The Parsley Garden
by William Saroyan
Interpretive Questions: Be sure all questions are answered in
complete sentences and include quotes.
1.) Why does Al try to steal
the hammer?
Al tries to steal the hammer because he thinks he will use it if he wants to build something. "Now, with the ten-cent hammer he believed he could make something out of box wood and the nails, although he had no idea what." (p.79)
2.) Why does Al say that he
didn’t mean to steal the hammer?
Al says that he didn't mean to steal the hammer because he just wanted to have the hammer and he didn't have any money. "I didn't mean to steal it. I just need it and I haven't got any money." (p.80)
3.) Why is
Al “deeply ashamed” after he leaves the store? (p.
81)
Al is "deeply ashamed" (p.81) after he leaves the store because he was humiliated that he stole the hammer and had been caught.
4.) Why won’t Al accept his mother’s
money to buy the hammer?
Al won't accept his mother's money to buy the hammer because he doesn't want to take his moms money for something that he doesn't need. "I wont take your money for something I don't really need." (p.83)
5.) Why does Al
use the hammer to make a bench for his mother’s parsley
garden?
Al uses the hammer to make a bench for his mothers parsley garden because he wanted his mom to be happy for him. "When the two women reached the garden it was almost nine o'clock, but still daylight, and she saw her son nailing pieces of box wood together, making something with a hammer." (p.85)
6.) Why does Al refuse to accept
the job at Woolworth’s?
Al refuses to accept the job at Woolworth's because he hates the two men who caught him trying to steal the hammer. "Because I hate the both of them, " the boy said.
7.) What does Al
mean when he says he would never work for “people like that”? (p.
87)
Al means that "people like that"? (p.87) because he hates them for catching him with the hammer.
8.) When Al walks out of Woolworth’s,
why does he refuse the dollar but take the
hammer?
Al walks out of Woolworth's but doesn't take the dollar but he takes the hammer because he wanted the hammer not the dollar. "I left the dollar on Mr. Clemmer's desk," Al Condraj said, "and I told them both I didn't want the job."
9.) At the end of the story, why doesn’t Al feel humiliated anymore?
Al doesn't feel humiliated anymore because he thought that the hammer accident was way behind him now and would never be brought up again. "His mother went inside and went to bed, but Al Condraj sat on the bench he had made and smelled the parsley garden and didn't feel humiliated anymore." (p.87)
10.)
Why can’t Al stop hating the two men “even though he knew they hadn’t done
anything they shouldn’t have done”? (p.87)
Al cant stop hating the two men "even though he knew they hadn't done anything they shouldn't have done"? (p.87) because he hated the two men for catching him with the hammer that he stole.
complete sentences and include quotes.
1.) Why does Al try to steal
the hammer?
Al tries to steal the hammer because he thinks he will use it if he wants to build something. "Now, with the ten-cent hammer he believed he could make something out of box wood and the nails, although he had no idea what." (p.79)
2.) Why does Al say that he
didn’t mean to steal the hammer?
Al says that he didn't mean to steal the hammer because he just wanted to have the hammer and he didn't have any money. "I didn't mean to steal it. I just need it and I haven't got any money." (p.80)
3.) Why is
Al “deeply ashamed” after he leaves the store? (p.
81)
Al is "deeply ashamed" (p.81) after he leaves the store because he was humiliated that he stole the hammer and had been caught.
4.) Why won’t Al accept his mother’s
money to buy the hammer?
Al won't accept his mother's money to buy the hammer because he doesn't want to take his moms money for something that he doesn't need. "I wont take your money for something I don't really need." (p.83)
5.) Why does Al
use the hammer to make a bench for his mother’s parsley
garden?
Al uses the hammer to make a bench for his mothers parsley garden because he wanted his mom to be happy for him. "When the two women reached the garden it was almost nine o'clock, but still daylight, and she saw her son nailing pieces of box wood together, making something with a hammer." (p.85)
6.) Why does Al refuse to accept
the job at Woolworth’s?
Al refuses to accept the job at Woolworth's because he hates the two men who caught him trying to steal the hammer. "Because I hate the both of them, " the boy said.
7.) What does Al
mean when he says he would never work for “people like that”? (p.
87)
Al means that "people like that"? (p.87) because he hates them for catching him with the hammer.
8.) When Al walks out of Woolworth’s,
why does he refuse the dollar but take the
hammer?
Al walks out of Woolworth's but doesn't take the dollar but he takes the hammer because he wanted the hammer not the dollar. "I left the dollar on Mr. Clemmer's desk," Al Condraj said, "and I told them both I didn't want the job."
9.) At the end of the story, why doesn’t Al feel humiliated anymore?
Al doesn't feel humiliated anymore because he thought that the hammer accident was way behind him now and would never be brought up again. "His mother went inside and went to bed, but Al Condraj sat on the bench he had made and smelled the parsley garden and didn't feel humiliated anymore." (p.87)
10.)
Why can’t Al stop hating the two men “even though he knew they hadn’t done
anything they shouldn’t have done”? (p.87)
Al cant stop hating the two men "even though he knew they hadn't done anything they shouldn't have done"? (p.87) because he hated the two men for catching him with the hammer that he stole.
Vocabulary:
1.) Monotony (p.
79)
Quote: "He believed it was just what he needed by which to break the monotony and with which to make something." (p.79)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): Monotony means that you do something that is not boring.
Synonym: Boring
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): I'm sick of the monotony in 6th grade.
2.) Humiliated (p.
81)
Quote: "The first thing he did when he was free was laugh, but he knew he had been humiliated, and he was deeply ashamed." (p.81)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): Humiliated means embarrassed about something.
Synonym: embarrassed
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): I am humiliated that I struck out.
3.) Systematically (p.
84)
Quote: "He also believed it would be necessary for him to steal systematically and successfully the rest of his life." (p.84)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): It means to plan out.
Synonym: regularly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): I need to systematically my schedule.
4.) Indicated (p.
86)
Quote: "and then they looked into their cups at the grounds to see if any good fortune was indicated." (p.85-86)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): Indicated means to point something out.
Synonym: reveal
1.) Monotony (p.
79)
Quote: "He believed it was just what he needed by which to break the monotony and with which to make something." (p.79)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): Monotony means that you do something that is not boring.
Synonym: Boring
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): I'm sick of the monotony in 6th grade.
2.) Humiliated (p.
81)
Quote: "The first thing he did when he was free was laugh, but he knew he had been humiliated, and he was deeply ashamed." (p.81)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): Humiliated means embarrassed about something.
Synonym: embarrassed
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): I am humiliated that I struck out.
3.) Systematically (p.
84)
Quote: "He also believed it would be necessary for him to steal systematically and successfully the rest of his life." (p.84)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): It means to plan out.
Synonym: regularly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary
word): I need to systematically my schedule.
4.) Indicated (p.
86)
Quote: "and then they looked into their cups at the grounds to see if any good fortune was indicated." (p.85-86)
Definition (based on context/in your own
words): Indicated means to point something out.
Synonym: reveal
T-Chart:
Use textual evidence to show
examples of when Al deals with his problems in a P/positive way or a N/negative
way. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each
column.
Al deals with his problems in a
P/positive way V. Al deals with his problems in a N/negative
way
Use textual evidence to show
examples of when Al deals with his problems in a P/positive way or a N/negative
way. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each
column.
Al deals with his problems in a
P/positive way V. Al deals with his problems in a N/negative
way