Chapter Seven

What evidence can you find in the text about how some (any) members of Calpurnia's family felt about Minerva Goodacre?  Why do you suppose she returned to Austin?  Why were Harry's letters to her returned unopened?

Chapter Seven

"There had been times in the past when I'd been in some kind of mild trouble with him and, uncomfortable as those times had been, they had always passed.  I had basked safe in the knowledge that I was forever his favorite; I took his love on faith and wrapped it around me like a blanket.  But this was different.  I had fundamentally injured him while trying to protect us, to protect him.  No.  If I were being honest, to protect myself.  And I felt the first icy grip of grief around my heart." (p.82)

In the context of the story so far, please explain in as much detail as possible, what Calpurnia meant by these words -- what she was thinking, what she was feeling.

Chapter Seven

Based on your prior knowledge of his character, and using specific examples from this chapter, how do you see Granddaddy as different from the rest of Calpurnia's family?

Monday, December 10, 2012

I forgot to mention on Friday, that I will not be in the classroom (much) on Monday, because I'll be at another one of my math workshops.  You will have time to work on your blog responses (and revisiting older discussions) during the day in class.

Just Wondering

Even beyond the vocabulary I give you to prepare you for reading each chapter, this book is pretty tough, and there are lots more challenging words than are even on your lists.  How are you handling this?  How do you think you're doing with this story, considering all the unfamiliar words?

There are no other questions for chapter six.

Chapter Five

It seems that the relationship between Calpurnia and Granddaddy continues to evolve.  What evidence of that do you see?  Why do you think it's occurring?

Chapter Four

Reread the last full paragraph on page 50.  Using context, and any background knowledge you may have about what life might have been like in Texas in 1899, think about the usage of the word "passed."  What do you think it means in this paragraph?

Chapter Three

"I was overcome with sadness as I bid good-bye to my bat.  Yet earlier I had set fire to a mountain of arms and legs and felt nothing.  I had thrown the boy from Elgin into a trench with all the others.  And I felt nothing." (p.46)

Why do you think Jacqueline Kelly chose to have Calpurnia's grandfather share this story, especially this ending about the bat?  What does this reveal to you about him and his experiences in the war?

Chapter One

Calpurnia, in this chapter, found evidence of Charles Darwin's discoveries in her own yard.  What was it that Calpurnia realized?

Chapter One

Based on what you read in chapter one, what kind of relationship does Calpurnia have with her grandfather?  Please provide evidence from the text to support your thinking.