Answer to Question #160651 in English for Lyndsy Futrell

Question

Fiela's Child, Chapter 1

How does Dalene Matthee control the rise and fall in tension as this chapter develops? How does she leave the central matter unresolved at the end of the chapter?

Answer 1

As the chapter unfolds, there is a rise in tension when news starts spreading that Lukas is missing. This is accompanied by great fear and emotional distress among the family members. Elias tones down the tension by reassuring them that Lukas must have fallen asleep in someone’s house (Dalene Matthee 1986). The central matter remains unsolved when a forester reports to Elias that he discovered a skeleton in the forest that resembles that of a small child. It is not certain whether the skeleton is that of Lucas body as it could also belong to a baboon.

Reference

Dalene Matthee. (1986). Fiela’s Child.