Respond in a full paragraph, and make sure your answer is written in complete sentences (capital letter, complete thought, ending punctuation). Points will be deducted for improper formatting.

Question

Respond in a full paragraph, and make sure your answer is written in complete sentences (capital letter, complete thought, ending punctuation). Points will be deducted for improper formatting.

Part 1: "The Swimming Contest" ends in tragedy. What happened? Explain in 3-5 sentences.
Part 2: The narrator ends the story by saying:"There, in the courtyard, it was I, all of us, who were the losers.In your opinion, what is the author trying to say by calling everyone losers? Provide all of the ways that something was lost in the story. You should have at least three examples, and they should be written in at least 2-5 complete sentences.

Answer 1

In "The Swimming Contest," the tragedy occurs when Manuel dives into the river in order to win the contest, but he never resurfaces. His lifeless body is eventually found downstream, and his death casts a shadow over the entire village. The author ends the story by calling everyone losers to convey the idea that no one truly won in the end. Firstly, Manuel lost his life, which is an irreplaceable loss. Secondly, the villagers lost their carefree innocence as they were forced to confront the harsh reality of death. Lastly, the sense of community and camaraderie among the villagers was lost, as they were torn apart by grief and guilt. These losses highlight the tragic consequences of the swimming contest and reinforce the idea that no one emerged from the situation unscathed.