bronzed &endash; brown
Red Apple Country &endash; a Native American name for Indiana
to roam &endash; to wander; to travel without a special purpose
throng &endash; crowd
to scrutinize &endash; to look at very carefully for a long time
to reprove &endash; to scold
to rivet &endash; to hold someone attention; to watch intently
moccasins &endash; soft leather Native American shoes
on the verge of &endash; about to
to disgrace &endash; to shame
whitewashed &endash; painted white
to dazzle &endash; to amaze; to impress more than usual|
tread (past tense: trod) &endash; to walk
to trifle &endash;to treat carelessly or without enough
seriousness
wee &endash; small
bedlam &endash; noisy confusion
to strip &endash; to take (clothing) off quickly
to mutter &endash; to speak softly and unclearly
mourner &endash; a person who is grieving for someone who has
died
to shingle &endash; to cut short
to rebel &endash; to protest strongly; to fight back
indignity &endash; very embarrassing or offensive treatment
to summon to judgment &endash; to call to be punished
turnip &endash; a round white vegetable which grows underground
to spare &endash; to treat mercifully; to decide not to harm
to heed &endash; to pay attention to
to whoop &endash; to shout happily
1. What is the setting of the story and why is it important?
2. Why is Zitkala-Sa's outward appearance and behavior mportant?
3. Why are the author's thoughts and feelings on her journey significant to what happens to her later?
4. Why did she become braver after she learned more English?
5. Why did the author feel better at the end of the story?
to place full credit - to give credit to; to explain what or who
has helped you
to drop out of school &endash; to leave school without graduating
raw rolls &endash; undeveloped film
nondescript &endash; ordinary; average; unexciting
predominantly - mostly
to smack of (something) &endash; to have a lot of
affluence &endash; having more than enough money; wealth
poverty-stricken &endash; very poor
folks &endash; people (informal speech)
pure dee hell &endash; terrible; the worst thing (Southern slang)
whipped my behind &endash; beaten me
"roped like okra" - had marks like okra (note " Okra is a small, long
green vegetable)
to grit one's teeth &endash; to accept something you do not like
buoyed &endash; supported by; made happier by
fetching &endash; appealing; pretty
Blue plate special &endash; the daily special cheap meal at a
restaurant
beef &endash; complaint; something that annoys or bothers someone
Milquetoast &endash; a coward; a man who does not argue with anyone;
a shy, quiet person
an uppity nigger &endash; a black person who behaves like an equal to
a white person (note: this is an insulting expression)
a black brother &endash; a black man (note: he is not talking
about his brother)
our stretch of territory &endash; our area; the place where we
lived
to shuck &endash; to get rid of (slang)
to be confronted with &endash; to face; to have to deal with
son-of-a- buck &endash; man (rural slang)
to bug&endash; to annoy (slang)
wheeled &endash; biked (slang)
Booker T. Washington &endash; a famous black agricultural
researcher
graciousness &endash; kindness and respect
niche &endash; vocation; purpose in life
1.What is the time setting of the story? Why is it important?
2. How does James feel about waiting in line?
3. Why does the poem have such a strong effect on him?
4. Where did James go to read after he finished reading books at the drugstore?
5. How do the waitresses treat him a year later?
1. How do the time and the place of the story influence the author's interaction with other people? (Note; Read "About the Author" and "Context of the Reading again" if necessary)
2. How does the experience of being in an unfriendly environment affect the author?
3. Why didn't James Thomas Jackson ever protest the unfair treatment that he received?
4. Why does the author discuss the gracious waitresses' gracious attitude in the second to last paragraph on p. 24? Do you understand the waitresses' change in attitude?
5. What is the author asking in the last paragraph? Why does he say "good question" at end of the story?
6. One way to write about or understand a story is to imagine that you are part of the story. Discuss the answer to these questions:
a. If you were a customer in the drugstore how would you have treated James Thomas Jackson?
b. If you were one of the waitresses would you have ignored him because all of the other waitresses an customers did?
kin &endash; relatives; family
patching and darning &endash; sewing and repairing old clothes
herring &endash; a small saltwater fish
"starving hunger" &endash; very hungry
"crazy-head" &endash; a foolish, forgetful person
ravenously &endash; hungrily
to cast side glances &endash; to look from side to side quickly
tenements- an old, low-rental apartment building in very bad condition
leisured &endash; without hurrying;
bearing &endash; posture; the way someone stands and walks
worn &endash; aged and tired; old and falling apart
sure &endash; certain; confident
settled &endash; calm; well-arranged
glimmering &endash; shining brightly
to break bread &endash; to eat with
"for a living" &endash; to earn enough money to live
"under-feeling" &endash; bad feeling; worry
to stretch out &endash; to continue
pushcart &endash; a stall on wheels for selling food or other goods
spick-and-span &endash; very clean
"hollering" &endash; very clean
to clip &endash; to cut
a sharp awakening &endash; sudden knowledge; sudden understanding
shirtwaists &endash; men's shirts (old-of-date term)
bloomers &endash; an old-fashioned uniform for women to play sports in
jumpingjack &endash; an old-fashioned bouncing toy
monekeyshines &endash; silly actions
"a feast of happenings" &endash; an exciting adventure
outcast &endash; someone who is rejected by other people
to flee (past tense: fled) &endash; to run away; to escape
to wash over &endash; to spread (for example, a feeling)
NOTE: Things to pay attention to in the story:
Anzia has lived in a ghetto in New York the U.S.since she was a little girl. The college is NOT in N.Y. C.
Anzia is older that the other students at college.
Anzia HAS TO work in order to pay for college, he room and food -- not just to buy clothes.
Anzia does NOT experience racial discrimination -- she is also. However, she is from a different ethnic group.
1.What is the time setting of the story? Why is it important?
2. Write a sentence that shows that Anzia is bilingual?
3. Why do the other students reject her?
4. Why does she complain to the Dean?
1. What did you learn about the author from her interactions with other people?
2. Why do you think the author's language is so different from the English you studied in school? Or that you hear in Eugene? Or on TV and in movies?
3. Why do you think the author describes the other students?
4. What important differences are there between the author's lifestyle and the lifestyle of the other students
5. What do you think is important about what she says in the last four paragraphs?
6. One way to write about or understand a story is to imagine that you are part of the
story. Discuss the answer to these questions:
a. If you were on Anzia Yezierska's classmates how would you have treated her?
b. If you were on Anzia Yezierska's teachers how would you have treated her?
sweetmeat &endash; candy
gurgling &endash; a laughing sound I nthe throat
sturdy &endash; strong
frame &endash; body
craft &endash; boats
to lay at anchor &endash; to be parked in the water
wharf &endash; a dock; a pier
to be detained &endash; to be delayed; to have to wait
preparatory to &endash; ready to
to bear upon &endash; to show; to be about
to comply with &endash; to obey
to snatch &endash; to grab quickly
to confer &endash; to talk together; to discuss
to yield &endash; to give
eloquent &endash; moving; expressive
lustily &endash; loudly; with strength
unfurled &endash; open
to console &endash; to comfort someone who is sad
gladden &endash; to make happy
bereaved &endash; grieving; sad because you have lost someone you care about
a mission &endash; a religious school
furtively &endash; sneakily
proposition &endash; a (business) deal; a (business) offer
mournfully &endash; unhappily
threshold &endash; doorway
wee &endash; little (a Scottish word &endash; not common in American English)
tot &endash; a child
NOTE: Things to pay attention to in the story;
The different reactions of the parents -- At first, Hom Hing believes the U.S. government will be fair and return his son quickly so he is not worried, but Lae Choo does not trust the government at all.
For many months the government ends letters to them saying they will rturn the child soon -- but nothing happens.
After helping just writng letters to Washington for many months, their lawyer suddenly offers to go to Washington -- if they give him more money.
When Hom Hing and Lae Choo go to get their son he can't speak or understand Chinese , and he has forgotten his moher.
1. What is the setting of the story? Why is it important?
2. Why did customs officials refuse to let Hom Hing and Lae Choo's son enter the country?
3. For how long was the child away from his parents?
4. What did James Clancy accept from the couple as payment for his legal services?
5. Describe and explain the child's reaction upon seeing his mother for the time after their long separation.
1. Why is the title of the story important?
2. What are two themes of the story? Did any of the personal experience readings have similar themes?
3. What does the story show us about American society at that time? What does the story show us about the Chinese immigrant society in the US at that time?
4. Without looking at the book, try to remember one scene in the story that was memorable or important for you.
5. : a. If you were one of the custom's officers and you thought the law was unfair what would you have done when Hom Hing's family arrived
b. If you were Lae Choo would you have behaved the same way or would you have behaved differently?
c. If you were Hom Hing would you have behaved the same way or
would you have
behaved differently?
6. Try to find one or two sentences in the story that had a very good or very clear
description of a feeling.
lamented -
solar plexus - stomach
spits &endash;metal rod used to barbecue meat
spasm &endash; a sudden muscle contraction
in vain &endash; without success
squalid &endash; small and dirty
prime hunting ground &endash; the best place to find something
the bulk of &endash; most of
to forge/ to doctor &endash; to fake a document
political asylum &endash; immigration from a dictatorship or repressive government
procuring - to get (often illegally)
elusive &endash; hard to get
a correspondence school &endash;
to deter - to delay; to stop
to balk &endash; to object to
dubious - doubtful
the mob &endash; gangsters
lowlifes &endash; criminals with a low status in the mob
to finger &endash; slang which means: to choose
to take the rap for &endash; slang which means: to accept someone's punishment for them
without a hitch - an idiom which means: easily
to cover his tracks - an idiom which means: to hide
to wring (something from someone) -
Bloomingdale's &endash; an expensive department store in New York
premonition &endash; a warning; an omen
nostalgia - homesickness
1. What is the setting of the story? Why is it important?
2. Briefly describe Tito's relationship with his family.
3. What is Tito's attitude toward his job? Is he an honest lawyer?
4. What do you think Tito would have changed in his life if he hadn't died?
1. What is the setting of the story?
2. Why does the author describe Tito's office and job so clearly?
3. How do you think that Tito could have changed his life for the better before he died?
4. Without looking at the book, try to remember one scene in the story that was memorable or important for you
5. : a. If you were a new immigrant in the US without a job, what would ypu do?
b. If you were Tito's son would you have behaved the same way or would you have
behaved in a different way?
c. If you were daughter would you have behaved the same way or would you have
behaved differently?
6. Try to find one or two sentences in the story that had a very good or very clear
description of a feeling.
cretonne &endash; cotton cloth
cinder &endash; burned wood
Belfast &endash; a city in Northern Ireland
yellowing &endash; getting old and yellow; aging
harmonium &endash; an old-fashioned piano
to consent (to) &endash; to agree to
to weigh &endash; to judge
to have an edge on &endash; to be critical
look lively (this is an old idiom) &endash; pay attention
the Stores &endash; a department store in Belfast
to give someone palpitations (this is an old idiom) - to upset someone
latterly &endash; lately; recently
invariable &endash; unavoidable
to squabble &endash; fight
to weary &endash; get tired
to squander &endash; to waste
load - burden
provisions &endash; food
wholly &endash; completely
Buenos Ayres &endash; an Irish spelling for Buenos Aires in Argentina
to lodge &endash; to stay
the Allan Line &endash; a shipping company
to fall on one's feet &endash; to get settled finally; to get a little success; to survive
to forbid &endash; to prohibit
to inhale &endash; to breathe in
melancholy &endash; sad
air &endash; song
commonplace &endash; usual
closing in &endash; finishing in
mournful &endash; sad
fervent - strong
anguish &endash; deep sadness and pain
NOTE: Things to pay attention to in the story;
a) The whole story (except the bottom of page 185) takes place in Eveline' s house. She is sitting by the window and thinking about her life.
b) Harry and Ernest are Eveline's brothers.
c) Eveline's mother was insane by the time that she died. Eveline thinks it is because of the terrible life that her mother had.
1. What is the story setting? Why is it important?
2. Briefly describe Eveline's relationship with her father.
3. Does Eveline like her job at the stores? Why or why not?
4. Who is Frank? How does Eveline's father feel about Frank?
5. Why do you think that Eveline changes her mind and decides not to go away with Frank?
1. Why does Eveline want to leave home?
2. Why do you think her relationship with her father turns bad when she grows up?
3. Why do you think her mother warns her that " the end of pleasure is pain? " Do you think that Eveline agrees with her mother?
4. Why do you think she changes her mind at the end of the story?
5.If you were Eveline what would you have done?
6. If you were Eveline's father what would you have done after Eveline's mother died, if you had several young children to raise?
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This page last updated October 2001