Read the stanza from henry wadsworth longfellow’s “the tide rises, the tide falls.” darkness settles on roofs and walls, but the sea, the sea in the darkness calls: the little waves, with their soft, white hands, efface the footprints in the sands, and the tide rises, the tide falls. which word in the stanza best establishes a peaceful mood

Tobias wolff most likely named his short story "mortals" because the story explores the theme of people coming to terms with the idea that one day they too will die. wanting to find out what their loved ones really think of them. achieving immortalit by being "big people" while they are alive. hoping that they will have accomplished something before they die.