The Feather Pillow

In the beginning of “The Feather Pillow,” what does Alicia want from her husband that she does not get?

• a long-term commitment

• steadiness and dependability

• closer attention during her long illness

• more tender expressions of love for her

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

The house in which Alicia and Jordan live in “The Feather Pillow” affects Alicia by intensifying her

• shyness

• cold shivers

• determination

• love for Jordan

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CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

In “The Feather Pillow,” what are similarities between the creature that inhabits the pillow and Jordan’s behavior towards Alicia?

Choose three options

• Both are cruel

• Both weaken Alicia

• Both are horrifying to others

• Both are sources of suffering for Alicia

• Both involve something concealed or hidden

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.7

CCSS.RI.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

What are the servant’s strongest feelings at the end of “The Feather Pillow”?

• horror and disgust

• anxiety and suspense

• dismay and confusion

• sympathy and compassion

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Choose the likeliest meaning of reverberated as it is used in this sentence.

As one crossed from one room to another, the echo of his steps reverberated through the house, as if long abandonment had sensitized its resonance.

• banged

• shrieked

• repeated itself

• whispered longingly

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What does the context suggest is the most likely meaning of subsided in this excerpt?

For a long time she cried out all the fears she had kept silent, redoubling her weeping at Jordan’s slightest caress. Then her sobs subsided, and she stood a long while, her face hidden in the hollow of his neck, not moving or speaking a word.

• became less

• became damaging

• grew more intense

• provided needed comfort

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Alicia looked at him confusedly; she looked at the carpet; she looked at him once again; and after a long moment of stupefied confrontation, she regained her senses. She smiled and took her husband’s hand in hers, caressing it, trembling, for half an hour.

In this passage, what is the likeliest meaning of stupefied?

Base your answer on context.

• weak

• dazed

• loving

• frightened

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Which sentence provides the best example from "The Feather Pillow" of a character’s action that results in events that are quite different from what is intended or expected?

• Alicia decides to ignore her former dreams of what her marriage would be like.

• A doctor prescribes complete bed rest for Alicia to treat the cause of her weakness.

• The doctors attempt cures but find Alicia’s illness to be unexplainable and give up trying to cure her.

• Jordan withholds expressions of his love and discourages Alicia from stating her wish for more tenderness.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What does this paragraph from “The Feather Pillow” reveal about the author’s writing in the story? Choose three options.

Alicia passed the autumn in this strange love nest. She had determined, however, to cast a veil over her former dreams and live like a sleeping beauty in the hostile house, trying not to think about anything until her husband arrived each evening.

• it varies sentence lengths

• It is conversational in nature

• It provides hints about what will happen later.

• It uses complex sentences that are difficult to follow.

• It uses comparisons between things that are different from each other

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4