Name
Date
“The Third Wish” by Joan Aiken
Literary Analysis: Conflict
Most fictional stories center on a conflict—a struggle between opposing forces.
There are two kinds of conflict:
• When there is an external conflict, a character struggles with an outside force,
such as another character or nature.
• When there is an internal conflict, a character struggles with himself or herself to
overcome opposing feelings, beliefs, needs, or desires. An internal conflict takes
place in a character’s mind.
The resolution, or outcome of the conflict, often comes toward the end of the story,
when the problem is settled in some way.
A story can have additional, smaller conflicts that develop the main conflict. For
example, in “The Third Wish,” a small external conflict occurs between Mr. Peters and
the swan that is tangled up in the thorns. As Mr. Peters tries to free the bird, the swan
looks at him “with hate in its yellow eyes” and struggles with him. In addition, a minor
internal conflict that helps develop the main conflict is Mr. Peters’s difficulty in deciding
what to do with his three wishes.
DIRECTIONS: Based on details in each of the following passages from “The Third Wish,”
identify the conflict as External or Internal. Then, explain your answer.
1. [Leita] was weeping, and as he came nearer he saw that tears were rolling, too, from
the swan’s eyes.
“Leita, what is it?” he asked, very troubled.
“This is my sister,” she answered. “I can’t bear being separated from her.”
Type of conflict:
Explanation:
2. “Don’t you love me at all, Leita?”
“Yes, I do, I do love you,” she said, and there were tears in her eyes again. “But I
miss the old life in the forest.”
Type of conflict:
Explanation:
3. She shook her head. “No, I could not be as unkind to you as that. I am partly a
swan, but I am also partly a human being now.”
Type of conflict:
Explanation:
Unit 2 Resources: Short Stories
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132
Name
Date
“The Third Wish” by Joan Aiken
Vocabulary Builder
Word List
dabbling
malicious
presumptuous
rash
remote
verge
A. DIRECTIONS: On the line, write the letter of the word whose meaning is opposite that
of the Word List word.
1. malicious
A. wicked
2. presumptuous
A. curious
3. rash
A. cautious
4. remote
A. casual
5. dabbling
A. drooling
6. verge
A. edge
B. tangled
C. sour
D. kind
B. modest
C. missing
D. hungry
B. itchy
C. impure
D. hasty
B. close
C. faraway
D. controlled
B. dipping
C. immersing
D. scratching
B. center
C. frame
D. bank
B. DIRECTIONS: Think about the meaning of the italicized word in each sentence. Then, in
your own words, answer the question that follows, and briefly explain your answer.
1. The old King is presumptuous in believing that Mr. Peters will make three foolish
wishes. Is the old King overconfident? How do you know?
2. The old King is a malicious character. How does he act toward Mr. Peters?
3. Mr. Peters lives in a remote valley. Is it close to town? How do you know?
Unit 2 Resources: Short Stories
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133
Name
Date
“The Third Wish” by Joan Aiken
“Amigo Brothers” by Piri Thomas
Integrated Language Skills: Grammar
Adjectives
An adjective modifies or describes a noun or pronoun. An adjective may answer the
questions what kind? how many? which one? or whose?
In this sentence, beautiful modifies woman. It tells what kind of woman appeared.
A beautiful woman suddenly appeared.
In this sentence, two modifies boys. It tells how many boys continued to run
together.
Two boys continued to run together.
A. DIRECTIONS: Underline the adjective or adjectives in each sentence. Then, circle the
word the adjective modifies and which question it answers.
1. Mr. Peters drove along a straight, empty stretch of road.
2. He heard strange cries coming from a distant bush.
3. A great white swan suddenly changed into a little man.
4. The grateful stranger granted Mr. Peters several wishes.
5. Mr. Peters soon had a gorgeous wife with pretty blue-green eyes.
6. Antonio was fair, lean, and lanky, while Felix was dark, short, and husky.
7. Antonio’s lean form and long reach made him the better boxer.
8. Felix’s short and muscular frame made him the better slugger.
9. Large posters were plastered on the walls of local shops.
10. The fighters changed from their street clothes into fighting gear.
B. Writing Application: Write a sentence in response to each set of instructions.
1. Write a sentence about Leita, using the adjective attractive.
2. Write a sentence about the forest, using the adjectives dark and remote.
3. Write a sentence about Antonio Cruz, using the adjectives lean and talented.
4. Write a sentence about Felix Vargas, using the adjectives short and powerful.
Unit 2 Resources: Short Stories
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153