Accumulate- to Save up a Lot

Ellen Foster 8. When Ellen describes the death of her mother and father, she uses a metaphor. Cite the metaphor that she Chapter One uses and explain how it impacts the meaning of the event. Accumulate- to save up a lot Heave- to throw back 9. Describe the relationship between Ellen’s mother and Vengeance- payback father.

1. The title of the novel is Ellen Foster. What predictions 10. How does Ellen describe her father’s demeanor? What can the reader make about the content of the novel imagery does she use? based on the title? 11. Ellen juxtaposes the images of her new life at 2. Explain the effect of beginning the novel wit the link, dinnertime with her old life during dinnertime. Explain “When I was little I would think of ways to kill my the effect of this juxtaposition. daddy.” 12. Describe the relationship between Ellen and her mother. 3. Reread the first two paragraphs. Describe the narrative style of the novel. 13. What do you believe Ellen appreciates most about her new home? 4. Based on the language on the first page, what can the reader infer about the setting of the novel? 14. The chapter ends with a description of a coming storm. How does the storm symbolize what is happening in 5. How does the narrator feel about the fact that her father Ellen’s life? What could the storm foreshadow? is dead?

6. How does Ellen compare her present life with her life a few years ago?

7. Why does the social worker, who comes to speak with Ellen, think she is scared? Chapter Two 10. Explain the effect of the final three sentences of chapter two. Tolerate- to put up with Constructive- of any use

1. Why does Ellen think it is important that she is around her mother all the time?

2. Why does Ellen’s father tell her that he will kill her is she leaves?

3. How does Ellen try to improve herself at her new home?

4. Ellen describes a piece of literature she read when she was starting her reading project. To what is she referring? What does this tell you about her character? What technique is Gibbons using to characterize Ellen?

5. How does Ellen’s mother die?

6. Why does Ellen refuse to tell her father when she finds that her mother has stopped breathing?

7. Why does Ellen need to rest?

8. Describe Ellen’s voice as she is narrating the events surrounding her mother’s death. How is this unusual?

9. Explain the purpose of the first two chapters. Chapter Three Chapter Four

Sashays- walk in a strutting way Agitates- bothers; annoys Churning-producing 1. As Ellen begins her day, about what is she excited? Why might this even be important to her? 1. The beginning of Chapter Four begins with a reference to “colored town.” What does this reference suggest 2. Ellen beings to reminisce about how her family reacts about the time periods and area in which Ellen lives? to her mother’s death. Describe the tone of her memory and relate how you can to that conclusion. 2. Ellen mentions that she would like to steal a fountain out of someone’s yard. Does she seem like the type of 3. What does Ellen’s father ask her? What does this girl who would steal? demonstrate about the events of her mother’s death? 3. What is unusual about Starletta and her family? 4. How does the reader know that Ellen is an observant young lady? 4. How does Ellen describe her grandmother?

5. As Ellen describes the ride in the big car to the 5. What type of figurative language is the following cemetery, she uses the car ride to bookend a story about description: “Just churning hate and nerve with forty when she was going to go ride a pony at her new house. years of my mama on fire under her?” Think about the two stories that are being told at this moment. How does the story of the pony ride reflect 6. The end of the chapter describes Ellen’s experience Ellen’s feeling in the car? with the end of the funeral and the closing of the casket. What does Ellen ask? How does she answer her own 6. How does Ellen feel about her aunt? question?

7. Of all the people Ellen describes at the funeral, to who does she feel the closest?

8. Cite the personification that is used to describe Ellen’s grandmother’s anger toward her son-in-law. 7. How does Ellen feed herself? 9. At the end of the fourth chapter, Ellen relates the following: “I do not have to worry about snakes 8. Who is the fish man? anymore here. The pony scares them off and I am up high anyway so they cannot bite me.” How might this 9. How does a person play “catalogue?” comment be symbolic? 10. How does Ellen excel as a member of the Girl Scouts?

Chapter Five 11. What does Ellen’s response to the holidays demonstrate about her personality? Bulk- a large amount Accessories- items of clothing that go with a particular outfit Chapter Six 1. What does Ellen do when her father leaves for a day and night right after the funeral? Gall- to irritate

2. How does the reader know that Ellen is mourning her 1. How does Ellen feel about Starletta’s home? mother’s death, even when she does not talk about shedding tears? 2. What do Starletta’s parents give Ellen?

3. How does Ellen respond to her teacher’s request to tell 3. Why does Ellen respond the way she did to Starletta the story of her mother’s death? and her family?

4. How does Ellen feel about Starletta? 4. Why Starletta and her family are eating, Ellen asks, “Do I have to watch?” Why does she ask this? How 5. How does Ellen’s father spend his time now that his does she respond to her own question? Why? wife is dead? What happens as a result of this? 5. Why does Ellen’s grandmother come to take Ellen’s 6. How does Ellen demonstrate that she is a responsible mother’s things? Why do you think she responds to person? Ellen the way she does? What does she tell Ellen to tell her father? Why? Chapter Seven 6. With whom does Ellen live at her new home? Sequin- a small shiny ornament used for decoration 7. How does Ellen’s new mother show kindness to her? What nots- small trinkets or statues

8. What does Ellen mean by the following: “I see the 1. Why does Ellen offer to pay Starletta’s mother? Why mirror from the bed. No matter how I turn my head does Starletta’s mother refuse to take her money? when I look I still seem like a stranger in my own self.” 2. What does Ellen decide to do the morning after she 9. Ellen’s father begins to come home less and less. On stays with Starletta? Describe her actions. one particular occasion, when he does come home, he brings with him half a dozen “colored men.” Ellen is 3. Explain the nature of the miscommunication between outrages. Why? Aunt Betsy and Ellen.

10. Explain what happens at the end of Chapter Six that 4. How do Aunt Betsy and Ellen resolve the causes Ellen to repeat “I am Ellen.” miscommunication? Explain how Gibbons creates textual tension at the conclusion of the scene.

5. What does Ellen discover when she accompanies her new mother to the grocery store?

6. What does Ellen reveal about her own experiences at the store when she describes how her new mother is able to pay for school?

7. How does Ellen manage to escape her father on the numerous occasions her comes to her room? How does she manage to escape him for the final time?