The Visit of Charity
Interpretive Questions: Answer all questions in complete sentences, use quotes to support.
1.) At the end of the story, why does Marian run out of the Old Ladies' Home?
- Marian runs out of the Old Ladies' Home because she was scared and felt that the old ladies were creepy. When she entered the room, they already began to fight between each other, and she didn't know what to do, so she ran out of the Old Ladies' Home, "She's crying!" she turned a bright, burning face up to the first old woman."... "Marian jumped up and moved toward the door. For the second time, the claw almost touched her hair, but it was not quick enough." (p. 160)
2.) Why does Marian feel that being in the old women's room is "like being caught in a robbers' cave, just before one was murdered"? (p. 155)
- Marian feels this way because she feels trapped, like a hostage, and feels like she is going to die because she has to stay in one room with these old women, "How dark it was! The window shade was down, and the only door was shut. Marian looked at the ceiling....It was like being caught in a robbers' cave, just before one was murdered?" (p. 155)
3.) When Marian begins to wonder about Addie, why are we told that "it was the first time such a thing had happened" to her? (p. 159)
- We are told that it was the first time that such a thing has happened because this is Marian's first time she has looked at "death" in a physical form when she observes the frail ladies that are bickering between each other, "She wondered about her-she wondered for a moment as though there was nothing else in the world to wonder about. It was the first time such a thing had happened to Marian." (p. 159)
4.) Why is Marian's face "bright" and "burning" when she tells the first old woman that Addie is crying? (p. 159)
- Marian is flustered because she feels guilty and is about to panic because Addie is crying. Marian just came in and now Addie is crying and Marian feels like it is her fault and starts to panic, "She's crying!" she turned a bright, burning face up to the first old woman." (p. 159)
5.) When she runs out of the home, why does Marian get out the apple she had hidden and take a big bite of it?
- Marian hides the apple outside because she doesn't want the apple to be "contaminated" when she enters the building, and she takes a big bite out of the apple because it is refreshing after experiencing what she saw inside the home, "She jumped and took a big bite out of the apple." (p. 16)
6.) Why doest the first old woman say, "Well, it was a real visit"? (p. 160)
- The old woman says that it was real visit in a sarcastic way to be cruel to the little girl because Marian did not give the old ladies an actual genuine visit, "Well, it was a real visit," said the old woman, following Marian through the doorway and all the way out into the hall." (p. 16)
7.) Why do the two women argue about whether the flowers are pretty and whether they enjoyed the other Campfire Girl's visit?
- The two woman argue about the flowers because they are critical people. The old ladies aren't happy about their lives at the moment, so they are feeling critical about every thing around them, "Oh, but the flowers are beautiful,"..."Ugly," said the woman in bed." (p. 157)
8.) Why does the first old woman tell Marian that Addie talks in a "contrary" way only "when you all come"? (p. 157)
- The first old woman tells Marian that Addie talks that way when the girl scouts come because the girls do not come to be genuine and care for the old woman, but only to get the girl scout points, "That's only the contrary way she talks when you all come," said the first old lady with sudden intimacy." (p. 157)
9.) Why does Addie look at Marian with "despair and calculation"? (p. 158)
- Addie looks at Marian with "despair and calculation" because Addie already knows that these girl scout are not genuine and won't come back, so Addie decides that she should treat them the same way and be mean to them, "Marian saw the old woman's eyes grow bright and turn toward her." (p. 158)
10.) Why does the first old woman clutch at Marian and ask for money?
- The old woman asks for money because she wants something out of the visit. While Marian gets girl scout points, the old woman something out of the visit as well, like money, "Then from behind she suddenly clutched the child with her sharp little fingers," and, "Oh, little girl, have you a penny to spare for a poor old woman that's not got anything of her own?" (p. 160)
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Ailing - p. 156
Quote: "You mustn't pay attention to old Addie," she now said to the little girl. "She's ailing today." (p. 156)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): in poor health
Synonym: sickly, ill
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She went to see her ailing mother in the hospital.
2.) Contrary - p. 157
Quote: "That's only the contrary way she talks when you all come," said the first old lady with sudden intimacy." (p. 157)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): opposite to what is said or meant
Synonym: opposite, conflicting
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): What she said in history was contrary to what the teacher said previously.
3.) Intimacy - p. 157
Quote: "That's only the contrary way she talks when you all come," said the first old lady with sudden intimacy." (p. 157)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): in personal or private nature
Synonym: familiarity, closeness
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): There was a sense of intimacy when the two childhood friends talked for the first time after awhile.
4.) Calculation - p. 158
Quote: "This old woman was looking at her with despair and calculation in her face." (p. 158)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): assessing something like the possibilities or effects
Synonym: assessment, judgement
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): With a quick calculation of his attitude, she decided she would despise him.
5.) Affected - p. 160
Quote: "In an affected, high-pitched whine she cried, "Oh, little girl, have you a penny to spare for a poor old woman that's not got anything of her own?" (p. 160)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to be influenced by an external factor
Synonym: distressed, influenced
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Please apply ice to the affected area.
6.) Institutions - p. 160
Quote: "The nurse, after another triple motion to consult her wrist watch, asked automatically the question put to visitors in all institutions: "Won't you stay and have dinner with us?" (p. 160)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a society or organization founded for a purpose; a custom or tradition
Synonym: establishment, foundation, practice
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): There are several institutions you could join to find what you are looking for.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when you sympathize with a character or when you do not sympathize with a character. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
1.) At the end of the story, why does Marian run out of the Old Ladies' Home?
- Marian runs out of the Old Ladies' Home because she was scared and felt that the old ladies were creepy. When she entered the room, they already began to fight between each other, and she didn't know what to do, so she ran out of the Old Ladies' Home, "She's crying!" she turned a bright, burning face up to the first old woman."... "Marian jumped up and moved toward the door. For the second time, the claw almost touched her hair, but it was not quick enough." (p. 160)
2.) Why does Marian feel that being in the old women's room is "like being caught in a robbers' cave, just before one was murdered"? (p. 155)
- Marian feels this way because she feels trapped, like a hostage, and feels like she is going to die because she has to stay in one room with these old women, "How dark it was! The window shade was down, and the only door was shut. Marian looked at the ceiling....It was like being caught in a robbers' cave, just before one was murdered?" (p. 155)
3.) When Marian begins to wonder about Addie, why are we told that "it was the first time such a thing had happened" to her? (p. 159)
- We are told that it was the first time that such a thing has happened because this is Marian's first time she has looked at "death" in a physical form when she observes the frail ladies that are bickering between each other, "She wondered about her-she wondered for a moment as though there was nothing else in the world to wonder about. It was the first time such a thing had happened to Marian." (p. 159)
4.) Why is Marian's face "bright" and "burning" when she tells the first old woman that Addie is crying? (p. 159)
- Marian is flustered because she feels guilty and is about to panic because Addie is crying. Marian just came in and now Addie is crying and Marian feels like it is her fault and starts to panic, "She's crying!" she turned a bright, burning face up to the first old woman." (p. 159)
5.) When she runs out of the home, why does Marian get out the apple she had hidden and take a big bite of it?
- Marian hides the apple outside because she doesn't want the apple to be "contaminated" when she enters the building, and she takes a big bite out of the apple because it is refreshing after experiencing what she saw inside the home, "She jumped and took a big bite out of the apple." (p. 16)
6.) Why doest the first old woman say, "Well, it was a real visit"? (p. 160)
- The old woman says that it was real visit in a sarcastic way to be cruel to the little girl because Marian did not give the old ladies an actual genuine visit, "Well, it was a real visit," said the old woman, following Marian through the doorway and all the way out into the hall." (p. 16)
7.) Why do the two women argue about whether the flowers are pretty and whether they enjoyed the other Campfire Girl's visit?
- The two woman argue about the flowers because they are critical people. The old ladies aren't happy about their lives at the moment, so they are feeling critical about every thing around them, "Oh, but the flowers are beautiful,"..."Ugly," said the woman in bed." (p. 157)
8.) Why does the first old woman tell Marian that Addie talks in a "contrary" way only "when you all come"? (p. 157)
- The first old woman tells Marian that Addie talks that way when the girl scouts come because the girls do not come to be genuine and care for the old woman, but only to get the girl scout points, "That's only the contrary way she talks when you all come," said the first old lady with sudden intimacy." (p. 157)
9.) Why does Addie look at Marian with "despair and calculation"? (p. 158)
- Addie looks at Marian with "despair and calculation" because Addie already knows that these girl scout are not genuine and won't come back, so Addie decides that she should treat them the same way and be mean to them, "Marian saw the old woman's eyes grow bright and turn toward her." (p. 158)
10.) Why does the first old woman clutch at Marian and ask for money?
- The old woman asks for money because she wants something out of the visit. While Marian gets girl scout points, the old woman something out of the visit as well, like money, "Then from behind she suddenly clutched the child with her sharp little fingers," and, "Oh, little girl, have you a penny to spare for a poor old woman that's not got anything of her own?" (p. 160)
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Ailing - p. 156
Quote: "You mustn't pay attention to old Addie," she now said to the little girl. "She's ailing today." (p. 156)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): in poor health
Synonym: sickly, ill
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She went to see her ailing mother in the hospital.
2.) Contrary - p. 157
Quote: "That's only the contrary way she talks when you all come," said the first old lady with sudden intimacy." (p. 157)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): opposite to what is said or meant
Synonym: opposite, conflicting
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): What she said in history was contrary to what the teacher said previously.
3.) Intimacy - p. 157
Quote: "That's only the contrary way she talks when you all come," said the first old lady with sudden intimacy." (p. 157)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): in personal or private nature
Synonym: familiarity, closeness
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): There was a sense of intimacy when the two childhood friends talked for the first time after awhile.
4.) Calculation - p. 158
Quote: "This old woman was looking at her with despair and calculation in her face." (p. 158)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): assessing something like the possibilities or effects
Synonym: assessment, judgement
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): With a quick calculation of his attitude, she decided she would despise him.
5.) Affected - p. 160
Quote: "In an affected, high-pitched whine she cried, "Oh, little girl, have you a penny to spare for a poor old woman that's not got anything of her own?" (p. 160)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to be influenced by an external factor
Synonym: distressed, influenced
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Please apply ice to the affected area.
6.) Institutions - p. 160
Quote: "The nurse, after another triple motion to consult her wrist watch, asked automatically the question put to visitors in all institutions: "Won't you stay and have dinner with us?" (p. 160)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a society or organization founded for a purpose; a custom or tradition
Synonym: establishment, foundation, practice
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): There are several institutions you could join to find what you are looking for.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when you sympathize with a character or when you do not sympathize with a character. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Sympathize
- The old women are sick and dying "She's ailing today." (p. 156) - The old women don't actually get kind and genuine visits from people, "... the visit would count one extra point, and if they took a Bible with them on the bus and read it to the old ladies, it counted double." (p. 157) - The girl who has to visit these two old ladies and feel that they are creepy and has to stay with them, "It was like being caught in a robbers' cave, just before one was murdered." (p. 155) - Addie crying because she realizes that she is dying and no one cares that she is slowly passing away, "Poor Addie is ailing. She has to take medicine–see?" (p. 157) - The girl that was forced into the situation with the old ladies for a personal motive, "Marian pulled violently against the old hands for a moment before she was free." (p. 160) |
Does not Sympathize
- Marian just staying quiet instead of trying to get along with the old ladies, "What do you do at school?" she asked. "I don't know..." said Marian." (p. 157) - When the first old woman asks for money, "Oh, little girl, have you a penny to spare for a poor old woman that's not got anything of her own?" (p. 160) - When the old women try to seek attention in a negative way by grabbing Marian, "Marian pulled violently against the old hands for a moment before she was free." (p. 160) - When Addie cries because she deserves what she has gotten because she has not been nice the entire time, "Ugly," said the woman in the bed." (p. 157) - When the old women criticize the flowers when Marian tries to bring something pretty, "They are not pretty," she said, still without looking around, but very distinctly," (p. 155) |