Afternoon in Linen
Shirley Jackson
Interpretive Questions: Be sure to answer
all questions in complete sentences using quotes to support.
1.) Why does Harriet refuse to play the piano or
recite her poems?
Harriet refuses to play the piano or recite her poems because she says that she doesn't have any poems. "Don't have any," she said. (p.155)
2.) Even before she is
asked to, why does Harriet decide she won’t play the
piano?
Harriet decides that she won't play the piano because she thinks it embarrassing. "I don't know any," the little girl said. (p.154)
3.) Why is Harriet worried that
Howard will tell “all the kids on the block” about her poems? (p.
155)
Harriet is worried that Howard will tell "all the kids on the block" about her poems? (p.155) because Howard doesn't like to sing.
4.) Why does Harriet insist she copied
the poem out of a book?
Harriet says that she copied the poem out of a book because she knew that Howard would tell everyone. "I copied it right out of a book."(p.158)
5.) Why does
Harriet take the poems away from her grandmother and say, “And you can’t look at
them anymore, either”? (p. 158)
Harriet takes the poems away from her grandmother and says "And you can't look at them anymore, either"? (p.158) because she is embarrassed.
6.) Is
Harriet’s grandmother ignoring Harriet’s feelings, or is she unaware of
them?
Harriet's grandmother is ignoring Harriets feelings because she wants to be supportive of Harriet. "I don't have any of those poems. Well I
have."(p.156)
7.) When Harriet will not play the
piano, why does her grandmother insist that she recite her
poems?
Her grandmother insists that if she can recite her poems because she wants Harriet to do stuff. "I think we ought to show her our really fine achievements
on the other line."(p.155)
8.) When Howard gives her the poems,
why does Harriet’s grandmother “kindly” ask Harriet, “Will you read them or
shall I”? (p. 156)
When Howard gives her the poems Harriet's grandmother "kindly" asks Harriet, "Will you read them or shall I"? (p.156) because Harriet doesn't want to read them but her grandmother wants to read it.
9.) After reading the
poem, why does Harriet’s grandmother ask, “Now aren’t you sorry you made such a
fuss about such a little thing”? (p. 157)
After reading the poem Harriet's grandmother asks "Now aren't you sorry you made such a fuss about such a little thing"? (p.157) because it wasn't that big of a deal.
10.) Why does Harriet’s grandmother apologize to Mrs. Kator for having read her
the poem “under false pretenses”? (p. 158)
Harriet's grandmother apologizes to Mrs. Kator for having read her poem "under false pretenses"? (p.158) because she feels embarrassed about Harriet not wanting to read the poem.
all questions in complete sentences using quotes to support.
1.) Why does Harriet refuse to play the piano or
recite her poems?
Harriet refuses to play the piano or recite her poems because she says that she doesn't have any poems. "Don't have any," she said. (p.155)
2.) Even before she is
asked to, why does Harriet decide she won’t play the
piano?
Harriet decides that she won't play the piano because she thinks it embarrassing. "I don't know any," the little girl said. (p.154)
3.) Why is Harriet worried that
Howard will tell “all the kids on the block” about her poems? (p.
155)
Harriet is worried that Howard will tell "all the kids on the block" about her poems? (p.155) because Howard doesn't like to sing.
4.) Why does Harriet insist she copied
the poem out of a book?
Harriet says that she copied the poem out of a book because she knew that Howard would tell everyone. "I copied it right out of a book."(p.158)
5.) Why does
Harriet take the poems away from her grandmother and say, “And you can’t look at
them anymore, either”? (p. 158)
Harriet takes the poems away from her grandmother and says "And you can't look at them anymore, either"? (p.158) because she is embarrassed.
6.) Is
Harriet’s grandmother ignoring Harriet’s feelings, or is she unaware of
them?
Harriet's grandmother is ignoring Harriets feelings because she wants to be supportive of Harriet. "I don't have any of those poems. Well I
have."(p.156)
7.) When Harriet will not play the
piano, why does her grandmother insist that she recite her
poems?
Her grandmother insists that if she can recite her poems because she wants Harriet to do stuff. "I think we ought to show her our really fine achievements
on the other line."(p.155)
8.) When Howard gives her the poems,
why does Harriet’s grandmother “kindly” ask Harriet, “Will you read them or
shall I”? (p. 156)
When Howard gives her the poems Harriet's grandmother "kindly" asks Harriet, "Will you read them or shall I"? (p.156) because Harriet doesn't want to read them but her grandmother wants to read it.
9.) After reading the
poem, why does Harriet’s grandmother ask, “Now aren’t you sorry you made such a
fuss about such a little thing”? (p. 157)
After reading the poem Harriet's grandmother asks "Now aren't you sorry you made such a fuss about such a little thing"? (p.157) because it wasn't that big of a deal.
10.) Why does Harriet’s grandmother apologize to Mrs. Kator for having read her
the poem “under false pretenses”? (p. 158)
Harriet's grandmother apologizes to Mrs. Kator for having read her poem "under false pretenses"? (p.158) because she feels embarrassed about Harriet not wanting to read the poem.
Vocabulary:
1.) Recite
(p. 155)
Quote: "I'm going to ask her to recite them to you, because I feel, even though I may be prejudiced." (p.155)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): to read
Synonym: describe
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): I didn't want to recite the poem but my parents made me.
2.) Prejudiced (p.
155)
Quote: "I'm going to ask her to recite them to you, because I feel, even though I may
be prejudiced." (p.155)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): to discriminate
Synonym: biased
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): I was prejudiced when the ump called a bad call.
3.) Merit (p.
155)
Quote: "even though I probably am prejudiced, that they show real merit." (p.155)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): a good quality
Synonym: excellence
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): That boy doesn't know what merit means.
4.) Pretenses (p.
158)
Quote: "I'm afraid I must apologize for Harriet and for you the poem under false pretenses." (p.158)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): a false reason
Synonym: affectation
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): My friend was pretense about something.
5.) Deprecatingly (p.
158)
Quote: "Oh, they do," Mrs. Kator said Deprecatingly. (p.158)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): to criticize
Synonym: dismiss
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): I am deprecatingly ashamed of the homework.
1.) Recite
(p. 155)
Quote: "I'm going to ask her to recite them to you, because I feel, even though I may be prejudiced." (p.155)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): to read
Synonym: describe
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): I didn't want to recite the poem but my parents made me.
2.) Prejudiced (p.
155)
Quote: "I'm going to ask her to recite them to you, because I feel, even though I may
be prejudiced." (p.155)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): to discriminate
Synonym: biased
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): I was prejudiced when the ump called a bad call.
3.) Merit (p.
155)
Quote: "even though I probably am prejudiced, that they show real merit." (p.155)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): a good quality
Synonym: excellence
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): That boy doesn't know what merit means.
4.) Pretenses (p.
158)
Quote: "I'm afraid I must apologize for Harriet and for you the poem under false pretenses." (p.158)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): a false reason
Synonym: affectation
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): My friend was pretense about something.
5.) Deprecatingly (p.
158)
Quote: "Oh, they do," Mrs. Kator said Deprecatingly. (p.158)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): to criticize
Synonym: dismiss
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): I am deprecatingly ashamed of the homework.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to
show examples of when Harriet’s behavior seems reasonable and when her behavior
seems unreasonable. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and
opinion for each column.
Harriet’s Behavior
Seems Reasonable V. Harriet’s Behavior Seems Unreasonable
Use textual evidence to
show examples of when Harriet’s behavior seems reasonable and when her behavior
seems unreasonable. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and
opinion for each column.
Harriet’s Behavior
Seems Reasonable V. Harriet’s Behavior Seems Unreasonable
Reasonable.Harriet didn't apologize because she thinks she didn't do anything wrong she was just embarrassed. (p.158)
. Harriet doesn't want to recite any of her poems because she knows that Howard will tell everybody. (p.155) . She doesn't want to play the piano because she thinks it is embarrassing. (p.154) . Harriet takes the poems away from her grandma because she wont get embarrassed anymore. (p.158) . Harriet didn't seem sorry about making a big fuss about something that wasn't very hard. (p.157) |
Unreasonable. Harriet lies to her grandmother about having any poems because she thinks she will get embarrassed when she reads her poem. (p.156)
. She keeps lying about the she doesn't have poems just because she doesn't want to get embarrassed. (p.155) . Harriet lies when she says she copied the poem out of a book. (p.158) . She lies that she doesn't know how to play the piano but she does know how to play the piano she doesn't want to be embarrassed. (p.154) . Harriet lies to her grandmother that she doesn't have any of her poems but she has poems she is just embarrasses about reading them. (p.156) |