After Noon Linen By:Shirley Jackson
Interpretive Questions: Be sure to answer all questions in complete sentences using quotes to support.
1.) Why does Harriet refuse to play the piano or recite her poems?
- Harriet refuses to play the piano or recite her poems because she thinks Howard will tell everybody so she says she doesn't know any or forgot all of them. " 'Harriet,' her grandmother said, 'even if you son't remember any of your poems, you have some written down. I'm sure Mrs. Kator won't mind if you read them to her.' " Pg. 155
2.) Even before she is asked to, why does Harriet decide she won’t play the piano?
- Harriet decides that she won't play the piano because Howard plays good at the piano and he is bigger than her but she is older than him. "If they ask me to play the piano for them now, I'll say no." Pg. 154
3.) Why is Harriet worried that Howard will tell “all the kids on the block” about her poems? (p. 155)
- Harriet is worried that Howard will tell "all the kids on the block" Pg. 155 about her poems because she doesn't want anyone to know about her poems and it is embarrassing for everyone to know.
4.) Why does Harriet insist she copied the poem out of a book?
- Harriet insists that she copied the poems out of a book because she is covering up for herself so Howard won't tell everyone about the poems. " 'I copied it out of a book,' Harriet said. 'I found it in a book and I copied it and gave it to my old grandmother and said I wrote it.' " Pg. 157
5.) Why does Harriet take the poems away from her grandmother and say, “And you can’t look at them anymore, either”? (p. 158)
- Harriet takes the poems away from her grandmother and says " 'And you can't look at the anymore, either.' " Pg. 158 because she doesn't want anyone to know she actually wrote the poems.
6.) Is Harriet’s grandmother ignoring Harriet’s feelings, or is she unaware of them?
- Harriet's grandmother is unaware of Harriet's feelings because she is talking to Mrs. Kator and just wants to her Harriet's poems. " 'They want attention and praise and sometimes they'll so almost anything. I'm sure Harriet didn't mean to be-well, dishonest.' " Pg. 158
7.) When Harriet will not play the piano, why does her grandmother insist that she recite her poems?
- When Harriet will not play the piano and her grandmother insists that she will recite her poems because Harriet said she doesn't know any notes/keys on the piano and the grandmother wants to show Mrs. Kator what work Harriet has done. "I'm sure Mrs. Kator won't mind if you read them to her.' " Pg. 155
8.) When Howard gives her the poems, why does Harriet’s grandmother “kindly” ask Harriet, “Will you read them or shall I”? (p. 156)
- When Howard gives the grandmother the poems and asks Harriet "kindly", "Will you read them or shall I" Pg. 156 because Harriet doesn't want to read the poems and the grandmother wants to hear them. That's the only way to hear the poem.
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)
- After reading the poem Harriet's grandmother asks, "Now aren't you sorry you made such a fuss about such a little thing." Pg. 157 because Mrs. Kator and Harriet's grandmother likes the poem and it wasn't that bad.
10.) Why does Harriet’s grandmother apologize to Mrs. Kator for having read her the poem “under false pretenses”? (p. 158)
- Harriet's grandmother apologizes to Mrs. Kator for having her read the poem "under false pretenses" Pg. 158 because Harriet says she copied it from a book and the grandmother was proud of her writing the poem.
Vocabulary:
1.) Recite (p. 155)
Quote: " 'Recite one of your poems for Mrs. Kator, Harriet.' " Pg. 155
Definition (based on context/in your own words): do something
Synonym: retell
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My class recited the play "Annie" in 4th Grade for our play.
2.) Prejudiced (p. 155)
Quote: "... I probably am prejudiced, that they show real merit." Pg. 155
Definition (based on context/in your own words): biased
Synonym: biased
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I was prejudiced the video for being bad and not good quality.
3.) Merit (p. 155)
Quote: "... I probably am prejudiced, that they show real merit." Pg. 155
Definition (based on context/in your own words): skill
Synonym: talent
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): This play was a real merit and deserves a loud applause.
4.) Pretenses (p. 158)
Quote: " 'I'm afraid I must apologize for Harriet and for reading you the poem under false pretenses." Pg. 158
Definition (based on context/in your own words): circumstances
Synonym: faking
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I read the book with false pretenses because it was from another book too.
5.) Deprecatingly (p. 158)
Quote: " 'Oh, they do,' Mrs. Kator said deprecatingly." Pg. 158
Definition (based on context/in your own words): shameful
Synonym: depressed
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The parents were deprecatingly looking at the comments of the video.
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
HARRIET'S BEHAVIOR = REASONABLE
- fakes she forgot the poems
- fakes she forgot the piano keys
- fakes she copied all the poems
- doesn't want to read poems
- doesn't want to play piano
1.) Why does Harriet refuse to play the piano or recite her poems?
- Harriet refuses to play the piano or recite her poems because she thinks Howard will tell everybody so she says she doesn't know any or forgot all of them. " 'Harriet,' her grandmother said, 'even if you son't remember any of your poems, you have some written down. I'm sure Mrs. Kator won't mind if you read them to her.' " Pg. 155
2.) Even before she is asked to, why does Harriet decide she won’t play the piano?
- Harriet decides that she won't play the piano because Howard plays good at the piano and he is bigger than her but she is older than him. "If they ask me to play the piano for them now, I'll say no." Pg. 154
3.) Why is Harriet worried that Howard will tell “all the kids on the block” about her poems? (p. 155)
- Harriet is worried that Howard will tell "all the kids on the block" Pg. 155 about her poems because she doesn't want anyone to know about her poems and it is embarrassing for everyone to know.
4.) Why does Harriet insist she copied the poem out of a book?
- Harriet insists that she copied the poems out of a book because she is covering up for herself so Howard won't tell everyone about the poems. " 'I copied it out of a book,' Harriet said. 'I found it in a book and I copied it and gave it to my old grandmother and said I wrote it.' " Pg. 157
5.) Why does Harriet take the poems away from her grandmother and say, “And you can’t look at them anymore, either”? (p. 158)
- Harriet takes the poems away from her grandmother and says " 'And you can't look at the anymore, either.' " Pg. 158 because she doesn't want anyone to know she actually wrote the poems.
6.) Is Harriet’s grandmother ignoring Harriet’s feelings, or is she unaware of them?
- Harriet's grandmother is unaware of Harriet's feelings because she is talking to Mrs. Kator and just wants to her Harriet's poems. " 'They want attention and praise and sometimes they'll so almost anything. I'm sure Harriet didn't mean to be-well, dishonest.' " Pg. 158
7.) When Harriet will not play the piano, why does her grandmother insist that she recite her poems?
- When Harriet will not play the piano and her grandmother insists that she will recite her poems because Harriet said she doesn't know any notes/keys on the piano and the grandmother wants to show Mrs. Kator what work Harriet has done. "I'm sure Mrs. Kator won't mind if you read them to her.' " Pg. 155
8.) When Howard gives her the poems, why does Harriet’s grandmother “kindly” ask Harriet, “Will you read them or shall I”? (p. 156)
- When Howard gives the grandmother the poems and asks Harriet "kindly", "Will you read them or shall I" Pg. 156 because Harriet doesn't want to read the poems and the grandmother wants to hear them. That's the only way to hear the poem.
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)
- After reading the poem Harriet's grandmother asks, "Now aren't you sorry you made such a fuss about such a little thing." Pg. 157 because Mrs. Kator and Harriet's grandmother likes the poem and it wasn't that bad.
10.) Why does Harriet’s grandmother apologize to Mrs. Kator for having read her the poem “under false pretenses”? (p. 158)
- Harriet's grandmother apologizes to Mrs. Kator for having her read the poem "under false pretenses" Pg. 158 because Harriet says she copied it from a book and the grandmother was proud of her writing the poem.
Vocabulary:
1.) Recite (p. 155)
Quote: " 'Recite one of your poems for Mrs. Kator, Harriet.' " Pg. 155
Definition (based on context/in your own words): do something
Synonym: retell
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My class recited the play "Annie" in 4th Grade for our play.
2.) Prejudiced (p. 155)
Quote: "... I probably am prejudiced, that they show real merit." Pg. 155
Definition (based on context/in your own words): biased
Synonym: biased
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I was prejudiced the video for being bad and not good quality.
3.) Merit (p. 155)
Quote: "... I probably am prejudiced, that they show real merit." Pg. 155
Definition (based on context/in your own words): skill
Synonym: talent
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): This play was a real merit and deserves a loud applause.
4.) Pretenses (p. 158)
Quote: " 'I'm afraid I must apologize for Harriet and for reading you the poem under false pretenses." Pg. 158
Definition (based on context/in your own words): circumstances
Synonym: faking
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I read the book with false pretenses because it was from another book too.
5.) Deprecatingly (p. 158)
Quote: " 'Oh, they do,' Mrs. Kator said deprecatingly." Pg. 158
Definition (based on context/in your own words): shameful
Synonym: depressed
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The parents were deprecatingly looking at the comments of the video.
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
HARRIET'S BEHAVIOR = REASONABLE
- Harriet doesn'ty want to play the piano because she is shy
- Harriet is afraid of making a mistake and emaressing herself
- Harriet knows that Howard is going to make fun of her and go around making fun of her at school
- Since Howard is bigger but she is older she doesn't embarres herself
- Harriet is shy
- fakes she forgot the poems
- fakes she forgot the piano keys
- fakes she copied all the poems
- doesn't want to read poems
- doesn't want to play piano