Parsley Garden by William Saroyan
Interpretive Questions: Be sure all questions are answered in complete sentences and include quotes.
1.) Why does Al try to steal the hammer?
Al steals the hammer because he wanted to build something with the nails and wood he has.
"He had the nails, perhaps a half pound if them, at least two hundred of them, in a paper..." PG.79
2.) Why does Al say that he didn’t mean to steal the hammer?
Al said that he didn't mean to steal the hammer because he didn't have any money.
"I didn't mean to steal it. I just need it and I haven't got any money."
3.) Why is Al “deeply ashamed” after he leaves the store? (p. 81)
Al was "deeply ashamed"(PG.81) because he felt that he was humiliated when he got caught stealing the hammer.
4.) Why won’t Al accept his mother’s money to buy the hammer?
Al int accept his mothers money to buy the hammer because he says that he doesn't really need the hammer.
"I won't take your money for something I don't really need." PG.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 mother's parsley garden because he got the hammer he wanted.
"Where did you get it, that hammer, Al?" "I got at the store." PG.86
6.) Why does Al refuse to accept the job at Woolworth’s?
Al refuses to accept the job at Woolworth's because he didn't like the people who worked there.
"Because I hate the both of them,' the boy said." PG.87
7.) What does Al mean when he says he would never work for “people like that”? (p. 87)
When Al says he would never work for "people like that"(PG.87) because those are the people who humiliated him.
8.) When Al walks out of Woolworth’s, why does he refuse the dollar but take the hammer?
Al walks out of Woolworth's and he refuses the dollar but takes the hammer because he really wanted the hammer and the hammer was inly 10¢.
"I just looked at them and picked up my hammer and walked out." PG.87
9.) At the end of the story, why doesn’t Al feel humiliated anymore?
At he end if the story Al doesn't feel humiliated anymore because he made his bench.
"..., but Al Condraj sat on the bench he had made and smelled the parsley garden and didn't feel humiliated anymore." PG.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 can't stop hating the two man men “even though he knew they hadn’t done anything they shouldn’t have done”(PG.87) because he didn't want to get in trouble.
Vocabulary:
1.) Monotony (p. 79)
Quote: "he believed it was just what he needed by which to break the monotony..." PG.79
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Repetition
Synonym: disgust
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I really don't like the repetition in six grade.
2.) Humiliated (p. 81)
Quote: "The first thing he did when he was free was laugh, but he knew he had been humiliated..." PG.81
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to be make fun of
Synonym: ashamed
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Ariana was humiliated when she fell at P.E.
3.) Systematically (p. 84)
Quote:
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to make a plan
Synonym: sneaky
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My brother, Jordan, and I are going to systematically to get a piece a of cake.
4.) Indicated (p. 86)
Quote: "... see if any good fortune was indicated, and there was..' PG.86
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to show or point out
Synonym: determined
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The fortune teller indicated good fortunes to Ella.
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.
Al deals with his problems in a P/positive way V. Al deals with his problems in a N/negative way
1.) Why does Al try to steal the hammer?
Al steals the hammer because he wanted to build something with the nails and wood he has.
"He had the nails, perhaps a half pound if them, at least two hundred of them, in a paper..." PG.79
2.) Why does Al say that he didn’t mean to steal the hammer?
Al said that he didn't mean to steal the hammer because he didn't have any money.
"I didn't mean to steal it. I just need it and I haven't got any money."
3.) Why is Al “deeply ashamed” after he leaves the store? (p. 81)
Al was "deeply ashamed"(PG.81) because he felt that he was humiliated when he got caught stealing the hammer.
4.) Why won’t Al accept his mother’s money to buy the hammer?
Al int accept his mothers money to buy the hammer because he says that he doesn't really need the hammer.
"I won't take your money for something I don't really need." PG.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 mother's parsley garden because he got the hammer he wanted.
"Where did you get it, that hammer, Al?" "I got at the store." PG.86
6.) Why does Al refuse to accept the job at Woolworth’s?
Al refuses to accept the job at Woolworth's because he didn't like the people who worked there.
"Because I hate the both of them,' the boy said." PG.87
7.) What does Al mean when he says he would never work for “people like that”? (p. 87)
When Al says he would never work for "people like that"(PG.87) because those are the people who humiliated him.
8.) When Al walks out of Woolworth’s, why does he refuse the dollar but take the hammer?
Al walks out of Woolworth's and he refuses the dollar but takes the hammer because he really wanted the hammer and the hammer was inly 10¢.
"I just looked at them and picked up my hammer and walked out." PG.87
9.) At the end of the story, why doesn’t Al feel humiliated anymore?
At he end if the story Al doesn't feel humiliated anymore because he made his bench.
"..., but Al Condraj sat on the bench he had made and smelled the parsley garden and didn't feel humiliated anymore." PG.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 can't stop hating the two man men “even though he knew they hadn’t done anything they shouldn’t have done”(PG.87) because he didn't want to get in trouble.
Vocabulary:
1.) Monotony (p. 79)
Quote: "he believed it was just what he needed by which to break the monotony..." PG.79
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Repetition
Synonym: disgust
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I really don't like the repetition in six grade.
2.) Humiliated (p. 81)
Quote: "The first thing he did when he was free was laugh, but he knew he had been humiliated..." PG.81
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to be make fun of
Synonym: ashamed
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Ariana was humiliated when she fell at P.E.
3.) Systematically (p. 84)
Quote:
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to make a plan
Synonym: sneaky
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My brother, Jordan, and I are going to systematically to get a piece a of cake.
4.) Indicated (p. 86)
Quote: "... see if any good fortune was indicated, and there was..' PG.86
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to show or point out
Synonym: determined
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The fortune teller indicated good fortunes to Ella.
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.
Al deals with his problems in a P/positive way V. Al deals with his problems in a N/negative way