"Mercedes Kane" by Elizabeth McCracken
Interpretive Questions: Answer all questions in complete sentences, providing quotes as textual support.
1.) Why does Mercedes insist she’s not Mercedes Kane, the child prodigy?
Either she isn't happy with herself, or she actually isn't the prodigy.
2.) Why does Mercedes tell the story about her father saying that Edith was a pretty girl?
Mercedes tells this because she wants them to stop complementing her.
3.) Why does Mercedes look “terrified” when Ruthie says, “We all know you’re a genius”? (p. 126)
Mercedes looks terrified when this happens because she wants to keep hiding her genius secret, and that she wants to keep her relationship with her mother.
4.) Why does Mercedes retype Ruthie’s report?
Mercedes does this because she might feel guilty for reading her report.
5.) Why does Mercedes leave and never return to Ruthie and her mother’s house?
Mercedes does this because she might be annoyed at the mother for pushing her to admitting that she was the genius.
6.) Why does Ruthie get so angry at Mercedes for denying who she is?
Ruthie does this because she thinks Mercedes is going to judge her.
7.) Why does Ruthie say that her mother bringing Mercedes home was “an astounding thing to do”? (p. 115)
Ruthie says this because her mom has never been so excited about anything.
8.) Why does Ruthie say that her mother loves her with a “careful affection: regimented, proper”? (p. 121)
Ruthie says this because she is convinced her mother does not want to show a lot of affection towards her.
9.) Why does Ruthie do a “cruel impression” of Mercedes by saying “Mmm,…That’s a lie”? (p. 127)
Ruthie does this to mock Mercedes for denying she was the prodigy.
10.) Why does Ruthie cry when she replays the conversation between herself and Mercedes?
Ruthie does this because she feels bad for treating Mercedes the way she did.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Prodigies (p. 113)
Quote: "When she was a little girl in the 1940's, my mother read books about child prodigies and got jealous."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Very talented children.
Synonym: "Gifted" children.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The prodigies on the TV show were amazing.
2.) Antagonistically (p. 115)
Quote: "She wouldn't have gotten depressed—she was unfailingly, antagonistically pleasant.
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Perfectly.
Synonym: Beautifully.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The falcon, at the very top of the building, gracefully and antagonistically dove down and swooped back up to glide in the air.
3.) Impetuous (p. 121)
Quote: "She plainly loved Mercedes, and that surprised me, because my mother wasn't impetuous about anything, least of all love: until I was eighteen, she hugged me only if one of us was going on a trip, and then it was all business."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Excited.
Synonym: Eager.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): When his mother said that she made a specific dinner he didn't like, he pretended to look impetuous about it.
4.) Dubious (p. 123)
Quote: "Mercedes sounded dubious."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Unsure about something.
Synonym: Doubtful.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The student was dubious about his lunch decision at the cafeteria.
5.) Ambitious (p. 124)
Quote: "He was too far away from reality to be ambitious."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Impatient for something.
Synonym: Anxious.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): As mother prepared the chicken for dinner, I grew very ambitious and hungry.
6.) Silhouette (p. 127)
Quote: "Whenever we were in the car, looking down driveways and in doorways, if we spotted a small silhouette or a wisp of smoke, my mother slowed down."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Sliver.
Synonym: Glimpse.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): We saw a silhouette of a deer or a bear when we were hunting.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when a character reveals something about herself or a character hides something about herself. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
1.) Why does Mercedes insist she’s not Mercedes Kane, the child prodigy?
Either she isn't happy with herself, or she actually isn't the prodigy.
2.) Why does Mercedes tell the story about her father saying that Edith was a pretty girl?
Mercedes tells this because she wants them to stop complementing her.
3.) Why does Mercedes look “terrified” when Ruthie says, “We all know you’re a genius”? (p. 126)
Mercedes looks terrified when this happens because she wants to keep hiding her genius secret, and that she wants to keep her relationship with her mother.
4.) Why does Mercedes retype Ruthie’s report?
Mercedes does this because she might feel guilty for reading her report.
5.) Why does Mercedes leave and never return to Ruthie and her mother’s house?
Mercedes does this because she might be annoyed at the mother for pushing her to admitting that she was the genius.
6.) Why does Ruthie get so angry at Mercedes for denying who she is?
Ruthie does this because she thinks Mercedes is going to judge her.
7.) Why does Ruthie say that her mother bringing Mercedes home was “an astounding thing to do”? (p. 115)
Ruthie says this because her mom has never been so excited about anything.
8.) Why does Ruthie say that her mother loves her with a “careful affection: regimented, proper”? (p. 121)
Ruthie says this because she is convinced her mother does not want to show a lot of affection towards her.
9.) Why does Ruthie do a “cruel impression” of Mercedes by saying “Mmm,…That’s a lie”? (p. 127)
Ruthie does this to mock Mercedes for denying she was the prodigy.
10.) Why does Ruthie cry when she replays the conversation between herself and Mercedes?
Ruthie does this because she feels bad for treating Mercedes the way she did.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Prodigies (p. 113)
Quote: "When she was a little girl in the 1940's, my mother read books about child prodigies and got jealous."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Very talented children.
Synonym: "Gifted" children.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The prodigies on the TV show were amazing.
2.) Antagonistically (p. 115)
Quote: "She wouldn't have gotten depressed—she was unfailingly, antagonistically pleasant.
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Perfectly.
Synonym: Beautifully.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The falcon, at the very top of the building, gracefully and antagonistically dove down and swooped back up to glide in the air.
3.) Impetuous (p. 121)
Quote: "She plainly loved Mercedes, and that surprised me, because my mother wasn't impetuous about anything, least of all love: until I was eighteen, she hugged me only if one of us was going on a trip, and then it was all business."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Excited.
Synonym: Eager.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): When his mother said that she made a specific dinner he didn't like, he pretended to look impetuous about it.
4.) Dubious (p. 123)
Quote: "Mercedes sounded dubious."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Unsure about something.
Synonym: Doubtful.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The student was dubious about his lunch decision at the cafeteria.
5.) Ambitious (p. 124)
Quote: "He was too far away from reality to be ambitious."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Impatient for something.
Synonym: Anxious.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): As mother prepared the chicken for dinner, I grew very ambitious and hungry.
6.) Silhouette (p. 127)
Quote: "Whenever we were in the car, looking down driveways and in doorways, if we spotted a small silhouette or a wisp of smoke, my mother slowed down."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Sliver.
Synonym: Glimpse.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): We saw a silhouette of a deer or a bear when we were hunting.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when a character reveals something about herself or a character hides something about herself. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Reveals
1. Mercedes kind of reveals herself when she was driving home. 2. Mom reveals her organization when Mercedes comes. 3. Mom reveals her love for Ruthie, but also hides it. 4. Ruthie reveals what she thought about Mercedes. 5. When |
Hides
1. Mercedes hides her intelligence by acting ignorant. 2. Hides how she knows that she is pretty when getting her hair done. 3. Mercedes doesn't reveal that she is the prodigy when she signs her book. 4. Mom hides her affection and care for Ruthie. 5. When Mom tries to hide Ruthie from Mercedes. |