The Mountain
by Charles Mungoshi
Settting:
S =
Setting
Define setting as it applies to
literature:
Note when the setting is describe in the story.
(Bullet points are okay. Be sure to provide quotes and/or page numbers to
support your examples).
How
does the setting affect the characters here? How does it influence story
events?
Conflict:
C =
Conflict
Define conflict as it applies to
literature:
Note when conflict occurs in the story, whether
Nharo experiences an internal or external conflict.
What internal or external
conflict does Nharo experience? What does this conflict reveal about his
character?
Interpretive Questions:
Be sure to answer all questions in complete sentences using quotes to
support.
1.) Why is Nharo unable to keep himself from being
afraid?
Nharo is unable to keep himself from being afraid because he heard stories of the mountain and is afraid of the dark. "The gully was black now and in the darmness the path along its rim was witish."(p.144)
2.) Why does Nharo say that he
could not be CHemai’s friend “without catching his fever”? (p.
144)
Nharo says that he could not be Chemai's friend "without catching his fever"? (p.144) because he Chemai keeps talking about scary things and Nharo doesn't like it.
3.) Why does Nharo say, “But it would
not help us to show Chemai that I was frightened too”? (p.
146)
Nharo says "But it would not help us to show Chemai that I was frightend too"? (p.146) because he wants to be tough.
4.) Why does Nharo ask Chemai why the
road couldn’t be constructed across the mountain if Nharo has already heard the
reason?
Nharo asks Chemai why the road couldn't be constructed across the mountain if Nharo heard the reason because he is scared. "I asked him about the road that I had heard was going to
be constructed across the mountain."(p.147)
5.) After Chemai accuses Nharo of
insulting the goat, why does Nharo think, “It was no use pretending I didn’t
know what I was doing. I knew these goats. Lost spirits”? (p.
149)
Nharo thinks that "It was no use pretending I didn't know what I was doing. I knew these goats. Lost spirits"? (p.149) because at first he thinks the goat is fake but then he realizes that the goat is real.
6.) Over the course of the story, does
Narho’s attitude about the mountain change?
Narhos attitude does change because at first he thinks its all fake but then he realizes that it is real. "I felt the goat was harmless."(p.151)
7.) At the beginning of the story, why does Nharo say he likes to think of their
path “as a question, marked by the mountain”? (p.
143)
Nharo says that he likes to think of their path "as a question marked by the mountain"? (p.143) because he wants to know if it is real or not real.
8.) Why does Nharo think that only
“someone who had gone to school” could be friend with him? (p.
144)
Nharo thinks that only "someone who had gone to school" could be friend with him? (p.144) because everyone else is farther away.
9.) Why does Nharo feel “safe and
warm” in his grandmother’s hut if his grandmother reminds him of his childhood
nightmares? (p. 151)
Nharo feels "safe and warm" in his grandmother's hut if his grandmother reminds him of his childhood nightmares? (p.151) because he feels protected.
10.) At the end of the
story, what does Nharo mean when he says that “somebody who knew” was taking
care of things? (p. 151)
Nharo means when he says that "somebody who knew" was taking care of things? (p.151) because somebody who Nharo knew was taking care of the problem.
S =
Setting
Define setting as it applies to
literature:
Note when the setting is describe in the story.
(Bullet points are okay. Be sure to provide quotes and/or page numbers to
support your examples).
How
does the setting affect the characters here? How does it influence story
events?
Conflict:
C =
Conflict
Define conflict as it applies to
literature:
Note when conflict occurs in the story, whether
Nharo experiences an internal or external conflict.
What internal or external
conflict does Nharo experience? What does this conflict reveal about his
character?
Interpretive Questions:
Be sure to answer all questions in complete sentences using quotes to
support.
1.) Why is Nharo unable to keep himself from being
afraid?
Nharo is unable to keep himself from being afraid because he heard stories of the mountain and is afraid of the dark. "The gully was black now and in the darmness the path along its rim was witish."(p.144)
2.) Why does Nharo say that he
could not be CHemai’s friend “without catching his fever”? (p.
144)
Nharo says that he could not be Chemai's friend "without catching his fever"? (p.144) because he Chemai keeps talking about scary things and Nharo doesn't like it.
3.) Why does Nharo say, “But it would
not help us to show Chemai that I was frightened too”? (p.
146)
Nharo says "But it would not help us to show Chemai that I was frightend too"? (p.146) because he wants to be tough.
4.) Why does Nharo ask Chemai why the
road couldn’t be constructed across the mountain if Nharo has already heard the
reason?
Nharo asks Chemai why the road couldn't be constructed across the mountain if Nharo heard the reason because he is scared. "I asked him about the road that I had heard was going to
be constructed across the mountain."(p.147)
5.) After Chemai accuses Nharo of
insulting the goat, why does Nharo think, “It was no use pretending I didn’t
know what I was doing. I knew these goats. Lost spirits”? (p.
149)
Nharo thinks that "It was no use pretending I didn't know what I was doing. I knew these goats. Lost spirits"? (p.149) because at first he thinks the goat is fake but then he realizes that the goat is real.
6.) Over the course of the story, does
Narho’s attitude about the mountain change?
Narhos attitude does change because at first he thinks its all fake but then he realizes that it is real. "I felt the goat was harmless."(p.151)
7.) At the beginning of the story, why does Nharo say he likes to think of their
path “as a question, marked by the mountain”? (p.
143)
Nharo says that he likes to think of their path "as a question marked by the mountain"? (p.143) because he wants to know if it is real or not real.
8.) Why does Nharo think that only
“someone who had gone to school” could be friend with him? (p.
144)
Nharo thinks that only "someone who had gone to school" could be friend with him? (p.144) because everyone else is farther away.
9.) Why does Nharo feel “safe and
warm” in his grandmother’s hut if his grandmother reminds him of his childhood
nightmares? (p. 151)
Nharo feels "safe and warm" in his grandmother's hut if his grandmother reminds him of his childhood nightmares? (p.151) because he feels protected.
10.) At the end of the
story, what does Nharo mean when he says that “somebody who knew” was taking
care of things? (p. 151)
Nharo means when he says that "somebody who knew" was taking care of things? (p.151) because somebody who Nharo knew was taking care of the problem.
Vocabulary:
1.) Tolerated (p.
143)
Quote: "but now I tolerated him only for old time's sake and because there was no one within miles who could be friends with me." (p.143-144)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): to except the feelings
Synonym: endure
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): I tolerated the behavior of my brothers.
2.) Irritating (p.
144)
Quote: It can be irritating when someone you are walking with goes on talking when you don't to - especially at night." (p.144)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): to get on someone's nerves
Synonym: annoying
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): It is irritating when you have to wait in an 2 hour wait.
3.) Appease (p.
149)
Quote: "and much medicine brewing to appease them, to make them go away." (p.149)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): to be less painful
Synonym: gentle
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): I behaved well to appease my parents.
4.) Vigorously (p.
149)
Quote: "I saw his head bob vigorously in the dark."
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): healthy and strong
Synonym: full of energy
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): I vigorously threw the pitch.
1.) Tolerated (p.
143)
Quote: "but now I tolerated him only for old time's sake and because there was no one within miles who could be friends with me." (p.143-144)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): to except the feelings
Synonym: endure
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): I tolerated the behavior of my brothers.
2.) Irritating (p.
144)
Quote: It can be irritating when someone you are walking with goes on talking when you don't to - especially at night." (p.144)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): to get on someone's nerves
Synonym: annoying
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): It is irritating when you have to wait in an 2 hour wait.
3.) Appease (p.
149)
Quote: "and much medicine brewing to appease them, to make them go away." (p.149)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): to be less painful
Synonym: gentle
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): I behaved well to appease my parents.
4.) Vigorously (p.
149)
Quote: "I saw his head bob vigorously in the dark."
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): healthy and strong
Synonym: full of energy
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): I vigorously threw the pitch.
Thinking Map:
Use textual
evidence to show examples of when Nharo seems superstitious or when Nharo seems
logical. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for
each column.
Nharo seems SUPERSTITIOUS
V. Nharo seems LOGICAL
Use textual
evidence to show examples of when Nharo seems superstitious or when Nharo seems
logical. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for
each column.
Nharo seems SUPERSTITIOUS
V. Nharo seems LOGICAL