Interpretive Questions: Answer all questions in complete sentences, providing quotes as textual support.
1.) Why does the narrator steal the exercise books?
The narrator steals the exercise books because he thinks it's fun to steal things from people that are worthy and valuable, "How clean and white they were" (Page 109).
2.) Why doesn’t the narrator want to crease or mark the exercise books?
The narrator doesn't want to crease or mark the exercise books because he wants to keep them clean because he thinks they're very important, "They were beautiful" (Page 102).
3.) Why does thinking about the hidden exercise books help the narrator “a lot”? (p. 109)
Thinking about the hidden exercise books helps the narrator a lot because it gives him something to look forward to and gives him some sense of pride, "Thinking about them helped me a lot" (Page 109).
4.) Why does the narrator decide to tear up the exercise books and throw them away?
The narrator decides to tear up the exercise books and throw them away because he feels bad that he let everyone down and they had to get punished for something he was guilty of doing, "I shall see you all here at this time tomorrow, and I shall beat you all" (Page 104).
5.) After he decides not to keep a piece of the books, why does the narrator say, “I didn’t need to be reminded of anything. I had a secret”? (p. 109)
After he decides not to keep a piece of the books, the narrator says, “I didn’t need to be reminded of anything. I had a secret” because he didn't want to steal anymore, "I didn’t need to be reminded of anything. I had a secret” (Page 109).
6.) Why does the narrator keep smiling at Nicky Carver at the end of the story?
The narrator kept smiling at Nicky Carver at the end of the story because he thinks if he smiles he will get away with what happened and it would soften what happened, "It makes people think twice" (Page 103).
7.) What does the narrator mean when he says his smile “makes people think twice”? (p. 103)
The narrator when he says his smile "makes people think twice" means that if he smiles that people will not find him guilty of anything because of his acts, "It makes people think twice" (Page 103).
8.) Why does the narrator spend time with Nicky Carver?
The narrator spends time with Nicky Carver because he's the only one who has things in common with him and other people treat him differently, "People usually bracket Nicky Carver and me together" (Page 103).
9.) Why is the narrator furious when Nicky turns himself in?
The narrator is furious when Nicky turns himself in because he stole the secret and because he took the blame away for the theft, "He had stolen my secret" (Page 111).
10.) Why does the narrator think that Nicky “had stolen [his] secret”? (p.111)
The narrator thinks that Nicky "had stolen his secret" because having the secret made him feel good and he stole it so that the narrator knows that Nicky knows the truth, "He had stolen my secret" (Page 111).
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Redeem (p. 103)
Quote: "I will give the thief a chance to redeem himself" (Page 103).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the word redeem means to get something to back
Synonym: regain, retrieve, recoup
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Stacey was able to redeem herself when she scored the game winning shot.
2.) Converted (p. 108)
Quote: "There are parents, and members of staff, who are non-Catholics, or who have recently converted" (Page 108).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the word converted means to be something different
Synonym: transformed, changed, switched
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Judy has recently converted to Judaism.
3.) Misguided (p. 108)
Quote: "Especially those of you who are responsible for this morning's misguided little charade, for which I have given you all two extra strokes" (Page 108).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the word misguided means to be unclear
Synonym: mistaken, misled, misinformed
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The teacher's directions were often misguided and confusing.
4.) Charade (p. 108)
Quote: "Especially those of you who are responsible for this morning's misguided little charade, for which I have given you all two extra strokes" (Page 108).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the word charade means a game
Synonym: trick, fake, parody
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The charade was very unbelievable and not convincing.
5.) Crescent (p. 109)
Quote: "It was a cool crescent of shining green plastic" (Page 109).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the word crescent means half of a shape
Synonym: curved, semi-circle, convex
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The crescent-shaped necklace was very special to my grandmother.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when you understand the narrator’s behavior or you do not understand the narrator’s behavior. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
1.) Why does the narrator steal the exercise books?
The narrator steals the exercise books because he thinks it's fun to steal things from people that are worthy and valuable, "How clean and white they were" (Page 109).
2.) Why doesn’t the narrator want to crease or mark the exercise books?
The narrator doesn't want to crease or mark the exercise books because he wants to keep them clean because he thinks they're very important, "They were beautiful" (Page 102).
3.) Why does thinking about the hidden exercise books help the narrator “a lot”? (p. 109)
Thinking about the hidden exercise books helps the narrator a lot because it gives him something to look forward to and gives him some sense of pride, "Thinking about them helped me a lot" (Page 109).
4.) Why does the narrator decide to tear up the exercise books and throw them away?
The narrator decides to tear up the exercise books and throw them away because he feels bad that he let everyone down and they had to get punished for something he was guilty of doing, "I shall see you all here at this time tomorrow, and I shall beat you all" (Page 104).
5.) After he decides not to keep a piece of the books, why does the narrator say, “I didn’t need to be reminded of anything. I had a secret”? (p. 109)
After he decides not to keep a piece of the books, the narrator says, “I didn’t need to be reminded of anything. I had a secret” because he didn't want to steal anymore, "I didn’t need to be reminded of anything. I had a secret” (Page 109).
6.) Why does the narrator keep smiling at Nicky Carver at the end of the story?
The narrator kept smiling at Nicky Carver at the end of the story because he thinks if he smiles he will get away with what happened and it would soften what happened, "It makes people think twice" (Page 103).
7.) What does the narrator mean when he says his smile “makes people think twice”? (p. 103)
The narrator when he says his smile "makes people think twice" means that if he smiles that people will not find him guilty of anything because of his acts, "It makes people think twice" (Page 103).
8.) Why does the narrator spend time with Nicky Carver?
The narrator spends time with Nicky Carver because he's the only one who has things in common with him and other people treat him differently, "People usually bracket Nicky Carver and me together" (Page 103).
9.) Why is the narrator furious when Nicky turns himself in?
The narrator is furious when Nicky turns himself in because he stole the secret and because he took the blame away for the theft, "He had stolen my secret" (Page 111).
10.) Why does the narrator think that Nicky “had stolen [his] secret”? (p.111)
The narrator thinks that Nicky "had stolen his secret" because having the secret made him feel good and he stole it so that the narrator knows that Nicky knows the truth, "He had stolen my secret" (Page 111).
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Redeem (p. 103)
Quote: "I will give the thief a chance to redeem himself" (Page 103).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the word redeem means to get something to back
Synonym: regain, retrieve, recoup
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Stacey was able to redeem herself when she scored the game winning shot.
2.) Converted (p. 108)
Quote: "There are parents, and members of staff, who are non-Catholics, or who have recently converted" (Page 108).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the word converted means to be something different
Synonym: transformed, changed, switched
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Judy has recently converted to Judaism.
3.) Misguided (p. 108)
Quote: "Especially those of you who are responsible for this morning's misguided little charade, for which I have given you all two extra strokes" (Page 108).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the word misguided means to be unclear
Synonym: mistaken, misled, misinformed
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The teacher's directions were often misguided and confusing.
4.) Charade (p. 108)
Quote: "Especially those of you who are responsible for this morning's misguided little charade, for which I have given you all two extra strokes" (Page 108).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the word charade means a game
Synonym: trick, fake, parody
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The charade was very unbelievable and not convincing.
5.) Crescent (p. 109)
Quote: "It was a cool crescent of shining green plastic" (Page 109).
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the word crescent means half of a shape
Synonym: curved, semi-circle, convex
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The crescent-shaped necklace was very special to my grandmother.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when you understand the narrator’s behavior or you do not understand the narrator’s behavior. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
understandThe narrator stealing the books (Page 102)
The narrator wants to keep his "safe place" a secret (Page 102) The narrator admits to stealing (Page 107) The narrator doesn't want to say it's his birthday (Page 101) The narrator might think he's entitled to taking the book because it's his birthday (Page 101) |
do not understandThe narrator stealing the books out of everything else to take (Page 102)
The narrator doesn't really feel guilty (Page 108) The narrator destroys the books instead of turning them in (Page 109) The narrator is mad that Nicky Carver stole the secret (Page 111) The narrator hangs out in the chapel by himself (Page 102) |