Interpretive Questions: Answer all questions in complete sentences, using quotes to support.
1.) Why does Dade spend so much time on the roof of the store?
Dade is avoiding doing the chores he has to do in the market and he his daydreaming about what he wants to do with his life.
2.) Why does Dade try to confuse his father by looking at the clouds when his father speaks to him about his future?
Dade is avoiding the question while looking like he is thinking about it.
3.) Why does Dade think that the discovery of what he wants will come to him when he is on the roof?
Dade thinks that the stars and the universe will give him answers. The stars are what ware prompting him to think of the futures and feed his ambition ("Star Food").
4.) Why does Dade finally tell his mother, “I’m not sure what my dreams are,…And I’m never going to discover anything”? (p. 147)
Dade is beginning to lose hope in himself and he is realizing that he won't discover anything by looking at the stars.
5.) Why does Dade feel “alone in the world” at the end of the story? (p. 150)
Dade feels like he has to please mom and has to please dad, but he doesn't know how to please both.
6.) Why does Dade let the woman go after they go into the stockroom?
Dade lets the woman go because he doesn't know what to say to her.
7.) Why does Dade feel that the woman who is shoplifting knows something about him?
Dade pities her becuase he understands that she is not stealing for fun, she is stealing for survival.
8.) After he sees the air force jets, why does Dade decide that he wants the woman to be caught?
Dade takes the jets as a sign to take action.
9.) Why does Dade feel “strong and good” when he catches the woman but then feel “flushed…with remorse”? (p. 148)
Dade is having a moral dilemma becuase he has to choose between letting her go or calling the police, he doesn't know what to do.
10.) Why does Dade walk with the woman after he lets her go?
One is that he doesn't what Dad to catch him, and two
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Appease (p. 134)
Quote: "To appease my father I cleaned the electric star, and though he often came outside to sweep, he stopped telling me to come down."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to satisfy
Synonym: fulfill
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The donut appease his craving for something sweet.
2.) Competence (p. 137)
Quote: "For years my father had been trying to teach me competence and industry."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to do something efficiently
Synonym: successfully
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): For many years I had practiced the art of competence.
3.) Retrospect (p. 148)
Quote: "I was standing in front of the counter, hands in my pockets, my mother's eyes watering over, the guard looking out the window at a couple of girls, everything revolving around the point of calm that, in retrospect, precedes surprises."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to review on the past course of events
Synonym: reflect
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): In retrospect, I shouldn't have thrown that pencil.
4.) Precedes (p. 148)
Quote: "I was standing in front of the counter, hands in my pockets, my mother's eyes watering over, the guard looking out the window at a couple of girls, everything revolving around the point of calm that, in retrospect, precedes surprises."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): come before something
Synonym: prior
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The shortest students preceded the tall ones in line.
5.) Remorse (p. 148)
Quote: "This flushed me with remorse."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to feel guilty of something
Synonym: regret
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He felt remorse for yelling at her.
Himself:
Sit on the roof
Let's the shoplifter go free
Avoids work
Becomes determined to catch shoplifter
1.) Why does Dade spend so much time on the roof of the store?
Dade is avoiding doing the chores he has to do in the market and he his daydreaming about what he wants to do with his life.
2.) Why does Dade try to confuse his father by looking at the clouds when his father speaks to him about his future?
Dade is avoiding the question while looking like he is thinking about it.
3.) Why does Dade think that the discovery of what he wants will come to him when he is on the roof?
Dade thinks that the stars and the universe will give him answers. The stars are what ware prompting him to think of the futures and feed his ambition ("Star Food").
4.) Why does Dade finally tell his mother, “I’m not sure what my dreams are,…And I’m never going to discover anything”? (p. 147)
Dade is beginning to lose hope in himself and he is realizing that he won't discover anything by looking at the stars.
5.) Why does Dade feel “alone in the world” at the end of the story? (p. 150)
Dade feels like he has to please mom and has to please dad, but he doesn't know how to please both.
6.) Why does Dade let the woman go after they go into the stockroom?
Dade lets the woman go because he doesn't know what to say to her.
7.) Why does Dade feel that the woman who is shoplifting knows something about him?
Dade pities her becuase he understands that she is not stealing for fun, she is stealing for survival.
8.) After he sees the air force jets, why does Dade decide that he wants the woman to be caught?
Dade takes the jets as a sign to take action.
9.) Why does Dade feel “strong and good” when he catches the woman but then feel “flushed…with remorse”? (p. 148)
Dade is having a moral dilemma becuase he has to choose between letting her go or calling the police, he doesn't know what to do.
10.) Why does Dade walk with the woman after he lets her go?
One is that he doesn't what Dad to catch him, and two
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Appease (p. 134)
Quote: "To appease my father I cleaned the electric star, and though he often came outside to sweep, he stopped telling me to come down."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to satisfy
Synonym: fulfill
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The donut appease his craving for something sweet.
2.) Competence (p. 137)
Quote: "For years my father had been trying to teach me competence and industry."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to do something efficiently
Synonym: successfully
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): For many years I had practiced the art of competence.
3.) Retrospect (p. 148)
Quote: "I was standing in front of the counter, hands in my pockets, my mother's eyes watering over, the guard looking out the window at a couple of girls, everything revolving around the point of calm that, in retrospect, precedes surprises."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to review on the past course of events
Synonym: reflect
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): In retrospect, I shouldn't have thrown that pencil.
4.) Precedes (p. 148)
Quote: "I was standing in front of the counter, hands in my pockets, my mother's eyes watering over, the guard looking out the window at a couple of girls, everything revolving around the point of calm that, in retrospect, precedes surprises."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): come before something
Synonym: prior
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The shortest students preceded the tall ones in line.
5.) Remorse (p. 148)
Quote: "This flushed me with remorse."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to feel guilty of something
Synonym: regret
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He felt remorse for yelling at her.
Himself:
Sit on the roof
Let's the shoplifter go free
Avoids work
Becomes determined to catch shoplifter