"The Day of the Butterfly" by Alice Munro
Interpretive Questions: Answer all questions in complete sentences, using quote to support.
1.) Why does Helen insist that Myra accept the butterfly pin?
Helen insists that Myra accepts the butterfly pin because she knew that people did not actually like Myra and she wanted to give her something to be nice to her for real.
2.) Why does Helen feel “a little danger” because she is the only one in the class who carries a lunch pail and wears rubber boots in spring? (p. 147)
Helen feels a little danger because of this because people were coming towards her and she thought they were about to do something to her.
3.) What is the “role” that Helen feels “shaping for” herself? (p. 147)
The role that Helen feels shaping for herself is
4.) Why is Myra “scared and solemn” when Helen tells her to keep the pin? (p. 149)
Myra does not feel "worthy" enough to accept the pin.
5.) What is the “pledge” that Helen recognizes when her fingers touch Myra’s? (p. 149)
The "pledge" that Helen recognizes is a pledge of friendship in the two of them.
6.) Why doesn’t Helen want to accept Myra’s gift?
Helen does not want to accept Myra's gift because she wants Myra to have enough things to fit in with the girls.
7.) Why does Myra’s birthday party become “fashionable” with the girls? (p. 151)
Myra's birthday party becomes fashionable with the girls because the girls got into it very quickly.
8.) At the hospital, why does Myra turn “shadowy” and “dark” to Helen? (p. 154)
Myra turns this way to Helen because she seemed even more gloomy and sad than normally.
9.) Why does Helen no longer see Myra’s presents as “innocence objects to be touched, exchanged, accepted without danger”? (p. 154)
Helen no longer sees Myra's presents this way because she does not want to touch them, and neither do they.
10.) At the end of the story, what is the “treachery” that Helen feels is in her heart? (p. 155)
The treachery is the loss of friendship, because Myra did not say goodbye, Helen felt betrayed by her own heart.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Melancholy (p. 144)
Quote: "They had long, smooth, oval faces, melancholy and discreet—dark, oily, shiny hair."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Non-understandable.
Synonym: Gloomy.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): We went hunting, but there were no animals in sight, so my brother made an annoying, melancholy call, which brought some nearby deer.
2.) Medieval (p. 144)
Quote: "They were like children in a medieval painting, they were like small figures carved of wood, for worship or magic, with faces smoothed and aged, and meekly, cryptically uncommunicative."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Old-fashioned.
Synonym: Ancient
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): This movie set looks like an actual medieval town.
3.) Cryptically (p. 144)
Quote: "They were like children in a medieval painting, they were like small figures carved of wood, for worship or magic, with faces smoothed and aged, and meekly, cryptically uncommunicative."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Ambiguously.
Synonym: Puzzlingly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Cryptically, my dog picked up the huge bone and started chewing it, not even knowing what it was.
4.) Loitered (p. 147)
Quote: "I had often loitered in that way, wanting to walk with some important girl who was behind me, and not quite daring to stop and wait."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Stumbled around.
Synonym: Linger.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The old cat loitered aimlessly around the house.
5.) Benevolence (p. 147)
Quote: "I felt a great pleasurable rush of self-conscious benevolence; before I thought what I was doing I called, 'Myra! Hey Myra, wait up, I got some Cracker Jack!'"
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Compassion
Synonym: Friendliness.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): There is no greater feeling than the feeling of benevolence you get after you help someone.
6.) Exalted (p. 154
Quote: "So I was released, set free by the barriers which now closed about Myra, her unknown, exalted, ether-smelling hospital world, and by the treachery of my own heart."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Grand
Synonym: Ideal.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I have a lot of jealousy of famous people, because their luxuries and houses are so exalted.
7.) Treachery (p. 155)
Quote: "So I was released, set free by the barriers which now closed about Myra, her unknown, exalted, ether-smelling hospital world, and by the treachery of my own heart."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Desolation.
Synonym: Betrayal.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): It is hard for a person to go through a treachery of his own friend.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when Helen is thinking of herself and when Helen is thinking of Myra. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
1.) Why does Helen insist that Myra accept the butterfly pin?
Helen insists that Myra accepts the butterfly pin because she knew that people did not actually like Myra and she wanted to give her something to be nice to her for real.
2.) Why does Helen feel “a little danger” because she is the only one in the class who carries a lunch pail and wears rubber boots in spring? (p. 147)
Helen feels a little danger because of this because people were coming towards her and she thought they were about to do something to her.
3.) What is the “role” that Helen feels “shaping for” herself? (p. 147)
The role that Helen feels shaping for herself is
4.) Why is Myra “scared and solemn” when Helen tells her to keep the pin? (p. 149)
Myra does not feel "worthy" enough to accept the pin.
5.) What is the “pledge” that Helen recognizes when her fingers touch Myra’s? (p. 149)
The "pledge" that Helen recognizes is a pledge of friendship in the two of them.
6.) Why doesn’t Helen want to accept Myra’s gift?
Helen does not want to accept Myra's gift because she wants Myra to have enough things to fit in with the girls.
7.) Why does Myra’s birthday party become “fashionable” with the girls? (p. 151)
Myra's birthday party becomes fashionable with the girls because the girls got into it very quickly.
8.) At the hospital, why does Myra turn “shadowy” and “dark” to Helen? (p. 154)
Myra turns this way to Helen because she seemed even more gloomy and sad than normally.
9.) Why does Helen no longer see Myra’s presents as “innocence objects to be touched, exchanged, accepted without danger”? (p. 154)
Helen no longer sees Myra's presents this way because she does not want to touch them, and neither do they.
10.) At the end of the story, what is the “treachery” that Helen feels is in her heart? (p. 155)
The treachery is the loss of friendship, because Myra did not say goodbye, Helen felt betrayed by her own heart.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Melancholy (p. 144)
Quote: "They had long, smooth, oval faces, melancholy and discreet—dark, oily, shiny hair."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Non-understandable.
Synonym: Gloomy.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): We went hunting, but there were no animals in sight, so my brother made an annoying, melancholy call, which brought some nearby deer.
2.) Medieval (p. 144)
Quote: "They were like children in a medieval painting, they were like small figures carved of wood, for worship or magic, with faces smoothed and aged, and meekly, cryptically uncommunicative."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Old-fashioned.
Synonym: Ancient
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): This movie set looks like an actual medieval town.
3.) Cryptically (p. 144)
Quote: "They were like children in a medieval painting, they were like small figures carved of wood, for worship or magic, with faces smoothed and aged, and meekly, cryptically uncommunicative."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Ambiguously.
Synonym: Puzzlingly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Cryptically, my dog picked up the huge bone and started chewing it, not even knowing what it was.
4.) Loitered (p. 147)
Quote: "I had often loitered in that way, wanting to walk with some important girl who was behind me, and not quite daring to stop and wait."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Stumbled around.
Synonym: Linger.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The old cat loitered aimlessly around the house.
5.) Benevolence (p. 147)
Quote: "I felt a great pleasurable rush of self-conscious benevolence; before I thought what I was doing I called, 'Myra! Hey Myra, wait up, I got some Cracker Jack!'"
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Compassion
Synonym: Friendliness.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): There is no greater feeling than the feeling of benevolence you get after you help someone.
6.) Exalted (p. 154
Quote: "So I was released, set free by the barriers which now closed about Myra, her unknown, exalted, ether-smelling hospital world, and by the treachery of my own heart."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Grand
Synonym: Ideal.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I have a lot of jealousy of famous people, because their luxuries and houses are so exalted.
7.) Treachery (p. 155)
Quote: "So I was released, set free by the barriers which now closed about Myra, her unknown, exalted, ether-smelling hospital world, and by the treachery of my own heart."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Desolation.
Synonym: Betrayal.
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): It is hard for a person to go through a treachery of his own friend.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when Helen is thinking of herself and when Helen is thinking of Myra. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Thinking of Herself
1. When she protects her reputation towards Myra by trying to befriend her, but also thinking of Myra. 2. When she talks about herself when she was walking with Myra. 3. When she tells Myra that she should have the butterfly pin because it would look better on her. 4. When she tells Myra she wishes she could be as good as Myra in Arithmetic. 5. When she tells Myra her birthstone and compares it to the butterfly pin. |
Thinking of Myra
1. When she tries to remember when Myra came into the school. 2. When she befriends Myra, knowing that she is new. 3. When she insists that Myra takes the butterfly pin. 4. When she and her class visit Myra for her "pretend birthday". 5. When she thinks of how Myra feels to be new and left out. |