One Fat Summer Chapter Questions (03/2015)

Transcription

1 One Fat Summer Chapter Questions (03/2015) Chapter 1 1. Briefly describe Bobby and what his life is like. 2. What threatens Bobby s boring ordinary life? (What must he save himself from?) 3. Describe Bobby and Joanie s relationship. In what ways are they similar? Why are they friends? 4. Describe how Joanie tries to save Bobby from his father s summer plan. 5. How does Bobby respond to her attempts? 6. What is the meaning behind The pit or the pendulum (p11)? 7. What are your impressions of Bobby s father? 8. Describe Pete Marino. 9. The description of Pete Marino comes from Bobby s perspective. What does this tell us about Bobby s self-image/self-esteem? 10. Bobby is intimidated by both Willie and Pete but for completely different reasons. Try to explain those reasons. 11. Explain how the following quotations might foreshadow events which will occur further on in the story: Chapter 2 a) Someday I d wake up thin But poor Joanie was stuck with that nose for her whole life. (p3) b) He s not as smart as you, though. (p6) 1. Describe how Bobby feels when he arrives for his interview with Dr. Kahn. 2. How does Bobby describe Dr. Kahn when he first meets him? What does this communicate to the reader about Bobby at this point in the story? 3. How does Dr. Kahn respond when Bobby tells him that he walked from across the lake?

2 4. After reading chapter 2, what role can you predict Dr. Kahn might play in the story? Chapter 3 1. On the pages indicated, find a quotation which reveals each of the following qualities in Bobby s father: a) pushy, preachy, relentless (p 26-27) b) self-righteous, moralizing (p 28) c) insistent, uncompromising, critical (p 29) 2. Do the same for these qualities of Bobby s mother: a) Good humoured (p.27) b) Kind (p 28) c) Insistent, uncompromising, critical (p 29) 3. Describe Bobby s relationship with his father. What hint do we get that Bobby s father might actually like his son? Chapter 4 1. What do we learn about: a) Connie Marino? (p33-34) b) Jack Smith? (p 34-35) c) Basal metabolism? (p36) d) Bob s binge eating? (43) 2. Why do you think the author has Bobby tell the reader about these things? What might they be foreshadowing? 3. Bobby has never used a power mower before, so when he begins his lawn mowing adventure he finds himself in very unfamiliar territory. Provide a detailed summary of his experience. 4. Something happens to Bobby on pages Captain Marks appears and triggers a change in Bobby. Who is Captain Marks? What might this episode foreshadow is going to happen later in the story? 5. How does Dr. Kahn react to Bobby s efforts at the end of the chapter?

3 Chapter 5 1. From what is Bobby suffering from at the start of Chapter 5? 2. What excuses does Bobby use to cover up what he has been doing? 3. Has your first impressions of Pete Marino changed at all? Support your answer (Explain how and why). 4. What do we find out about the history of the Rumson family? 5. What might Pete s story of his encounter with the Rumson gang foreshadow? 6. Why would Bobby feel good about being seen in Pete s truck? 7. What is the last thing that Bobby thinks about before passing out? What might this foreshadow; what do you think will happen to Bobby as the story goes on? Chapter 6 1. What is the significance of Bobby s dream at the beginning of the chapter? 2. What novel is Michelle reading? 3. Describe Bobby s condition when he gets out of bed. 4. What is the significance of Michelle saying Well, at least you re back to normal. Chapter 7 1. Describe how Bobby is more prepared for his day of work at Dr. Kahn s. 2. Why does Willie get angry at Bobby? 3. Who is speaking and what is the significance of the following quotation? And, you pig meat, you re making a really bad mistake (p 63) 4. Why does Dr. Kahn lower Bobby s wages? 5. Read the following quotations and write a paragraph summarizing the role you think Dr. Kahn serves in Bobby s summer lawn mowing adventure. I didn t think you were coming back. (p 62)

4 Are you trying to intimidate this boy? (p 62) What did you say to that boy? (62) Don t concern yourself with him, boy. I m the one you have to deal with... I m going to be watching you. Like a hawk. (p.64)... I believe in giving a boy a second chance. (p 64) You re the slowest lawn boy I ve ever had... Obviously, you don t care. Do you want this job?... Then prove it to me. (p 66) You seem like a decent boy... I want to give you every opportunity to prove yourself. (p 67) 6. What kind of deal does Dr. Kahn offer Bobby at the end of the day? Do you think it s fair? Why/why not? 7. Read the following quotation and comment on what is happening to Bobby: Chapter 8 I really concentrated. I watched for stones, and when I saw one I stopped, picked it up, and piled it on the edge of the driveway. If I found a stone in the middle of the row, I carried it to the end in my pocket. Even the little stones were a tight fit, and pinched my legs and backside. I watched for holes, too. I was very careful. (p65) 1. Why did Bobby stop swimming? 2. What does the invisibility boy story tell us about Bobby? 3. Why is Bobby glad Joanie is not around? (p72) 4. What metaphor does Joanie use to describe Bobby s behavior? (p73) 5. What role does Joanie play in Bobby s Life? 6. Why doesn t Bobby want his mom to get involved with his job? (pp75-6)?

5 Chapter 9 1. Find an example of personification in Bobby s description of the lawn. (p79) 2. What explanation does Bobby give Pete regarding the lie he told his mother? (p82) 3. Why does Bobby pretend he likes baseball? (p84) 4. Give two reasons why Bobby wants his job to be a secret from his father. (p82) 5. What things do we learn about Bobby s father? (p85) 6. List the trials that Bobby is forced to confront when he encounters the Smith boys. (pp89-101) Chapter What does the following quotation tell you about Bobby and the role Pete plays in his life? Sometimes I felt jealous of guys who dove off the highboard, but there was no way to feel jealous of Pete, he wasn t really human, the way he looked, the things he could do; it was like watching one of those Greek gods we read about, Mercury, maybe, or Apollo. (p108) 2. What events might this quotation foreshadow?