Interpretive Questions: Answer all questions in complete sentences, using quotes as support.
1.) At the end of the story, why does the banker lock the lawyer’s letter up in the fireproof safe?
He doesn't want anyone to know about it, and he thinks it is precious because it saved him from bankruptcy.
2.) According to the story, is the banker correct in thinking that the bet “was all nonsensical and meaningless”? (p. 109)
No, the bet was to prove a point and produced good, usable results.
3.) Why does the banker think that “the one means of being saved from bankruptcy and disgrace is the death of that man [the lawyer]!”? (p. 112)
He thinks this because if the lawyer lives, he will win the bet and the banker will lose the rest of his fortune.
4.) After reading the letter, why does the banker kiss the lawyer on the head and go “out of the lodge, weeping”? (p. 115)
He is so happy that the lawyer spared him of bankruptcy that it makes him cry, and kissing his head is a way of thanking the lawyer.
5.) After leaving the sleeping lawyer, why does the banker feel “so great a contempt for himself”? (p. 115)
He feels contempt because he kept the lawyer imprisoned, wasted much of his life, and made him come to the conclusion that life is fleeting.
6.) Why does the lawyer say in his letter, “I despise all that you live by”? (p. 115)
He realizes that everything is meaningless.
7.) Why does the lawyer, during his four-year period of learning different languages, write, “Oh , if you only knew what unearthly happiness my soul feels now from being able to understand them!”? (p.111)
The lawyer wants to share his joy and make other strive to receive enlightenment like he did.
8.) Why does the lawyer say, “Your books have given me wisdom” and then say, “I despise your books, I despise wisdom”? (p. 115)
The lawyer says that "despise[s] wisdom" because that wisdom put everything into perspective, and he realize how insignificant he is. Ignorance is bliss.
9.) How is renouncing the two million proof that the lawyer despises all that the banker lives by?
Two million is enough to set a person for life, and with just about any earthly possession they wanted.
10.) Why does the lawyer put in all fifteen years before renouncing the bet?
He wanted to prove his point, and at first, he enjoyed the knowledge.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Frivolous (p. 108)
Quote: "The banker, spoiled and frivolous, with millions beyond his reckoning, was delighted at the bet."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): not serious ; carefree
Synonym: serious
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Matthew's disposition is frivolous.
2.) Compulsory (p. 109)
Quote: "Don't forget either, you unhappy man, that voluntary confinement is a great deal harder to bear than compulsory.
Definition (based on context/in your own words): required by law
Synonym: required ; mandatory
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Having to do classwork is compulsory.
3.) Indiscriminately (p. 111)
Quote: "In the last two years of his confinement the prisoner read an immense quantity of books quite indiscriminately."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): in a random manner
Synonym: unsystematically
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Putting you iPod on shuffle will choose a song indiscriminately.
4.) Emaciated (p. 113)
Quote: "His hair was already streaked with silver, and seeing his emaciated, aged-looking face, no one would have guessed that he was only forty.
Definition (based on context/in your own words): abnormally thin or weak
Synonym: malnourished
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I saw a small boy whose limbs were emaciated.
5.) Illusory (p. 115)
Quote: based on illusion
Definition (based on context/in your own words): "It is all worthless, fleeting, illusory, and deceptive, like a mirage."
Synonym: false
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Sometimes, torturers will use illusory claims of freedom or reward to extract intel.
6.) Posterity (p. 115)
Quote: "... Your posterity, your history, your immortal geniuses will burn or freeze together with the earthly globe.
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the descendants of a person
Synonym: descendants
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when a character shows weakness or a character shows strength. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Weakness:
The banker cries (115)
The banker tries to kill the lawyer because he is worried about losing money (113-114)
The banker envies the lawyer's youth (112)
The banker envies the lawyer's future well being (112)
The banker would go to any depth to keep from bankruptcy (113)
Strength:
The lawyer stays imprisoned from 15 years (110-116)
The lawyer sustains from alcohol (110)
The lawyer endures the bet (110-116)
The banker places the risky bet (109)
The banker keeps the lawyer imprisoned (110-116)
1.) At the end of the story, why does the banker lock the lawyer’s letter up in the fireproof safe?
He doesn't want anyone to know about it, and he thinks it is precious because it saved him from bankruptcy.
2.) According to the story, is the banker correct in thinking that the bet “was all nonsensical and meaningless”? (p. 109)
No, the bet was to prove a point and produced good, usable results.
3.) Why does the banker think that “the one means of being saved from bankruptcy and disgrace is the death of that man [the lawyer]!”? (p. 112)
He thinks this because if the lawyer lives, he will win the bet and the banker will lose the rest of his fortune.
4.) After reading the letter, why does the banker kiss the lawyer on the head and go “out of the lodge, weeping”? (p. 115)
He is so happy that the lawyer spared him of bankruptcy that it makes him cry, and kissing his head is a way of thanking the lawyer.
5.) After leaving the sleeping lawyer, why does the banker feel “so great a contempt for himself”? (p. 115)
He feels contempt because he kept the lawyer imprisoned, wasted much of his life, and made him come to the conclusion that life is fleeting.
6.) Why does the lawyer say in his letter, “I despise all that you live by”? (p. 115)
He realizes that everything is meaningless.
7.) Why does the lawyer, during his four-year period of learning different languages, write, “Oh , if you only knew what unearthly happiness my soul feels now from being able to understand them!”? (p.111)
The lawyer wants to share his joy and make other strive to receive enlightenment like he did.
8.) Why does the lawyer say, “Your books have given me wisdom” and then say, “I despise your books, I despise wisdom”? (p. 115)
The lawyer says that "despise[s] wisdom" because that wisdom put everything into perspective, and he realize how insignificant he is. Ignorance is bliss.
9.) How is renouncing the two million proof that the lawyer despises all that the banker lives by?
Two million is enough to set a person for life, and with just about any earthly possession they wanted.
10.) Why does the lawyer put in all fifteen years before renouncing the bet?
He wanted to prove his point, and at first, he enjoyed the knowledge.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Frivolous (p. 108)
Quote: "The banker, spoiled and frivolous, with millions beyond his reckoning, was delighted at the bet."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): not serious ; carefree
Synonym: serious
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Matthew's disposition is frivolous.
2.) Compulsory (p. 109)
Quote: "Don't forget either, you unhappy man, that voluntary confinement is a great deal harder to bear than compulsory.
Definition (based on context/in your own words): required by law
Synonym: required ; mandatory
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Having to do classwork is compulsory.
3.) Indiscriminately (p. 111)
Quote: "In the last two years of his confinement the prisoner read an immense quantity of books quite indiscriminately."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): in a random manner
Synonym: unsystematically
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Putting you iPod on shuffle will choose a song indiscriminately.
4.) Emaciated (p. 113)
Quote: "His hair was already streaked with silver, and seeing his emaciated, aged-looking face, no one would have guessed that he was only forty.
Definition (based on context/in your own words): abnormally thin or weak
Synonym: malnourished
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I saw a small boy whose limbs were emaciated.
5.) Illusory (p. 115)
Quote: based on illusion
Definition (based on context/in your own words): "It is all worthless, fleeting, illusory, and deceptive, like a mirage."
Synonym: false
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Sometimes, torturers will use illusory claims of freedom or reward to extract intel.
6.) Posterity (p. 115)
Quote: "... Your posterity, your history, your immortal geniuses will burn or freeze together with the earthly globe.
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the descendants of a person
Synonym: descendants
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when a character shows weakness or a character shows strength. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Weakness:
The banker cries (115)
The banker tries to kill the lawyer because he is worried about losing money (113-114)
The banker envies the lawyer's youth (112)
The banker envies the lawyer's future well being (112)
The banker would go to any depth to keep from bankruptcy (113)
Strength:
The lawyer stays imprisoned from 15 years (110-116)
The lawyer sustains from alcohol (110)
The lawyer endures the bet (110-116)
The banker places the risky bet (109)
The banker keeps the lawyer imprisoned (110-116)