The Parsley Garden
"The Parsley Garden" by William SaryonaInterpretive Questions: Be sure all questions are answered in complete sentences and include quotes.
1.) Why does Al try to steal the hammer?
Al tries to steal the hammer because he had box wood and a bunch of nails. "Now with the ten-cent hammer he believed he could make something out of box wood and nails, although he had no idea what" (p.79)
2.) Why does Al say that he didn’t mean to steal the hammer?
Al says that he didn't mean to steal the hammer because he just needed it and he didn't have any money."I didn't mean to steal it. I just needed it and I haven't got any money," (p.80)
3.) Why is Al “deeply ashamed” after he leaves the store? (p. 81)
Al is "deeply ashamed" (p.81) after he leaves the store because he felt humiliated. "The first thing he did when he was free was laugh, but he knew he had been humiliated, and he was deeply ashamed." (p.81)
4.) Why won’t Al accept his mother’s money to buy the hammer?
Al won't accept his mothers money to buy the hammer because he doesn't want to take the money for something he doesn't need. "I won't take your money for something I don't really need." (p.83)
5.) Why does Al use the hammer to make a bench for his mother’s parsley garden?
Al uses the hammer to make a bench for his mothers parsley garden so he can smell the parsley. "His mother went inside and went to bed, but Al Condraj sat on the bench he had made and smelled the parsley garden and didn't feel humiliated anymore." (p.87)
6.) Why does Al refuse to accept the job at Woolworth’s?
Al refuses to accept the job at Woolworths because he hates both of the men who work there. "Because I hate both of them' the boy said." (p.87)
7.) What does Al mean when he says he would never work for “people like that”? (p. 87)
Al means when he says he would never work for "people like that"? (p.87) that he will never work for people that are mean and that have attitude. "I would never work for people like that." (p.87)
8.) When Al walks out of Woolworth’s, why does he refuse the dollar but take the hammer?
When Al walks out of Woolworth's, he refuses the dollar but takes the hammer because he thinks that he didn't need the dollar but he needed the hammer. "I left the dollar on Mr. Clemmer's desk." (p.87)
9.) At the end of the story, why doesn’t Al feel humiliated anymore?
At the end of the story, Al doesn't feel humiliated anymore because he worked hard for the money for the hammer and with the hammer he made a bench. "His mother went inside and went to bed, but Al Condraj sat on the bench he had made and smelled the parsley garden and didn't feel humiliated anymore." (p.87)
10.) Why can’t Al stop hating the two men “even though he knew they hadn’t done anything they shouldn’t have done”? (p.87)
Al cant stop hating the two men "even though he knew they hadn't done anything thy shouldn't have done" (p.87) because the men were mean to Al. "But nothing could stop him from hating the two men, even though he knew they hadn't done anything thy shouldn't have done" (p.87)
Vocabulary:
1.) Monotony (p. 79)
Quote: " He believed it was just what he needed by which to break the monotony and with which to make something" (p.79)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): repetition
Synonym: dullness
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I cant stand the monotony in the class.
2.) Humiliated (p. 81)
Quote: "The first thing he did when he was free was laugh, but he knew he had been humiliated, and he was deeply ashamed." (p.81)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): embarrassed
Synonym: ashamed
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I was humiliated in front of my friends.
3.) Systematically (p. 84)
Quote: "He also believed it would be necessary for him to steal systematically and successfully the rest of his life." (p.84)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): plan/process
Synonym: orderly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I systematically for my april fools prank.
4.) Indicated (p. 86)
Quote: "Then they looked into their cups at the ground to see if any good fortune was indicated." (p.86)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): showing/telling
Synonym: reveal
T-Chart:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when Al deals with his problems in a P/positive way or a N/negative way. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.