Where the Red Fern Grows Characterization

How does Billy respond when Grandpa tells him he'll have to wait a week to get his dogs?

• Billy accepts this and realizes he'll just have to be patient a bit longer.

• Billy shows his frustration and questions Grandpa about why he can't get them sooner.

• Billy is determined to get his dogs so he makes the decision to go and get them himself.

• Billy is very saddened by this news and pouts for the whole week.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

PART A: Recall the scene where Billy is being beaten by the boys in town. The fighting stops and Billy realizes it b/c the marshal has stepped in. After this Billy and the marshal spend some time together.

How does Billy change from the beginning of that encounter with the marshal to the end?

• Billy changes from angry to calm.

• Billy changes from curious to worried/concerned.

• Billy changes from fearful to thankful/happy.

• Billy changes from thankful to delighted.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

PART B: What TWO pieces of evidence show the change in Billy you chose from the previous question? CHOOSE TWO

• I just knew I was next. I wondered if he'd (the marshal) kick me while I was down. I lay where I was. He started toward me. I closed my eyes.

• He (the marshal) helped me to my feet. His big hans started brushing the dust from my clothes.

• "Marshal," I said, "I wouldn't have fought them, but they pulled my pup's ears."

• I knew that the stories I had heard about marshals weren't trust. Never again would I be scared when I saw one.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

How does Billy respond when he hears a mountion lion close to the cave?

• He is angered by its presence and goes out to scare it away with a torch.

• He is scared by its presence, but is able to remain brave while working from inside the cave to scare it away.

• He becomes very anxious and is unable to do anything other than cower in the back of the cave with his pups.

• He is terrified by its presence and decides remaining quiet is the best way to get it to leave.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

Recall the how Billy feels about telling his mother and father the truth about where he's been. Then recall how his parents act when he comes home and confronts them.

How does Billy change from when he first walks into the house to when he settles in for bed that night?

• Billy changes from afraid to angry.

• Billy changes from sad to joyful.

• Billy changes from worried to relieved.

• Billy changes from lazy to hard-working.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

PART A: How would Billy respond when confronted with a dangerous situation?

• Billy would freeze up and would be unable to do anything.

• Billy would become very angry and let his anger drive his actions.

• Billy would flee in fear from the dangerous situation.

• Billy would acknowledge his fear, but would take action to deal with the danger.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

PART B: What piece of evidence supports the answer you chose for the previous question?

• My father had told me lions were scared of fire. I started throwing on more wood.

• I hadn't worked two long hard years for my pups to have some freckly-face punk pull their ears.

• By sheer weight and numbers, they pulled me down. I managed to twist over on my stomach and buried my face in my arms.

• Although I had never heard one, I knew what it was. It was the scream of a mountain lion.

Tags

CCSS.RF.5.4C

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

Read this part of the story.

Although I had never been to down in my life, I knew what direction to take...I knew if I bore to the right I would find the railroad, and if I bore to the left I had the river to guide me.

What detail about Billy is revealed in these lines?

• Billy is smart as shown by his knowledge of directions.

• Billy is curious as shown by his desire to travel to a new town.

• Billy is careless as shown by his willingness to go on this trip alone.

• Billy is confused as shown by his lack of knowledge of the river and railroad.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3