mental_hospital
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1. Based only on the first paragraph of the story, the mood could be described as oppressive because of the heat, the close quarters of the train car, and the aunt’s repeated use of the word “Don’t.” Look at that same paragraph and determine the narrator’s tone or attitude toward the characters and events of the story. What is the tone of the opening paragraph? Give evidence to support your stance.

2. The only character who is named is Cyril, the small boy. In Greek, the name “Cyril” can be translated to mean “lord.” Given this information, what point do you suppose Saki was trying to make in choosing this name for this character?

3. What does the aunt do when Cyril presses her about why the sheep would think the grass in the other field is better? Think about the idiom, “The grass is always greener on the other side of fence,” and explain what point Saki, the author, might be making here.

4. In the bachelor’s story, what has Bertha done to win her three medals? Do you agree that these are the qualities that should be used to determine whether a child is good? Explain your answer.

5. Also in his story, Bertha is disappointed to discover there are no flowers in the park. Why was she disappointed? What does this say about the nature of goodness?

6. Why, do you suppose, the children used the word “beautiful” to describe the grisly ending of the bachelor’s story?

7. Satire is a device employed by writers to criticize the foolishness of others and make a larger point about society by using humor, exaggeration, or mockery. What part of this story do you find to be satirical?

8. Situational irony occurs when actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended. What part of this story is an example of situational irony?

9. Early in the story, one of the girls repeats the first line of “On the Road to Mandalay,” a Rudyard Kipling poem about a British soldier who formerly served in Burma (today known as Myanmar) and longs to return to the exotic land and a girl there that he loved. He says Southeast Asia is “where the best is like the worst, where there aren’t no Ten Commandments an’ a man can raise a thirst...” Explain the irony of having the smaller girl on the train recite a line from this particular poem.

10. What colors are used to describe the pigs and the wolf? Symbolically, what message can be drawn from this?

11. Is the bachelor the protagonist or antagonist of this story? Explain your answer.

12. Is it possible for a person to be too good? Explain your answer.

13. Based on this story, what do you think was Saki’s opinion of the British school system? Give two pieces of evidence from the text to support your answer.

14. Thinking beyond the story, what responsibility do adults have toward children? What responsibilities, if any, do you have when interacting with little kids? Explain your thoughts.