"Afternoon in Linen" by Shirley Jackson
Interpretive Questions: Be sure to answer all questions in complete sentences using quotes to support.
1.) Why does Harriet refuse to play the piano or recite her poems?
2.) Even before she is asked to, why does Harriet decide she won’t play the piano?
Harriet decides she will "say no"(p. 154) to playing piano even before they ask her because she decides that she can do what ever she wants to do.
3.) Why is Harriet worried that Howard will tell “all the kids on the block” about her poems? (p. 155)
Harriet is worried that Howard will tell “all the kids on the block”(p. 155) about her poems because she is embarrassed by them.
4.) Why does Harriet insist she copied the poem out of a book?
5.) Why does Harriet take the poems away from her grandmother and say, “And you can’t look at them anymore, either”? (p. 158)
6.) Is Harriet’s grandmother ignoring Harriet’s feelings, or is she unaware of them?
7.) When Harriet will not play the piano, why does her grandmother insist that she recite her poems?
8.) When Howard gives her the poems, why does Harriet’s grandmother “kindly” ask Harriet, “Will you read them or shall I”? (p. 156)
9.) After reading the poem, why does Harriet’s grandmother ask, “Now aren’t you sorry you made such a fuss about such a little thing”? (p. 157)
10.) Why does Harriet’s grandmother apologize to Mrs. Kator for having read her the poem “under false pretenses”? (p. 158)
Vocabulary:
1.) Recite (p. 155)
Quote: "ask her to recite them to you"(p. 155)
Definition (based on context/in your own words):
Synonym:
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
2.) Prejudiced (p. 155)
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3.) Merit (p. 155)
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4.) Pretenses (p. 158)
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5.) Deprecatingly (p. 158)
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Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
1.) Why does Harriet refuse to play the piano or recite her poems?
2.) Even before she is asked to, why does Harriet decide she won’t play the piano?
Harriet decides she will "say no"(p. 154) to playing piano even before they ask her because she decides that she can do what ever she wants to do.
3.) Why is Harriet worried that Howard will tell “all the kids on the block” about her poems? (p. 155)
Harriet is worried that Howard will tell “all the kids on the block”(p. 155) about her poems because she is embarrassed by them.
4.) Why does Harriet insist she copied the poem out of a book?
5.) Why does Harriet take the poems away from her grandmother and say, “And you can’t look at them anymore, either”? (p. 158)
6.) Is Harriet’s grandmother ignoring Harriet’s feelings, or is she unaware of them?
7.) When Harriet will not play the piano, why does her grandmother insist that she recite her poems?
8.) When Howard gives her the poems, why does Harriet’s grandmother “kindly” ask Harriet, “Will you read them or shall I”? (p. 156)
9.) After reading the poem, why does Harriet’s grandmother ask, “Now aren’t you sorry you made such a fuss about such a little thing”? (p. 157)
10.) Why does Harriet’s grandmother apologize to Mrs. Kator for having read her the poem “under false pretenses”? (p. 158)
Vocabulary:
1.) Recite (p. 155)
Quote: "ask her to recite them to you"(p. 155)
Definition (based on context/in your own words):
Synonym:
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
2.) Prejudiced (p. 155)
Quote:
Definition (based on context/in your own words):
Synonym:
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
3.) Merit (p. 155)
Quote:
Definition (based on context/in your own words):
Synonym:
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
4.) Pretenses (p. 158)
Quote:
Definition (based on context/in your own words):
Synonym:
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
5.) Deprecatingly (p. 158)
Quote:
Definition (based on context/in your own words):
Synonym:
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):