My Medusa - Resolution (Grade 8)

The passage states, 'Defeated, she pushed her real project into a corner and started working on a simple, perfectly symmetrical vase. It was safe.' This shows her initial decision was to create the vase.

Eliana says, 'My real art… it’s like Medusa’s head. People look at it and they get uncomfortable, like they’re turning to stone.' This reveals her belief that her art is unsettling to others, which is the core of her insecurity.

The passage says Miles's question 'hung in the air' and 'sparked a small rebellion in her heart,' leading directly to her decision to display her true sculpture. His words provoked her to resolve her internal conflict.

The final paragraph explicitly states, 'She had titled it, simply, My Medusa.' This is a direct detail from the text describing her final, accepted work.

The text says, 'a feeling of calm washed over her. She didn't need a prize to validate her... that was enough.' This directly states her final emotional resolution.

Miles's question shows he wants her to be true to her style. Eliana's statement about 'what they want' shows her reason for making the vase. Her final thought reveals she no longer needs external approval. Her Medusa comparison reveals her insecurity about how her art affects people.

The items in 'Represents Insecurity' are all actions or thoughts Eliana had when she was afraid of judgment and hiding her true self. The items in 'Represents Self-Acceptance' are actions she took or feelings she had after deciding to embrace her unique style, resolving her internal conflict.