Ruthless: William de Mille

Describe the setting of the story

• A large busy city

• A cabin in the woods

• A desert island

• A small town

What kind of person does Judson seem to be?

• Cheerful, easy going

• Open minded and welcoming to others

• suspicious, Holds a grudge, unforgiving

• Forgiving, easy to please

Does Judson Webb seem like a good or bad person?

What makes you think that?

What does Mabel's surprise at Judson taking a drink at 10am demonstrate about her character?

• she is a rule follower who thinks certain things are proper or acceptable

• she thinks people should do whatever they want to do whenever

• she drinks a lot also

• she doesn't even know that her husband drinks alcohol

Her eyes narrowed as she watched him. She had learned to dread that tone of his voice, it was the tone he used when he was planning to "put something over" in business.

What could this passage foreshadow?

"Whoever broke into my closet last winter and stole my liquor will probably try it again once we are out of here...only this time he'll wish he hadn't."

How would you describe Judson's tone in this statement?

• happy

• angry

• vengeful

• curious

What do you think vindictiveness means?

What kind of figurative language is "deadly drink"?

• metaphor

• alliteration

• simile

• personification

How are Judson and his wife different?

His deep voice was like that of a big dog growling at the possible loss of a bone.

What kind of figurative language is used here?

• metaphor

• personification

• rhyming

• simile