Superstitions
By
Mary La Chapelle
About the Author
Mary La Chapelle was born on April 28, 1955 in Milwaukee, WI. She went to the University of Minnesota and learned more about writing. She won the 1986 PEN/Nelson Algren Fiction Award and the 1988 Whiting Writers' Award for her work as an author.
Pre-reading Reflection
What does it mean to be superstitious? Give an example.
To be superstitious is to have beliefs in bad things that will happen if you do something in a wrong way or if you think that you are doing the process wrong. An example of a superstition could be that if a black cat crosses in front of you, it will lead to a week of bad luck.
Do you consider yourself superstitious?
Yes, I do consider myself superstitious.
If yes, what are some superstitions you have, and why do you think you have them?
One superstitions that I have is that if I say something in my mind that is good, then it will actually do the opposite. For example: If I say that the grudge isn't real, then she will become real in my mind. I think that I have it because I'm scared of the grudge and I don't want her to be real.
If no, why do you think you are not superstitious?
I do believe in superstitions because it's my belief of something.
Why do you think people develop superstitions?
Sometimes people develop superstitions because they might be scared of something or because they might have a feeling to do something one way in a process or else it will bring the person bad luck.
To be superstitious is to have beliefs in bad things that will happen if you do something in a wrong way or if you think that you are doing the process wrong. An example of a superstition could be that if a black cat crosses in front of you, it will lead to a week of bad luck.
Do you consider yourself superstitious?
Yes, I do consider myself superstitious.
If yes, what are some superstitions you have, and why do you think you have them?
One superstitions that I have is that if I say something in my mind that is good, then it will actually do the opposite. For example: If I say that the grudge isn't real, then she will become real in my mind. I think that I have it because I'm scared of the grudge and I don't want her to be real.
If no, why do you think you are not superstitious?
I do believe in superstitions because it's my belief of something.
Why do you think people develop superstitions?
Sometimes people develop superstitions because they might be scared of something or because they might have a feeling to do something one way in a process or else it will bring the person bad luck.
Vocabulary
Theorized: To form a theory "He theorized that little kids who got in from the top and out from the top never had to make their beds." (p. 42)
Apprehensive: To worry about something "She was apprehensive as she brushed on toward the attic, because if she were to find it had been left open, it would be a bad sign that she couldn't change." (p. 42)
Compelled: To force something "It was something she had begun, and now she was compelled to continue." (p. 43)
Persistence: To keep on keeping on; to continuously continue "The sun was warm and persistent with promises to shine over everything by noon. " (p. 54)
Pre-cautious: to be careful "She was aware of certain precautions, like not looking into the sun long." (p. 54)
Perceived: to notice "After waiting for what she perceived as a stubborn enough amount of time, she stood up and followed him" (p. 56)
Anguish: to suffer "Groggy, but conscious now, Jimmy cried like a wounded soldier, all anguish and failure in something he didn't understand." (p. 60)
Apprehensive: To worry about something "She was apprehensive as she brushed on toward the attic, because if she were to find it had been left open, it would be a bad sign that she couldn't change." (p. 42)
Compelled: To force something "It was something she had begun, and now she was compelled to continue." (p. 43)
Persistence: To keep on keeping on; to continuously continue "The sun was warm and persistent with promises to shine over everything by noon. " (p. 54)
Pre-cautious: to be careful "She was aware of certain precautions, like not looking into the sun long." (p. 54)
Perceived: to notice "After waiting for what she perceived as a stubborn enough amount of time, she stood up and followed him" (p. 56)
Anguish: to suffer "Groggy, but conscious now, Jimmy cried like a wounded soldier, all anguish and failure in something he didn't understand." (p. 60)
Compare and Contrast
Frances feels strongWhen she helps Jimmy "Sometimes as they sat arm against arm on the sofa,and he looked ahead distracted by the TV, she would trace the veins in his fine hand with her finger, and that quiet tenderness would come over her. She would move closer too him and cover his whole arm with her own, lying her brown hand over his so each of her fingers covered one of his, and nothing was exposed." (p. 44)
When she compares herself to Jimmy "Of the two, Frances thought she was the stronger. She was tall with the dark skin of her Indian grandmother. Jimmy was fair, his skin translucent, the veins lying close to the surface. (p. 44) |
Frances feels helplessWhen the attic door was open, she felt like something bad was going to happen "Her hand hesitated at the doorway molding as a draft wafted over the little hairs on her wrist. The door was open. She passed her hand over empty space, making believe there was a door there. This didn't help, and the panic she had dreaded surged up from her stomach, making her run blindly down the hall until she was at the opening of the stairway. " (p. 43)
When she tells her mo about her "bad thoughts" "Sometimes I have bad thoughts." She announced this sentence, each word stated loudly and with long pauses in between, as though her mother might be hard of hearing or slow-witted. " (p. 50) |