1a. When the boy comes to the cabin for the first time, what surprises the narrator?
2a. When does the narrator tell the boy the best time to visit would be?
3a. How does the narrator feel upon learning that Jerry has a mother in Mannville?
1b. Why do you think the dog didn't bark to warn the narrator the boy was at the door? How does this prepare the reader for the relationship that the dog and the boy develop later in the story?
2b. Why might the boy be making simple excuses to come and sit with the narrator?
3b. What do you think is the reason for this reaction?
4a. Identify places in the story that suggest how the narrator feels toward Jerry.
4b. What kind of person is the narrator? Is the narrator truly concerned about Jerry? How do you know?
5a. This story describes a relationship between Jerry and the natural setting around him. Does this relationship successfully reveal certain traits about Jerry's character? Why, or why not?
5b. How have you seen people in real life, in books, or in movies deal with secret fantasies? Why might some people come to a point where they believe their fantasies are true? What kinds of circumstances in peoples lives force them to use their imaginations to get through life?
Setting. What elements of season are described at the beginning of the story? What details later in the story show the time of year has changed? What details suggest the historical time setting of the story?
Point of View. Is "A Mother in Mannville" written in the first-person point of view or the third-person point of view? How might the story change if it were written from Jerry's point of view?
1. What do you think would have happened if the narrator had confronted Jerry after finding out the truth about his mother? Write the conversation that you think might take place between Jerry and the narrator.
2. Pretend you are the narrator. Write a letter to Jerry telling him goodbye. In your letter, express your feelings for him, explaining what his friendship means to you.
3. Pretend you are Jerry and have just learned that the narrator and the dog are leaving. Write a short diary entry explaining your feelings and what you would like to have told them while they were still there.
Antonyms. An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word. Find one antonym for each of the following words. Use that antonym in a sentence.
1. suffuse
2. trifle
3. impel
4. resentment
5. inadequate
6. clarity
7. condemn
8. anomalous
9. pending
10. treacherous
Verb Tenses. Review the Language Arts Survey 3.63, "Simple Tenses." Then rewrite the following present-tense sentences in past tense.
1. Wyatt makes dinner at six.
2. Mr. Wimble takes attendance.
3. Maria practices the piano.
4. I leave at five.
5. Pauline sees the doctor.
6. I walk the dogs.
7. You sit on my favorite chair.
8. I dry my hair.
9. He helps me with math.
10. Where are you?
Analyzing an Article. Find a magazine or newspaper article about an orphanage. Answer the following questions.
Where is the orphanage located and how long has it been in existence?
What are the living conditions for the children who stay at the orphanage?
How likely are they to get adopted?
