The Parsley Garden
by: william saroyan
Interpretive Questions: Be sure all questions are answered in complete sentences and include quotes.
1.) Why does Al try to steal the hammer?
Al tries to steal the hammer because he has a lot of nails and wood. ''He saw a small hammer that was not a toy but a real hammer, and he was possessed with longing to have it.'' (pg.79)
2.) Why does Al say that he didn’t mean to steal the hammer?
Al said ''I didn't mean to steal it'' (pg.80) because he didn't have any money to buy it. ''I just need it an i haven't got any money.'' (pg.80)
3.) Why is Al “deeply ashamed” after he leaves the store? (p. 81)
Al is ''deeply ashamed'' (pg.81) and he leaves the store because he was humiliated that he was caught by the two men.
4.) Why won’t Al accept his mother’s money to buy the hammer?
Al won't accept his mothers money because he wants to get revenge on the two men and wanted to prove that he didn't need it. ''I won't take your money for something I don't really need. i just ought to have a hammer, so I could make something if i felt like it.'' (pg.83)
5.) Why does Al use the hammer to make a bench for his mother’s parsley garden?
Al used the hammer to make a bench for his mothers parsley garden because he wanted it to look nice. ''She saw her son mailing pieces of box wood together, making something. It looked like a bench.'' (pg.85)
6.) Why does Al refuse to accept the job at Woolworth’s?
Al refused to take the job at Woolworth's because he didn't like the men. ''Because I hate the both of them.'' (pg.87)
7.) What does Al mean when he says he would never work for “people like that”? (p. 87)
What Al means to say he would never work for ''people like that'' (pg.87) is that he wouldn't work for people that he doesn't like.
8.) When Al walks out of Woolworth’s, why does he refuse the dollar but take the hammer?
Al refuses to take the hammer but not the dollar because he doesn't like the men so he wasn't gonna take anything but the hammer and she probably wasn't gonna use the money only the hammer. ''I just looked at them and picked up my hammer and walked out.'' (pg.87)
9.) At the end of the story, why doesn’t Al feel humiliated anymore?
Al doesn't feel humiliated anymore because he knew that he had worked to get the hammer and he didn't steal it. ''He sat on the bench he had made and he smelled the parsley garden and he didn't feel humiliated anymore.'' (pg.87)
10.) Why can’t Al stop hating the two men “even though he knew they hadn’t done anything they shouldn’t have done”? (p.87)
Al couldn't stop hating the two men ''even though he knew they hadn't done anything they shouldn't have done'' (pg.87) was because he was humiliated that they caught him stealing the hammer
Vocabulary:
1.) Monotony (p. 79)
Quote: ''The monotony and which to make something.'' (pg.79)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): repetition
Synonym: boredom
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The monotony of everyday life.
2.) Humiliated (p. 81)
Quote: "But he knew he had been humiliated." (pg.81)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): embarrassed
Synonym: ashamed
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The girl was humiliated.
3.) Systematically (p. 84)
Quote: "He also believed it would be necessary for him to steal systematically." (pg.84)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a plan
Synonym: in order
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He was systematically stealing
4.) Indicated (p. 86)
Quote: "see if any good fortune was indicated." (pg.86)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to point out
Synonym: determined
T-Chart:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when Al deals with his problems in a P/positive way or a N/negative way. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Al deals with his problems in a P/positive way V. Al deals with his problems in a N/negative way
1.) Why does Al try to steal the hammer?
Al tries to steal the hammer because he has a lot of nails and wood. ''He saw a small hammer that was not a toy but a real hammer, and he was possessed with longing to have it.'' (pg.79)
2.) Why does Al say that he didn’t mean to steal the hammer?
Al said ''I didn't mean to steal it'' (pg.80) because he didn't have any money to buy it. ''I just need it an i haven't got any money.'' (pg.80)
3.) Why is Al “deeply ashamed” after he leaves the store? (p. 81)
Al is ''deeply ashamed'' (pg.81) and he leaves the store because he was humiliated that he was caught by the two men.
4.) Why won’t Al accept his mother’s money to buy the hammer?
Al won't accept his mothers money because he wants to get revenge on the two men and wanted to prove that he didn't need it. ''I won't take your money for something I don't really need. i just ought to have a hammer, so I could make something if i felt like it.'' (pg.83)
5.) Why does Al use the hammer to make a bench for his mother’s parsley garden?
Al used the hammer to make a bench for his mothers parsley garden because he wanted it to look nice. ''She saw her son mailing pieces of box wood together, making something. It looked like a bench.'' (pg.85)
6.) Why does Al refuse to accept the job at Woolworth’s?
Al refused to take the job at Woolworth's because he didn't like the men. ''Because I hate the both of them.'' (pg.87)
7.) What does Al mean when he says he would never work for “people like that”? (p. 87)
What Al means to say he would never work for ''people like that'' (pg.87) is that he wouldn't work for people that he doesn't like.
8.) When Al walks out of Woolworth’s, why does he refuse the dollar but take the hammer?
Al refuses to take the hammer but not the dollar because he doesn't like the men so he wasn't gonna take anything but the hammer and she probably wasn't gonna use the money only the hammer. ''I just looked at them and picked up my hammer and walked out.'' (pg.87)
9.) At the end of the story, why doesn’t Al feel humiliated anymore?
Al doesn't feel humiliated anymore because he knew that he had worked to get the hammer and he didn't steal it. ''He sat on the bench he had made and he smelled the parsley garden and he didn't feel humiliated anymore.'' (pg.87)
10.) Why can’t Al stop hating the two men “even though he knew they hadn’t done anything they shouldn’t have done”? (p.87)
Al couldn't stop hating the two men ''even though he knew they hadn't done anything they shouldn't have done'' (pg.87) was because he was humiliated that they caught him stealing the hammer
Vocabulary:
1.) Monotony (p. 79)
Quote: ''The monotony and which to make something.'' (pg.79)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): repetition
Synonym: boredom
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The monotony of everyday life.
2.) Humiliated (p. 81)
Quote: "But he knew he had been humiliated." (pg.81)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): embarrassed
Synonym: ashamed
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The girl was humiliated.
3.) Systematically (p. 84)
Quote: "He also believed it would be necessary for him to steal systematically." (pg.84)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a plan
Synonym: in order
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He was systematically stealing
4.) Indicated (p. 86)
Quote: "see if any good fortune was indicated." (pg.86)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to point out
Synonym: determined
T-Chart:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when Al deals with his problems in a P/positive way or a N/negative way. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Al deals with his problems in a P/positive way V. Al deals with his problems in a N/negative way
PROBLEMS-- POSITIVE
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PROBLEMS-- NEGATIVE
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