"I Just Kept on Smiling" by Simon Burt
Interpretive Questions: Answer all questions in complete sentences, providing quotes as textual support.
1.) Why does the narrator steal the exercise books?
The narrator does this because he thinks that stealing is nothing but a game.
2.) Why doesn’t the narrator want to crease or mark the exercise books?
The narrator does this because he thinks that they were beautiful and wants to keep them that way.
3.) Why does thinking about the hidden exercise books help the narrator “a lot”? (p. 109)
Thinking about this helps the narrator because it gives him something to look forward to.
4.) Why does the narrator decide to tear up the exercise books and throw them away?
The narrator does this because he is developing a conscience and feeling guilty.
5.) After he decides not to keep a piece of the books, why does the narrator say, “I didn’t need to be reminded of anything. I had a secret”? (p. 109)
The narrator says this because he does not want to tell anyone he has been in the chapel and that he had destroyed the books.
6.) Why does the narrator keep smiling at Nicky Carver at the end of the story?
The narrator does this because he still wants people to think that Nicky actually stole them.
7.) What does the narrator mean when he says his smile “makes people think twice”? (p. 103)
The narrator means that he wants to make a friend to cover for him and to fool the teacher that someone else stole the books.
8.) Why does the narrator spend time with Nicky Carver?
The narrator does this because he wants to befriend him.
9.) Why is the narrator furious when Nicky turns himself in?
The narrator is furious when Nicky does this because he didn't want Nicky to take the "glory" of the theft away from the narrator.
10.) Why does the narrator think that Nicky “had stolen [his] secret”? (p.111)
The narrator thinks this because he thinks it could work from Nicky's perspective.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Redeem (p. 103)
Quote: "I will give the thief a chance to redeem himself."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Admit.
Synonym: Confess.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): When knowing that you did something wrong, it is easier to redeem yourself than keep feeling guilty.
2.) Converted (p. 108)
Quote: "There are parents, and members of staff, who are non-Catholics, or who have recently converted."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): To change, for example a religion.
Synonym: Move.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My father converted from an episcopalian to a Catholic.
3.) Misguided (p. 108)
Quote: "Especially those of you who are responsible for this morning's misguided little charade, for which I have given you all two extra strokes."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Out of hand.
Synonym: Uncontrollable.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The people in the maze were misguided by the emergency helpers.
4.) Charade (p. 108)
Quote: "Especially those of you who are responsible for this morning's misguided little charade, for which I have given you all two extra strokes."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Happening.
Synonym: Incident.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): As the two sisters kept fighting each other, the charade went on for hours.
5.) Crescent (p. 109)
Quote: "It was a cool crescent of shining green plastic.
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Reflection.
Synonym: Fingernail-shaped.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The moon was at a crescent almost as if it were a floating fingernail.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when you understand the narrator’s behavior or you do not understand the narrator’s behavior. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
1.) Why does the narrator steal the exercise books?
The narrator does this because he thinks that stealing is nothing but a game.
2.) Why doesn’t the narrator want to crease or mark the exercise books?
The narrator does this because he thinks that they were beautiful and wants to keep them that way.
3.) Why does thinking about the hidden exercise books help the narrator “a lot”? (p. 109)
Thinking about this helps the narrator because it gives him something to look forward to.
4.) Why does the narrator decide to tear up the exercise books and throw them away?
The narrator does this because he is developing a conscience and feeling guilty.
5.) After he decides not to keep a piece of the books, why does the narrator say, “I didn’t need to be reminded of anything. I had a secret”? (p. 109)
The narrator says this because he does not want to tell anyone he has been in the chapel and that he had destroyed the books.
6.) Why does the narrator keep smiling at Nicky Carver at the end of the story?
The narrator does this because he still wants people to think that Nicky actually stole them.
7.) What does the narrator mean when he says his smile “makes people think twice”? (p. 103)
The narrator means that he wants to make a friend to cover for him and to fool the teacher that someone else stole the books.
8.) Why does the narrator spend time with Nicky Carver?
The narrator does this because he wants to befriend him.
9.) Why is the narrator furious when Nicky turns himself in?
The narrator is furious when Nicky does this because he didn't want Nicky to take the "glory" of the theft away from the narrator.
10.) Why does the narrator think that Nicky “had stolen [his] secret”? (p.111)
The narrator thinks this because he thinks it could work from Nicky's perspective.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Redeem (p. 103)
Quote: "I will give the thief a chance to redeem himself."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Admit.
Synonym: Confess.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): When knowing that you did something wrong, it is easier to redeem yourself than keep feeling guilty.
2.) Converted (p. 108)
Quote: "There are parents, and members of staff, who are non-Catholics, or who have recently converted."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): To change, for example a religion.
Synonym: Move.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My father converted from an episcopalian to a Catholic.
3.) Misguided (p. 108)
Quote: "Especially those of you who are responsible for this morning's misguided little charade, for which I have given you all two extra strokes."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Out of hand.
Synonym: Uncontrollable.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The people in the maze were misguided by the emergency helpers.
4.) Charade (p. 108)
Quote: "Especially those of you who are responsible for this morning's misguided little charade, for which I have given you all two extra strokes."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Happening.
Synonym: Incident.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): As the two sisters kept fighting each other, the charade went on for hours.
5.) Crescent (p. 109)
Quote: "It was a cool crescent of shining green plastic.
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Reflection.
Synonym: Fingernail-shaped.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The moon was at a crescent almost as if it were a floating fingernail.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when you understand the narrator’s behavior or you do not understand the narrator’s behavior. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Understand
1. When the narrator tries to redeem himself. 2. Why the narrator steals the books. 3. Why the narrator wants to keep the book's location a secret. 4. Why he keeps his birthday a secret, but not understandable at the same time. 5. Why he smiles at Nicky when he stands at the front of the room. |
Don't Understand
1. Why he doesn't feel immediate guilt. 2. Why he doesn't feel guilty until he was threatened to be beaten. 3. Why he rips the books up and flushes them down the toilet when he thinks they are so beautiful. 4. Why he doesn't want people to know about his birthday. 5. Why he gets mad at Nicky when Nicky tells the teacher he stole the books. |