A Visit of Charity by Eudora Welty
Interpretive Questions: Answer all questions in complete sentences, use quotes to support.
1.) At the end of the story, why does Marian run out of the Old Ladies' Home?
1. At the end of the story, Marian runs out of the Old Ladies' Home because they were scaring her. It was scaring her because it was creepy and gross to her.
2.) Why does Marian feel that being in the old women's room is "like being caught in a robbers' cave, just before one was murdered"? (p. 155)
2. Marian feels that being in the old women's room is "like being caught in a robbers' cave, just before one was murdered," is because the old ladies are constantly arguing and they usually argue about what's going to go on. She can't leave if she's in a "robbers' cave." It's like the "robbers" are keeping them hostage. She's scared because she feels as if she might die if she stays there.
3.) When Marian begins to wonder about Addie, why are we told that "it was the first time such a thing had happened" to her? (p. 159)
3. When Marian begins to wonder about Addie, we are told that "it was the first time such a thing had happened," to her because it's typical for old people to do that. She's also seeing her die for the first time.
4.) Why is Marian's face "bright" and "burning" when she tells the first old woman that Addie is crying? (p. 159)
4. Marian's face is "bright," and "burning," when she tells the first old woman that Addie is crying because she's flustered it might have been think her fault. She's panicking and doesn't know what she did to make Addie cry. She doesn't know what to do.
5.) When she runs out of the home, why does Marian get out the apple she had hidden and take a big bite of it?
5. When she runs out of the house, Marian gets out the apple she has hidden and takes a big bite out of it because she might think that everything in that house is disgusting. The apple refreshing and it's better than being in that house.
6.) Why doest the first old woman say, "Well, it was a real visit"? (p. 160)
6. The first old woman says, "well, it was a real visit," because she's being sarcastic and making Marian feel useless.
7.) Why do the two women argue about whether the flowers are pretty and whether they enjoyed the other Campfire Girl's visit?
7. The two old woman always bicker because they aren't grateful of the little girl and the flowers.
8.) Why does the first old woman tell Marian that Addie talks in a "contrary" way only "when you all come"? (p. 157)
8. The first old woman tells Marian that Addie talks in a "contrary," way only, "when you all come," because Marian just wants the Campfire points and not to make the old women happy. They aren't very genuine.
9.) Why does Addie look at Marian with "despair and calculation"? (p. 158)
9. all Marian wants is the Campfire points. After she gets the points, she'll never come back to the house. If Marian will never come back, Addie thinks that she should just be mean to Marian.
10.) Why does the first old woman clutch at Marian and ask for money?
10. They don't have anything, so she wants money from them. She doesn't just want flowers, she wants them to give her money.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) ailing - p. 156
Quote: "She's ailing today." (p. 156)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): bad health
Synonym: sick
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The patient was in the hospital because she was ailing.
2.) Contrary - p. 157
Quote: "That's only the contrary way she talks when you all come," said the first old lady with sudden intimacy." (p. 157)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to be against
Synonym: opposed
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): To the contrary.
3.) Intimacy - p. 157
Quote: "That's only the contrary way she talks when you all come," said the first old lady with sudden intimacy." (p. 157)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): close friendship
Synonym: familiar
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): We have to get to know each other more before intimacy.
4.) Calculation - p. 158
Quote: "This old woman was looking at her with despair and calculation in her face." (p. 158)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a mathematical term
Synonym: compute
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): You must use the proper calculation to get the right answer.
5.) Affected - p. 160
Quote: "In an affected, high-pitched whine she cried, 'Oh, little girl, have you a penny to spare for a poor old woman that's not got anything of her own? We don't have a thing in the world––not a penny for candy––not a thing! LIttle girl, just a nickel––a penny––' " (p. 160)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to care for
Synonym: loving
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I was affected by the speech my aunt gave at my grandma's funeral.
6.) Institutions - p. 160
Quote: "The nurse, after another triple motion to consult her wristwatch, asked automatically the question put to visitors in all institutions: 'Won't you stay and have dinner with us?' " (p. 160)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): an established law
Synonym: custom
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The institution of marriage.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when you sympathize with a character or when you do not sympathize with a character. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
sympathy:
• old women
• old women are sick
• old women are dying
• taken advantage of
• Marian
• stuck in the house
• Addie
• dying
• no one cares for her
no sympathy:
• Marian
• gets mad
• first old woman
• asks for money
• greedy
• old women
• seeking attention
• negative way
• Addie
• cries
• not nice
• women
• ungrateful
• flowers
Interpretive Questions: Answer all questions in complete sentences, use quotes to support.
1.) At the end of the story, why does Marian run out of the Old Ladies' Home?
1. At the end of the story, Marian runs out of the Old Ladies' Home because they were scaring her. It was scaring her because it was creepy and gross to her.
2.) Why does Marian feel that being in the old women's room is "like being caught in a robbers' cave, just before one was murdered"? (p. 155)
2. Marian feels that being in the old women's room is "like being caught in a robbers' cave, just before one was murdered," is because the old ladies are constantly arguing and they usually argue about what's going to go on. She can't leave if she's in a "robbers' cave." It's like the "robbers" are keeping them hostage. She's scared because she feels as if she might die if she stays there.
3.) When Marian begins to wonder about Addie, why are we told that "it was the first time such a thing had happened" to her? (p. 159)
3. When Marian begins to wonder about Addie, we are told that "it was the first time such a thing had happened," to her because it's typical for old people to do that. She's also seeing her die for the first time.
4.) Why is Marian's face "bright" and "burning" when she tells the first old woman that Addie is crying? (p. 159)
4. Marian's face is "bright," and "burning," when she tells the first old woman that Addie is crying because she's flustered it might have been think her fault. She's panicking and doesn't know what she did to make Addie cry. She doesn't know what to do.
5.) When she runs out of the home, why does Marian get out the apple she had hidden and take a big bite of it?
5. When she runs out of the house, Marian gets out the apple she has hidden and takes a big bite out of it because she might think that everything in that house is disgusting. The apple refreshing and it's better than being in that house.
6.) Why doest the first old woman say, "Well, it was a real visit"? (p. 160)
6. The first old woman says, "well, it was a real visit," because she's being sarcastic and making Marian feel useless.
7.) Why do the two women argue about whether the flowers are pretty and whether they enjoyed the other Campfire Girl's visit?
7. The two old woman always bicker because they aren't grateful of the little girl and the flowers.
8.) Why does the first old woman tell Marian that Addie talks in a "contrary" way only "when you all come"? (p. 157)
8. The first old woman tells Marian that Addie talks in a "contrary," way only, "when you all come," because Marian just wants the Campfire points and not to make the old women happy. They aren't very genuine.
9.) Why does Addie look at Marian with "despair and calculation"? (p. 158)
9. all Marian wants is the Campfire points. After she gets the points, she'll never come back to the house. If Marian will never come back, Addie thinks that she should just be mean to Marian.
10.) Why does the first old woman clutch at Marian and ask for money?
10. They don't have anything, so she wants money from them. She doesn't just want flowers, she wants them to give her money.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) ailing - p. 156
Quote: "She's ailing today." (p. 156)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): bad health
Synonym: sick
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The patient was in the hospital because she was ailing.
2.) Contrary - p. 157
Quote: "That's only the contrary way she talks when you all come," said the first old lady with sudden intimacy." (p. 157)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to be against
Synonym: opposed
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): To the contrary.
3.) Intimacy - p. 157
Quote: "That's only the contrary way she talks when you all come," said the first old lady with sudden intimacy." (p. 157)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): close friendship
Synonym: familiar
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): We have to get to know each other more before intimacy.
4.) Calculation - p. 158
Quote: "This old woman was looking at her with despair and calculation in her face." (p. 158)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a mathematical term
Synonym: compute
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): You must use the proper calculation to get the right answer.
5.) Affected - p. 160
Quote: "In an affected, high-pitched whine she cried, 'Oh, little girl, have you a penny to spare for a poor old woman that's not got anything of her own? We don't have a thing in the world––not a penny for candy––not a thing! LIttle girl, just a nickel––a penny––' " (p. 160)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to care for
Synonym: loving
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I was affected by the speech my aunt gave at my grandma's funeral.
6.) Institutions - p. 160
Quote: "The nurse, after another triple motion to consult her wristwatch, asked automatically the question put to visitors in all institutions: 'Won't you stay and have dinner with us?' " (p. 160)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): an established law
Synonym: custom
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The institution of marriage.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when you sympathize with a character or when you do not sympathize with a character. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
sympathy:
• old women
• old women are sick
• old women are dying
• taken advantage of
• Marian
• stuck in the house
• Addie
• dying
• no one cares for her
no sympathy:
• Marian
• gets mad
• first old woman
• asks for money
• greedy
• old women
• seeking attention
• negative way
• Addie
• cries
• not nice
• women
• ungrateful
• flowers