"The Parsley Garden" by William Saroyan
Interpretive Questions: Be sure all questions are answered in complete sentences and include quotes.
1.) Why does Al try to steal the hammer?
Al tries to steal the hammer because he feels "it was just what he needed by which to break the monotony and with which to make something"(p. 79).
2.) Why does Al say that he didn’t mean to steal the hammer?
"Al said, 'I didn't mean to steal it'"(p. 80) because he said that he was poor and needed it.
3.) Why is Al “deeply ashamed” after he leaves the store? (p. 81)
Al is "deeply ashamed"(p. 81) after he leaves the store because he is embarrassed that he got caught and guilty for taking the hammer.
4.) Why won’t Al accept his mother’s money to buy the hammer?
Al won't accept his mother's money because he won't take his mother's "money for something"(p. 83) he doesn't really need.
5.) Why does Al use the hammer to make a bench for his mother’s parsley garden?
Al "made this bench"(p. 87) with the hammer because this was the reason he stole the hammer in the first place.
6.) Why does Al refuse to accept the job at Woolworth’s?
Al refused to accept the job because he hates "the both of them"(p. 87).
7.) What does Al mean when he says he would never work for “people like that”? (p. 87)
When Al says that he would never work for "people like that"(p. 87) he means that he doesn't like them because they made him embarrassed.
8.) When Al walks out of Woolworth’s, why does he refuse the dollar but take the hammer?
Al "left the dollar on Mr. Clemmer's desk"(p. 87) but took the hammer because he only wanted to have the hammer and that's what got him into the whole thing.
9.) At the end of the story, why doesn’t Al feel humiliated anymore?
Al doesn't "feel humiliated anymore"(p. 87) because he got the hammer in the end.
10.) Why can’t Al stop hating the two men “even though he knew they hadn’t done anything they shouldn’t have done”? (p.87)
Al can't stop hating the two men "even though he knew they hadn't done anything they shouldn't have done"(p. 87) because they humiliated him.
1.) Why does Al try to steal the hammer?
Al tries to steal the hammer because he feels "it was just what he needed by which to break the monotony and with which to make something"(p. 79).
2.) Why does Al say that he didn’t mean to steal the hammer?
"Al said, 'I didn't mean to steal it'"(p. 80) because he said that he was poor and needed it.
3.) Why is Al “deeply ashamed” after he leaves the store? (p. 81)
Al is "deeply ashamed"(p. 81) after he leaves the store because he is embarrassed that he got caught and guilty for taking the hammer.
4.) Why won’t Al accept his mother’s money to buy the hammer?
Al won't accept his mother's money because he won't take his mother's "money for something"(p. 83) he doesn't really need.
5.) Why does Al use the hammer to make a bench for his mother’s parsley garden?
Al "made this bench"(p. 87) with the hammer because this was the reason he stole the hammer in the first place.
6.) Why does Al refuse to accept the job at Woolworth’s?
Al refused to accept the job because he hates "the both of them"(p. 87).
7.) What does Al mean when he says he would never work for “people like that”? (p. 87)
When Al says that he would never work for "people like that"(p. 87) he means that he doesn't like them because they made him embarrassed.
8.) When Al walks out of Woolworth’s, why does he refuse the dollar but take the hammer?
Al "left the dollar on Mr. Clemmer's desk"(p. 87) but took the hammer because he only wanted to have the hammer and that's what got him into the whole thing.
9.) At the end of the story, why doesn’t Al feel humiliated anymore?
Al doesn't "feel humiliated anymore"(p. 87) because he got the hammer in the end.
10.) Why can’t Al stop hating the two men “even though he knew they hadn’t done anything they shouldn’t have done”? (p.87)
Al can't stop hating the two men "even though he knew they hadn't done anything they shouldn't have done"(p. 87) because they humiliated him.
Vocabulary:
1.) Monotony (p. 79)
Quote: "He believed it was just what he needed by which to break the monotony"(p. 79)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): repetition
Synonym: continuity, routine
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The monotony of the school is annoying.
2.) Humiliated (p. 81)
Quote: "he knew he had been humiliated"(p. 81)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): embarrassed
Synonym: ashamed, disgraced
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He was humiliated when he got in trouble.
3.) Systematically (p. 84)
Quote: "He also believed it would be necessary for him to steal systematically"(p. 85)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): plot or plan
Synonym: methodically
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She wants to do her homework systematically.
4.) Indicated (p. 86)
Quote: "they looked into their cups at the grounds to see if any good fortune was indicated"(p. 85-86)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): pointing out
Synonym: designated, marked
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): They indicated for us to stand right there, by the door.
1.) Monotony (p. 79)
Quote: "He believed it was just what he needed by which to break the monotony"(p. 79)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): repetition
Synonym: continuity, routine
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The monotony of the school is annoying.
2.) Humiliated (p. 81)
Quote: "he knew he had been humiliated"(p. 81)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): embarrassed
Synonym: ashamed, disgraced
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He was humiliated when he got in trouble.
3.) Systematically (p. 84)
Quote: "He also believed it would be necessary for him to steal systematically"(p. 85)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): plot or plan
Synonym: methodically
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She wants to do her homework systematically.
4.) Indicated (p. 86)
Quote: "they looked into their cups at the grounds to see if any good fortune was indicated"(p. 85-86)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): pointing out
Synonym: designated, marked
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): They indicated for us to stand right there, by the door.
T-Chart:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when Al deals with his problems in a P/positive way or a N/negative way. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Use textual evidence to show examples of when Al deals with his problems in a P/positive way or a N/negative way. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Al deals with his problems in a P/positive way
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Al deals with his problems in a N/negative way
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