"The Mountain" by Charles Mungoshi
Interpretive Questions: Be sure to answer all questions in complete sentences using quotes to support.
1.)Why is Nharo unable to keep himself from being afraid?
His is listening to Chemai talking about bad and scary stuff, there are no adults there, andthere is "a black goat following"(p.148) them.
2.)Why does Nharo say that he could not be Chemai’s friend “without catching his fever”? (p. 144)
He says he could not be Chemai’s friend “without catching his fever”(p. 144) because Chemai believes in superstitious things and will make you superstitious too.
3.)Why does Nharo say, “But it would not help us to show Chemai that I wasfrightened too”? (p. 146)
Nharo say, “But it would not help us to show Chemai that I was frightened too”(p. 146) because he knows that Chemai knowing he’s scared too would make Chemai even more scared.
4.)Why does Nharo ask Chemai why the road couldn’t be constructed across the mountain if Nharo has already heard the reason?
Nharo asked Chemai why the road couldn't "be constructed across the mountain"(p. 147) if he already knew the reason because he wanted to hear the story again.
5.)After Chemai accuses Nharo of insulting the goat, why does Nharo think, "It was no use pretending I didn’t know what I was doing. I knew these goats. Lost spirits”? (p. 149)
Nharo thinks, "It was no use pretending I didn’t know what I was doing. I knew these goats. Lost spirits”(p. 149) because he already known about the goats and had been careless.
6.)Over the course of the story, does Narho’s attitude about the mountain change?
At the beginning of the story Nharo's attitude about the mountian was that he didn't care about it, but at the end of the story he beleives the superstitions and has a fear of crossing "the mountain in the dark"(p. 150).
7.)At the beginning of the story, why does Nharo say he likes to think of their path “as a question, marked by the mountain”? (p. 143)
Nharo says he likes to think of their path “as a question, marked by the mountain”(p. 143) because their path is in the shape of a question mark zig-zagging around the mountain.
8.)Why does Nharo think that only “someone who had gone to school” could be friend with him? (p. 144)
Nharo thinks that only “someone who had gone to school”(p. 144) could be friends with him because he knows them and might not want to meet someone new.
9.)Why does Nharo feel “safe and warm” in his grandmother’s hut if his grandmother reminds him of his childhood nightmares? (p. 151)
Nharo feels “safe and warm”(p. 151) in his grandmother’s hut if his grandmother reminds him of his childhood nightmares because she knows what to do and is an adult.
10.)At the end of the story, what does Nharo mean when he says that “somebody who knew” was taking care of things? (p. 151)
What Nharo mean when he says that “somebody who knew”(p. 151) was taking care of things was that he knew he grandma and she is an adult.
1.)Why is Nharo unable to keep himself from being afraid?
His is listening to Chemai talking about bad and scary stuff, there are no adults there, andthere is "a black goat following"(p.148) them.
2.)Why does Nharo say that he could not be Chemai’s friend “without catching his fever”? (p. 144)
He says he could not be Chemai’s friend “without catching his fever”(p. 144) because Chemai believes in superstitious things and will make you superstitious too.
3.)Why does Nharo say, “But it would not help us to show Chemai that I wasfrightened too”? (p. 146)
Nharo say, “But it would not help us to show Chemai that I was frightened too”(p. 146) because he knows that Chemai knowing he’s scared too would make Chemai even more scared.
4.)Why does Nharo ask Chemai why the road couldn’t be constructed across the mountain if Nharo has already heard the reason?
Nharo asked Chemai why the road couldn't "be constructed across the mountain"(p. 147) if he already knew the reason because he wanted to hear the story again.
5.)After Chemai accuses Nharo of insulting the goat, why does Nharo think, "It was no use pretending I didn’t know what I was doing. I knew these goats. Lost spirits”? (p. 149)
Nharo thinks, "It was no use pretending I didn’t know what I was doing. I knew these goats. Lost spirits”(p. 149) because he already known about the goats and had been careless.
6.)Over the course of the story, does Narho’s attitude about the mountain change?
At the beginning of the story Nharo's attitude about the mountian was that he didn't care about it, but at the end of the story he beleives the superstitions and has a fear of crossing "the mountain in the dark"(p. 150).
7.)At the beginning of the story, why does Nharo say he likes to think of their path “as a question, marked by the mountain”? (p. 143)
Nharo says he likes to think of their path “as a question, marked by the mountain”(p. 143) because their path is in the shape of a question mark zig-zagging around the mountain.
8.)Why does Nharo think that only “someone who had gone to school” could be friend with him? (p. 144)
Nharo thinks that only “someone who had gone to school”(p. 144) could be friends with him because he knows them and might not want to meet someone new.
9.)Why does Nharo feel “safe and warm” in his grandmother’s hut if his grandmother reminds him of his childhood nightmares? (p. 151)
Nharo feels “safe and warm”(p. 151) in his grandmother’s hut if his grandmother reminds him of his childhood nightmares because she knows what to do and is an adult.
10.)At the end of the story, what does Nharo mean when he says that “somebody who knew” was taking care of things? (p. 151)
What Nharo mean when he says that “somebody who knew”(p. 151) was taking care of things was that he knew he grandma and she is an adult.
Vocabulary:
1.) Tolerated (p. 143)
Quote: "now I tolerated him"(p. 143)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): put up with them
Synonym: accept
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I have tolerated her for four years.
2.) Irritating (p. 144)
Quote: "It can be irritating"(p. 144)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): annoying
Synonym: disturbing
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The road construction is irritating.
3.) Appease (p. 149)
Quote: "muchmedicinebrewingto appease them"(p. 149)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to please
Synonym: satisfy
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):He will have to appease them today:
4.) Vigorously (p. 149)
Quote: "I saw his head bob vigorously"(p. 149)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): quickly
Synonym: forcefully
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She pet the cat vigorously.
1.) Tolerated (p. 143)
Quote: "now I tolerated him"(p. 143)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): put up with them
Synonym: accept
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I have tolerated her for four years.
2.) Irritating (p. 144)
Quote: "It can be irritating"(p. 144)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): annoying
Synonym: disturbing
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The road construction is irritating.
3.) Appease (p. 149)
Quote: "muchmedicinebrewingto appease them"(p. 149)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to please
Synonym: satisfy
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):He will have to appease them today:
4.) Vigorously (p. 149)
Quote: "I saw his head bob vigorously"(p. 149)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): quickly
Synonym: forcefully
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She pet the cat vigorously.
Thinking Map:Use textual evidence to show examples of when Nharo seems superstitious or when Nharo seems logical. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Nharo seems SUPERSTITIOUS
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Nharo seems LOGICAL
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