Visualizing A Key to Comprehension
The Setting: before the sun has even breasted eastern hills, steeple white and pointing straight to heaven, road is raw with rutted mudThe Characters: Ma hurries, loads the wagon, baked yesterday, Little Sister rubs her eyes, dressed up pretty, pink hoop dress, hair in braids, I pull my good pants on, my stomach feels like something's wrong inside, a shadow like a wave of sadness, my mind drifts off, I can see my father, preacher rises like a vision, voice rising, sinking, thundering, words become cadenced drumbeat.
Questioning A Key to Comprehension
1. How does the family prepare for Sunday?2. The author puts 5 stanzas about John in italics. Why do you think he does this? What do you learn from these 5 stanzas?3. Little Sister asks if Pa is with them when they pray. Why does the boy answer her the way he does?4. How has the war affected church attendance?5. The boy overhears "broken bits of conversation" between Miz Dayton and Miz Haley. Take each one and discuss what it means. What does Ma mean when she says, "Nothing but a nasty case of ignorance."?6. How do the preacher's words affect the boy?7. How can the last question raised by the boy be answered? Can it be answered?8. What do you wonder about at the end of this chapter?
Connecting A Key to Comprehension
1. What part does religion play in this chapter and in this story? How important is God to the boy and his family?2. Religion brings people together and also divides them. Find reports in the news that illustrates both of these ideas.