Alice Walker: The Flowers

Considering that the narrator possesses all-knowing information about Myop, nature, etc., what is the point of view of “The Flowers”?

• 1st person

• 2nd person

• 3rd person objective

• 3rd person omniscient

What is the likely setting of the short story?

• A sunny suburban home

• A sunny farm in the south

Who is the antagonist of “The Flowers”?

• life’s harsh truths or realities

• Mother Nature

• Myop’s mother

• the skeleton of the man

What is the central conflict of “The Flowers”?

• Myop and her struggle against Mother Nature

• Myop and her struggle to maintain or preserve her childhood innocence

The change in setting when it becomes “gloomy” and “damp” suggests that something bad may happen to Myop. What is this literary device called?

• characterization

• foreshadowing

• point of view

• theme

What is one of the main topics of “The Flowers”?

• loss of innocence

• children and nature

• Summer only lasts so long; eventually, seasons change

• secrets and lies

What is the significance of the last line “And the summer was over”?

• The summer has ended; it’s fall.

• Myop’s innocence is lost.

Flowers and summer symbolize all of the following to Myop except what?

• adulthood

• happiness

• innocence

As Myop travels farther into the woods, what happens to the setting in terms of imagery?

• The woods become dark and foreboding.

• The woods become dreamlike, fantastical, and not like anything on this world.

When does Myop quit picking flowers?

• When she steps on a man's face

• When she realizes he was killed by hanging