Dandelion Wine, 1-3

As we begin reading Ray Bradbury's novel, Dandelion Wine, you and your group will be responsible for discussing the following questions and coming up with thought-provoking answers. As an individual, however, you will be required to respond to the questions written in red. Make sure to have people edit these responses because a portion of your grade will be based on your rough draft(s). Questions? Just ask!

Chapter 1, pages 1-3 (mood and imagery)

1. What is the purpose of the opening chapter?

2. What are some examples of magical realism in the opening chapter?

3. Just by reading the line “to baseballs sponged deep in wet lawns, to rope swings hung empty in trees,” what is the image that is painted in your mind? Write at least one paragraph.

4. Length of grass? Texture? Temperature?

5. Time of day? Color of sky? Sounds that accompany the neighborhood?

6. Families who live in the house?

Chapter 2, pages 4-11 (importance of word choice)

1. Consider the following: “broke a spider web with his face” vs. “walked through a spider web.” Why is the wording important?

2. “And they walked through the forest, father very tall, Douglas moving in his shadow, and Tom, very small, trotting in his brother’s shade.” What does this sentence tell you about the family dynamic?

3. “Boy, I walk like an Indian.” What does this sentence tell the reader about Tom?

4. What might the word loam mean?

5. “Finest lace there is.” To what is Dad referring when he says this?

6. What do you suppose “bee-fried air” might be?

7. Do you agree with Dad’s assessment that a sandwich eaten outdoors is somehow different than a sandwich eaten indoors? Why do you feel this way? Write at least one paragraph.

8. Imagery-wise, how does adding the word “yellow” to “and yellow summer followed” change the sentence?

9. What was the purpose of this chapter? Respond with one paragraph; use a citation and provide a works cited page.

Chapter 3, pages 12-15 (similes and metaphors)

1. Identify and record two metaphors from this chapter.

2. Identify and record two similes from this chapter.