support
Text Analysis
For questions 1–4, see page 449 of the Student Edition.

Directions:  Complete the sentences.

5. Make Inferences  Morrisot and Sauvage choose to ignore the war by

 

6. Interpret Symbol  Complete the sentence by underlining the word that you think
the fish symbolize. Use descriptions from the story to support your answer. The fish
symbolize Morrisot and Sauvage as ________ .
a. heroes  b. food  c. victims  d. criminals

7. Examine Setting and Theme  Complete the following sentences.

Before the war, the island was

After the war, the island was

Copyright © Holt McDougal, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Two Friends
8. Analyze Irony  Complete the following sentences.

At the end of this story, I expected

I was surprised when the story ended with

9. Draw Conclusions  Complete the following sentences.

In the enemy camp, Morrisot and Sauvage

From these actions, I can tell that their friendship is

Resource Manager Unit 4 51

Grade 10
 Name Date

Two Friends Copy Master

Reading Skill
Make Inferences About Character
Skilled readers make inferences, or logical guesses, about characters using story details and
their own knowledge. Making inferences is also called “reading between the lines” because
you are gaining a fuller understanding by filling in unstated information.

Directions:  In the chart, record details from “Two Friends” and your own experiences to
make inferences. An example has been done for you.

Character Details    + My Experiences   = My Inferences

Morissot fishes every Sunday Fishing requires calm, patience, Morissot probably
from early morning until dark. and an enjoyment of the demonstrates all these
outdoors. qualities.
Copyright © Holt McDougal, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Two Friends

Resource Manager Unit 4 45

Grade 10
 Name Date

Two Friends Copy Master

Grammar and Style

Write Concisely
A predicate indicates what a subject is or does or what happens to the subject. By combining
predicates, you can avoid writing a series of short, choppy sentences that begin with the same
noun or pronoun. Notice this example of a compound predicate.
They soon crossed the frontline, then went through Colombes, which had been evacuated,
and now found themselves on the fringe of the area of the vineyards . . . . (lines 83–85)

Directions: In the following paragraph, the writer reports on the latest events in the war.
Revise the paragraph, combining predicates wherever possible. Use proofreading symbols
from the chart to show your changes.

Proofreading Symbols
Add letters, words, or punctuation. Delete letters or words.

The situation is desperate; the war has intensified. The Prussians

have surrounded Paris. They are cutting off all the food shipments

going into the city. They are starving the residents.

Copyright © Holt McDougal, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Just the other day two old friends, Monsieur Morissot and Monsieur
Two Friends

Sauvage, decided to go fishing. The two walked to their favorite spot.

They caught a lot of fish. Suddenly, the happy fishermen heard the

rumble of cannons. They ignored the threat. The two men continued

to fish. This naïve action proved to be their undoing. The Prussian

commander caught Morissot and Sauvage. He tried to get the two

terrified fishermen to reveal a password. The Prussian shot them in

cold blood when they refused to speak.

52 Unit 4 Resource Manager

Grade 10
 Name Date

Two Friends Copy Master

Vocabulary Study
Words in Context
A.  Directions:  As your teacher reads the passage, listen for each boldfaced word and clues
to its meaning. Then discuss possible meanings of the word.
Marta sat on her bed dejectedly. Her best friend, Lisa, had just moved overseas, and Marta
was miserable. What good times she and Lisa had shared! They were both fanatical followers
of their favorite band. Last summer, in fact, they had made scrapbooks of posters from each
show on the band’s summer tour. They both liked eccentric fashions and laughed when others
failed to appreciate their peculiar tastes.
Marta’s mom came in and saw that Marta looked so pensive, as if she were thinking
of something that might make her weep. Marta burst into tears, crying about how unfair it
was for Lisa’s mother to have accepted the job transfer. She called the company cruel. She
claimed that it was an absolute atrocity to uproot a family like that.
Marta’s mom knew that her exaggerating daughter needed time to put things into
perspective. She also knew she needed to afford Marta the healing time that she needed.
She began to plan a camping trip so that her daughter could feel rejuvenated, ready for a
fresh start and new friends when school began. She knew that if Marta had some time away,
someplace where she could be unperturbed and carefree, she would start to cheer up.

B.  Directions:  Write each boldfaced word from Part A beside its definition.

1. strange, peculiar

2. in a disheartened, depressed way

Copyright © Holt McDougal, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

3. made new or young again

Two Friends
4. very cruel or brutal act

5. thoughtful in a wistful, sad way

6. to provide or offer

7. calm and serene; untroubled

8. extremely enthusiastic

Resource Manager Unit 4 47

Grade 10
 Name Date

Two Friends Copy Master

Vocabulary Practice

afford dejectedly fanatical rejuvenated

atrocity eccentric pensive unperturbed

A.  Directions:  Write the word from the box that best fits each blank.

Cinderella was in a 1. mood. She stared at herself in

the mirror 2.  . “I have to clean the house and get ready
for the ball on time,” she moaned. “Everyone knows that my stepmother is a(n)
3.  housekeeper, too. She is extremely enthusiastic about
cleaning.” Just then, Cinderella’s fairy godmother appeared in a shimmer of light. “Oh, be
serene and 4. ,” she said calmly. “I can get you and this house
5. in no time,” the fairy godmother said with a smile. And so
she did!

B.  Directions:  Circle the word in each group that is closest in meaning to the boldfaced
word.

6. atrocity

Copyright © Holt McDougal, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

fishing cruel act attack urban
Two Friends

7. dejectedly
quickly violently despondently slowly

8. pensive
odd frivolous thoughtful blissful

9. eccentric
peculiar average handsome powerful

10. afford
lose provide bridge carry

48 Unit 4 Resource Manager

Grade 10
 Name Date

Two Friends Copy Master

Vocabulary Strategy
Analogies
Analogies express relationships between pairs of words. These relationships can include
synonyms, antonyms, cause and effect, and degree of intensity. Here is an example:
   brutality : evil :: barbarity : atrocity

Directions:  Complete each analogy by choosing the appropriate word from the choices.
Write the word in the blank. On the line, identify the kind of relationship on which the
analogy is based.
1. bold : foolhardy :: generous :
a. reckless  b. spendthrift  c. stingy  d. unselfish

2. anger : quiet :: rage :

a. calmness  b. fury  c. wrath  d. exhaustion

3. slip : fall :: sleep :

a. surplus  b. rest  c. dreams  d. nightmares
Copyright © Holt McDougal, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

4. chat : converse :: talk :

a. trial  b. jury  c. chatter  d. silence

Two Friends
5. rain : hurricane :: snow :
a. drift  b. blizzard  c. flake  d. winter

Resource Manager Unit 4 49

Grade 10