Ethan Frome 1-5

Harmon Gow contrasts Ethan with Starkfield's ex-residents:

• "None of us got away -- how should you?"
• "Guess he's lived too many winters in Starkfield -- most of the smart ones get away"
• "Even then he was the most striking figure in Starkfield, though he was but the ruin of a man"
• "There are things in that book that I didn't know the first word about," 

The narrator and Ethan relate to each other over:

• Women
• Marriage troubles
• Their disdain for Denis Eady
• Engineering

The fact that the Frome house is missing its "ell" indicates that:

• Ethan is too lazy to maintain his property
• Ethan doesn't have the money to maintain his property
• Zeena's city style has been very influential
• Ethan no longer wants to grow vegetables for the family

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

What is the relationship between Ethan and Mattie?

• Mattie is Ethan's cousin
• Mattie is Ethan's wife
• Mattie is Zeena's cousin
• Mattie is the narrator's landlady

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

Why did Ethan get married WHEN he did?

• He was ready to settle down, and Zeena was accommodating
• He was afraid of the isolation of a winter farm if Zeena left
• He was looking for a way to get closer to Mattie 
• He was getting too old to look after himself and needed a caregiver

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

Why is the color red used so much in association with Mattie?

• It symbolizes her vibrant youth and Ethan's passion for her
• It's the color of death and foreshadows her impending doom
• Red makes Mattie stand out from the other girls in Starkfield
• It symbolizes the Frome marriage

The pickle dish symbolizes:

• The companionship between Ethan and his family
• Zeena's connection to her Bettsbridge relatives
• All the things that have gone wrong in Ethan's life
• Ethan and Zeena's marriage

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

CCSS.RI.11-12.7

CCSS.RI.9-10.7

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

Why does Ethan regret telling Zeena he's collecting payment from Mr. Hale for his lumber delivery?

• He knows Zeena doesn't believe him and will now be suspicious
• He realizes that going into town will keep him from spending time with Mattie
• Now Zeena will spend more money on her new doctor
• Zeena will expect him to buy her a present with the money

Who was staying in Starkfield because of his work?

• Denis Eady
• Harmon Gow
• the narrator
• Ethan Frome

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

Who drove the narrator to the station in his sleigh?

• Ruth Hale
• Denis Eady
• Harmon Gow
• Ethan Frome

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.9