All The Years of Her Life

The author chose to start the story with a confrontation between characters and shares background later. How does this choice affect the story?

• The readers think about the importance and changing nature of time. 

• The reader questions what the characters are doing because there is no background.

• The story is immediately engaging and draws readers into the confrontation.

• The story feels disjointed because the background is in the incorrect place.

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CCSS.RL.9-10.3

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The author reveals Alfred's guilt only as Alfred reacts to Mr. Carr's accusation. What effect does this have?

• It creates tension between the characters and fuels suspense. 

• It confuses readers and makes them wonder who is actually telling the truth

• It adds to the mystery of who is stealing from the drugstore

• It creates a mood of disappointment and sadness to begin the story.

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Alfred's dialogue, his history of stealing, his reactions to Mr. Carr and to his mother, and his shamelessness all symbolize the

• irresponsibility and entitlement of youth.

• effect on the youngest of growing up in a large family.

• role of honesty and integrity in today's society.

• results of inexperience and lack of education.

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Which detail from the story supports the mother's claim that Alfred is "a bad lot"? 

• "The soft, confident, quiet way in which Sam Carr spoke made Alfred start to button his coat nervously."

• "His heart began to beat so loud it was hard for him to get his breath." 

• "And as he listened there was no shame in him, just wonder and a kind of admiration…"

• "It seemed to him that this was the first time he had ever looked upon his mother."

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What does the trembling of the mother's hands symbolize?

• the difficulties and disappointments she has experienced in life

• her nervousness about her youngest daughter getting married

• her failing health as a result of aging

• the embarrassment and disappointment she feels in her son

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CCSS.RL.9-10.2

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CCSS.RL.11-12.2

Which detail from the story directly expresses the coming of age theme?

• "Ever since Alfred had left school he had been getting into trouble wherever he worked."

• "Alfred knew how his mother would come rushing in; she would rush in with her eyes blazing, or maybe she would be crying, and she would push him away … and make him feel her dreadful contempt."

• "Alfred was afraid to speak to her, he was afraid of the silence that was between them, so he only looked ahead too, for the excitement and relief was still pretty strong in him…"

• "He watched his mother, and he never spoke, but at that moment his youth seemed to be over; he knew all the years of her life by the way her hand trembled…"

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Alfred's realization about his mother and her suffering

• inspires him to reform his actions and apologize to her.

• causes him to lose the ignorance and simplemindedness of youth.

• allows him and his mother to have a better relationship.

• makes him feel ashamed for all the things he has done.

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Why does the author choose to end the scene with Alfred's reflection about his mother? 

• The reflection allows for readers to consider the importance of a mother-son relationship.

• The excitement of the conflict between Mr. Carr and Mrs. Higgins must be resolved in the end.

• The author wants to wind down the action and elicit sympathy for Alfred from the reader.

• The change Alfred undergoes as a result of his new understanding emphasizes the coming of age theme.

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