Afternoon in Linen
Shirley Jackson
Shirley Jackson
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?
3.) Why is Harriet worried that Howard will tell “all the kids on the block” about her poems? (p. 155)
she is worried because she will be laughed at or made fun of.
4.) Why does Harriet insist she copied the poem out of a book?
She copies from the book because “I want everyone to think I wrote it.”
5.) Why does Harriet take the poems away from her grandmother and say, “And you can’t look at them anymore, either”? (p. 158)
she takes the poem away because she doesn’t want them to see the work she did not do
6.) Is Harriet’s grandmother ignoring Harriet’s feelings, or is she unaware of them?
The grandmother is ignoring Harriet’s feelings because her friend is over and she want to prove that her granddaughter is better
7.) When Harriet will not play the piano, why does her grandmother insist that she recite her poems?
Her grandmother insists that she recite the poem because she is feeling embarrassed
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: “ I am going to ask her to recite them to you.”
Definition (based on context/in your own words): retell
Synonym: present
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I will never recite a poem.
2.) Prejudiced (p. 155)
Quote: “ Even though I may be prejudiced.”
Definition (based on context/in your own words): biased
Synonym:
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I am not prejudiced.
3.) Merit (p. 155)
Quote: “That they show real merit.”
Definition (based on context/in your own words): skill
Synonym:
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My dog has merit.
4.) Pretenses (p. 158)
Quote: “ Reading you a poem under false pretenses.”
Definition (based on context/in your own words): circumstances
Synonym: limits
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I don’t pretense.”
5.) Deprecatingly (p. 158)
Quote: Mrs. Kator said deprecatingly.”
Definition (based on context/in your own words): shameful
Synonym: to not feel good about something
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):I am not deprecatingly.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when Harriet’s behavior seems reasonable and when her behavior seems unreasonable. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Harriet’s Behavior Seems Reasonable V. Harriet’s Behavior Seems Unreasonable
2.) Even before she is asked to, why does Harriet decide she won’t play the piano?
3.) Why is Harriet worried that Howard will tell “all the kids on the block” about her poems? (p. 155)
she is worried because she will be laughed at or made fun of.
4.) Why does Harriet insist she copied the poem out of a book?
She copies from the book because “I want everyone to think I wrote it.”
5.) Why does Harriet take the poems away from her grandmother and say, “And you can’t look at them anymore, either”? (p. 158)
she takes the poem away because she doesn’t want them to see the work she did not do
6.) Is Harriet’s grandmother ignoring Harriet’s feelings, or is she unaware of them?
The grandmother is ignoring Harriet’s feelings because her friend is over and she want to prove that her granddaughter is better
7.) When Harriet will not play the piano, why does her grandmother insist that she recite her poems?
Her grandmother insists that she recite the poem because she is feeling embarrassed
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: “ I am going to ask her to recite them to you.”
Definition (based on context/in your own words): retell
Synonym: present
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I will never recite a poem.
2.) Prejudiced (p. 155)
Quote: “ Even though I may be prejudiced.”
Definition (based on context/in your own words): biased
Synonym:
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I am not prejudiced.
3.) Merit (p. 155)
Quote: “That they show real merit.”
Definition (based on context/in your own words): skill
Synonym:
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My dog has merit.
4.) Pretenses (p. 158)
Quote: “ Reading you a poem under false pretenses.”
Definition (based on context/in your own words): circumstances
Synonym: limits
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I don’t pretense.”
5.) Deprecatingly (p. 158)
Quote: Mrs. Kator said deprecatingly.”
Definition (based on context/in your own words): shameful
Synonym: to not feel good about something
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):I am not deprecatingly.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when Harriet’s behavior seems reasonable and when her behavior seems unreasonable. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Harriet’s Behavior Seems Reasonable V. Harriet’s Behavior Seems Unreasonable