Interpretive Questions: Answer all questions in complete sentences, using quote to support.
1.) Why does Helen insist that Myra accept the butterfly pin?
Helen insists that Myra accept the butterfly pin because Myra doesn't really have many friends to talk to or hang out with, "So Myra and Jimmy spent every recess standing in the little black porch between the two sides" (Page 144).
2.) Why does Helen feel “a little danger” because she is the only one in the class who carries a lunch pail and wears rubber boots in spring? (p. 147)
Helen feels "a little danger" that she is the only one in the class who carries a lunch pail and wears rubber boots in Spring because it implies that she doesn't exactly fit-in, "I was the only one in class who carried a lunch pail and ate peanut-butter sandwiches in the high, bare, mustard-coloured cloakroom, the only one who had to wear rubber boots in the Spring, when the roads were heavy with mud" (Page 147).
3.) What is the “role” that Helen feels “shaping for” herself? (p. 147)
The "role" that Helen feels "shaping for" herself is to be Myra's friend to seem like a nice person and one that is humble, "A role was shaping for me that I could not resist playing" (Page 147).
4.) Why is Myra “scared and solemn” when Helen tells her to keep the pin? (p. 149)
Myra is "scared and solemn" when Helen tells her to keep the pin because she might think its a trick and Helen is going to humiliate Myra, "It was your Cracker Jack', said Myra, scared and solemn" (Page 149).
5.) What is the “pledge” that Helen recognizes when her fingers touch Myra’s? (p. 149)
The "pledge" that Helen recognizes when her fingers touch Myra's is that they are now friends and not just classmates, "I realized the pledge as our fingers touched; I was panicky, but all right" (Page 149).
6.) Why doesn’t Helen want to accept Myra’s gift?
Helen doesn't want to accept Myra's gift because she feels bad that Myra's in the hospital and wants to give Helen something even though it's not her birthday, "I didn't want to take the case now but I could not think of how to get out of it, what lie to tell" (Page 154).
7.) Why does Myra’s birthday party become “fashionable” with the girls? (p. 151)
Myra's birthday party becomes "fashionable" with the girls because it's all of a sudden like a fun field trip and they are celebrating a birthday with cake and parties, "And I do not know when it was, but I think it was probably at this moment that the birthday party of Myra Sayla became fashionable" (Page 151).
8.) At the hospital, why does Myra turn “shadowy” and “dark” to Helen? (p. 154)
At the hospital, Myra turns "shadowy" and "dark" to Helen because she realizes that her party is over and she is going to miss Helen, "this sound made Myra, her triumph and her bounty, and most of all her future in which she had found this place for me, turn shadowy, turn dark" (Page 154).
9.) Why does Helen no longer see Myra’s presents as “innocent objects to be touched, exchanged, accepted without danger”? (p. 154)
Helen no longer sees Myra's presents as “innocent objects to be touched, exchanged, accepted without danger” because she understands now why people were actually bringing her presents, to be nice, "All the presents on the bed, the folded paper and ribbons, those guilt-tinged offerings, had passed into this shadow, they were no longer innocent objects to be touched, exchanged, accepted without danger" (Page 154).
10.) At the end of the story, what is the “treachery” that Helen feels is in her heart? (p. 155)
At the end of the story, the "treachery" that Helen feels is in her heart is guilt because she tricked people into giving her what she wanted, "She sat in her high bed, her delicate brown neck rising out of a hospital gown too big for her, her brown carved face immune to treachery, her offering perhaps already forgotten, prepared to be set apart for legendary uses, as she was even in the back porch at school" (Page 155).
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Melancholy (p. 144)
Quote: "They had long smooth oval faces, melancholy and discreet—" (Page 144).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the meaning of the word melancholy is gloomy
Synonym: dark, glum, droopy
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The shadows of the walls made the room seem very melancholy.
2.) Medieval (p. 144)
Quote: "They were like children in a medieval painting, they were like small figures carved of wood, for worship or magic, with faces smooth and aged, and meekly, cryptically uncommunicative" (Page 144).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the meaning of medieval is relating to the Middle Ages
Synonym: antique, old, old-fashioned
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The medieval castle was constructed on Minecraft.
3.) Cryptically (p. 144)
Quote: "They were like children in a medieval painting, they were like small figures carved of wood, for worship or magic, with faces smooth and aged, and meekly, cryptically uncommunicative" (Page 144).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the meaning of cryptically is hard to understand
Synonym: unclear, incomprehensible, opaque
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The sentence she wrote was cryptically debatable.
4.) Loitered (p. 147)
Quote: "I had often loitered in that way, wanting to walk with some important girl who was behind me, and not quite daring to stop and wait" (Page 147).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the meaning of loitered is to linger
Synonym: lag, hover, saunter
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I loitered around the school to find my mom.
5.) Benevolence (p. 147)
Quote: "I felt a great pleasurable rush of self-conscious benevolence" (Page 147).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the meaning of benevolence is kind
Synonym: nice, respectful, caring
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Her benevolence shined through her character.
6.) Exalted (p. 154
Quote: "So I was released, set free by the barriers which now closed about Myra, her unknown, exalted, ether-smelling hospital world, and by the treachery of my own heart" (Page 154).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the meaning of exalted is joy
Synonym: happy, uplifting, proud
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She looked at me, exalted, as she was asking me a question.
7.) Treachery (p. 155)
Quote: "She sat in her high bed, her delicate brown neck rising out of a hospital gown too big for her, her brown carved face immune to treachery, her offering perhaps already forgotten, prepared to be set apart for legendary uses, as she was even in the back porch at school" (Page 155).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the meaning of treachery is betrayal
Synonym: disloyal, dishonest, scam
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The treachery in the crime is too much to believe.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when Helen is thinking of herself and when Helen is thinking of Myra. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
1.) Why does Helen insist that Myra accept the butterfly pin?
Helen insists that Myra accept the butterfly pin because Myra doesn't really have many friends to talk to or hang out with, "So Myra and Jimmy spent every recess standing in the little black porch between the two sides" (Page 144).
2.) Why does Helen feel “a little danger” because she is the only one in the class who carries a lunch pail and wears rubber boots in spring? (p. 147)
Helen feels "a little danger" that she is the only one in the class who carries a lunch pail and wears rubber boots in Spring because it implies that she doesn't exactly fit-in, "I was the only one in class who carried a lunch pail and ate peanut-butter sandwiches in the high, bare, mustard-coloured cloakroom, the only one who had to wear rubber boots in the Spring, when the roads were heavy with mud" (Page 147).
3.) What is the “role” that Helen feels “shaping for” herself? (p. 147)
The "role" that Helen feels "shaping for" herself is to be Myra's friend to seem like a nice person and one that is humble, "A role was shaping for me that I could not resist playing" (Page 147).
4.) Why is Myra “scared and solemn” when Helen tells her to keep the pin? (p. 149)
Myra is "scared and solemn" when Helen tells her to keep the pin because she might think its a trick and Helen is going to humiliate Myra, "It was your Cracker Jack', said Myra, scared and solemn" (Page 149).
5.) What is the “pledge” that Helen recognizes when her fingers touch Myra’s? (p. 149)
The "pledge" that Helen recognizes when her fingers touch Myra's is that they are now friends and not just classmates, "I realized the pledge as our fingers touched; I was panicky, but all right" (Page 149).
6.) Why doesn’t Helen want to accept Myra’s gift?
Helen doesn't want to accept Myra's gift because she feels bad that Myra's in the hospital and wants to give Helen something even though it's not her birthday, "I didn't want to take the case now but I could not think of how to get out of it, what lie to tell" (Page 154).
7.) Why does Myra’s birthday party become “fashionable” with the girls? (p. 151)
Myra's birthday party becomes "fashionable" with the girls because it's all of a sudden like a fun field trip and they are celebrating a birthday with cake and parties, "And I do not know when it was, but I think it was probably at this moment that the birthday party of Myra Sayla became fashionable" (Page 151).
8.) At the hospital, why does Myra turn “shadowy” and “dark” to Helen? (p. 154)
At the hospital, Myra turns "shadowy" and "dark" to Helen because she realizes that her party is over and she is going to miss Helen, "this sound made Myra, her triumph and her bounty, and most of all her future in which she had found this place for me, turn shadowy, turn dark" (Page 154).
9.) Why does Helen no longer see Myra’s presents as “innocent objects to be touched, exchanged, accepted without danger”? (p. 154)
Helen no longer sees Myra's presents as “innocent objects to be touched, exchanged, accepted without danger” because she understands now why people were actually bringing her presents, to be nice, "All the presents on the bed, the folded paper and ribbons, those guilt-tinged offerings, had passed into this shadow, they were no longer innocent objects to be touched, exchanged, accepted without danger" (Page 154).
10.) At the end of the story, what is the “treachery” that Helen feels is in her heart? (p. 155)
At the end of the story, the "treachery" that Helen feels is in her heart is guilt because she tricked people into giving her what she wanted, "She sat in her high bed, her delicate brown neck rising out of a hospital gown too big for her, her brown carved face immune to treachery, her offering perhaps already forgotten, prepared to be set apart for legendary uses, as she was even in the back porch at school" (Page 155).
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Melancholy (p. 144)
Quote: "They had long smooth oval faces, melancholy and discreet—" (Page 144).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the meaning of the word melancholy is gloomy
Synonym: dark, glum, droopy
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The shadows of the walls made the room seem very melancholy.
2.) Medieval (p. 144)
Quote: "They were like children in a medieval painting, they were like small figures carved of wood, for worship or magic, with faces smooth and aged, and meekly, cryptically uncommunicative" (Page 144).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the meaning of medieval is relating to the Middle Ages
Synonym: antique, old, old-fashioned
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The medieval castle was constructed on Minecraft.
3.) Cryptically (p. 144)
Quote: "They were like children in a medieval painting, they were like small figures carved of wood, for worship or magic, with faces smooth and aged, and meekly, cryptically uncommunicative" (Page 144).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the meaning of cryptically is hard to understand
Synonym: unclear, incomprehensible, opaque
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The sentence she wrote was cryptically debatable.
4.) Loitered (p. 147)
Quote: "I had often loitered in that way, wanting to walk with some important girl who was behind me, and not quite daring to stop and wait" (Page 147).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the meaning of loitered is to linger
Synonym: lag, hover, saunter
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I loitered around the school to find my mom.
5.) Benevolence (p. 147)
Quote: "I felt a great pleasurable rush of self-conscious benevolence" (Page 147).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the meaning of benevolence is kind
Synonym: nice, respectful, caring
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Her benevolence shined through her character.
6.) Exalted (p. 154
Quote: "So I was released, set free by the barriers which now closed about Myra, her unknown, exalted, ether-smelling hospital world, and by the treachery of my own heart" (Page 154).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the meaning of exalted is joy
Synonym: happy, uplifting, proud
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She looked at me, exalted, as she was asking me a question.
7.) Treachery (p. 155)
Quote: "She sat in her high bed, her delicate brown neck rising out of a hospital gown too big for her, her brown carved face immune to treachery, her offering perhaps already forgotten, prepared to be set apart for legendary uses, as she was even in the back porch at school" (Page 155).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the meaning of treachery is betrayal
Synonym: disloyal, dishonest, scam
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The treachery in the crime is too much to believe.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when Helen is thinking of herself and when Helen is thinking of Myra. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
hElen thinks of herself•When Helen was going along with making fun of Myra to fit-in (Page 146).
•When Helen goes to talk to Myra to seem nice and for flatter (Page 147). •When Helen doesn't want Myra to wear the brooch because people will ask where she got it (Page 150). •When Helen is ungrateful for what Myra had given her and tries to find a way out of it (Page 154). •When Helen thinks about Myra at the end and how deceitful she was (Page 154). |
Helen Thinks of myra•When Helen offers Cracker Jacks and talks to Myra (Page 147-148).
•When Helen tells Myra to keep the brooch since she technically found it (Page 149). •When Helen notices that Myra has been gone for quite some time and wants to know why (Page 150). •When Helen corrects the teacher on Myra's actual birth date (Page 151). •When Helen doesn't want to take any of Myra's presents (Page 154). |