Bud, Not Buddy

by

Christopher Paul Curtis

Literature Guide Developed by Kristen Bowers

for Secondary Solutions®

ISBN 10: 0-9789204-2-2

ISBN 13: 978-0-9789204-2-5

A classroom teacher who has purchased this guide may photocopy the materials in this

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Bud, Not Buddy Literature Guide

Table of Contents

About This Literature Guide .................................................................................... 4

How to Use Our Literature Guides ........................................................................... 5

Standards Focus: Author Biography ........................................................................ 6

Christopher Paul Curtis .................................................................................................... 6

Standards Focus: Exploring Expository Writing ....................................................... 7

Standards Focus: Historical Context ........................................................................ 8

The Great Depression ...................................................................................................... 8

Standards Focus: Exploring Expository Writing ....................................................... 9

Anticipation/Reaction Guide ................................................................................. 10

Anticipation/Reaction Guide Response ................................................................. 11

Pre-Reading Individual Reflection .................................................................................... 11

Standards Focus: Elements of Fiction .................................................................... 12

Literary Terms to Know .................................................................................................. 12

Bud, Not Buddy Vocabulary List ............................................................................ 13

Allusions and Terminology to Know ...................................................................... 14

Chapters One-Three .............................................................................................. 16

Note-Taking and Summarizing ........................................................................................ 16

Comprehension Check ................................................................................................... 18

Standards Focus: Figurative Language ............................................................................. 19

Assessment Preparation: Word Origins ............................................................................ 21

Chapters Four-Six ................................................................................................. 23

Note-Taking and Summarizing ........................................................................................ 23

Comprehension Check ................................................................................................... 25

Standards Focus: Narrator and Point of View .................................................................... 26

Assessment Preparation: Context Clues ........................................................................... 29

Chapters Seven-Eight ........................................................................................... 30

Note-Taking and Summarizing ........................................................................................ 30

Comprehension Check ................................................................................................... 31

Standards Focus: Elements of Plot .................................................................................. 32

Assessment Preparation: Synonyms and Antonyms ........................................................... 33

Chapters Nine-Eleven ........................................................................................... 34

Note-Taking and Summarizing ........................................................................................ 34

Comprehension Check ................................................................................................... 36

Standards Focus: Symbolism .......................................................................................... 37

Assessment Preparation: Identifying Parts of Speech ......................................................... 38

Chapters Twelve-Fourteen .................................................................................... 39

Note-Taking and Summarizing ........................................................................................ 39

Comprehension Check ................................................................................................... 41

Standards Focus: Punctuation, Capitalization, and Spelling ................................................. 42

Assessment Preparation: Shades of Meaning—Connotation/Denotation ................................ 43

Chapters Fifteen-Seventeen .................................................................................. 44

Note-Taking and Summarizing ........................................................................................ 44

Comprehension Check ................................................................................................... 46

Standards Focus: Characterization .................................................................................. 47

Assessment Preparation: Dependent and Independent Clauses ........................................... 48

Chapters Eighteen-Nineteen ................................................................................. 49

Note-Taking and Summarizing ........................................................................................ 49

Comprehension Check ................................................................................................... 50

Standards Focus: Theme and Anticipation/Reaction Guide .................................................. 51

Assessment Preparation: Verbs and Verb Tense Agreement ................................................ 52

Vocabulary with Definitions .................................................................................. 53

Just for Fun! ......................................................................................................... 54

Bud, Not Buddy Crossword Puzzle ................................................................................ 54

Just for Fun! ......................................................................................................... 55

Vocabulary Crossword ................................................................................................... 55

Quiz: Chapters 1-3 ................................................................................................ 56

Quiz: Chapters 4-6 ................................................................................................ 57

Quiz: Chapters 7-8 ................................................................................................ 58

Quiz: Chapters 9-11 .............................................................................................. 59

Quiz: Chapters 12-14 ............................................................................................ 60

Quiz: Chapters 15-17 ............................................................................................ 61

Quiz: Chapters 18-19 ............................................................................................ 62

Final Test .............................................................................................................. 63

Final Test: Multiple Choice .................................................................................... 67

Notes for the Teacher ........................................................................................... 70

Summary of the Novel ................................................................................................... 71

Pre-Reading Ideas and Activities ..................................................................................... 74

Post-Reading Ideas and Alternative Assessment ................................................................ 75

Essay/Writing Ideas ....................................................................................................... 76

Project Rubric A ............................................................................................................ 77

Project Rubric B ............................................................................................................ 78

Response to Literature Rubric ......................................................................................... 79

Answer Key .................................................................................................................. 81

About This Literature Guide

Secondary Solutions® is the endeavor of a high school English teacher who could not

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How to Use Our Literature Guides

Our Literature Guides are based upon the National Council of Teachers of English and the

International Readers Association’s national English/Language Arts Curriculum and Content Area

Standards. The materials we offer allow you to teach the love and full enjoyment of literature,

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These Guides are designed to be used in their sequential entirety, or may be divided into separate

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There are several distinct categories within each Literature Guide:

 Comprehension Check: Exploring Expository Writing—Worksheets designed to address the

exploration and analysis of functional and/or informational materials

 Author Biography

 Biographies of non-fiction characters

 Relevant news and magazine articles, etc.

 Comprehension Check—Similar to Exploring Expository Writing, but designed for comprehension of

narrative text—study questions designed to guide students as they read the text; (Have they done

the reading?) Questions are intended to check simple understanding and are deliberately set at the

lower-levels of questioning.

 Standards Focus—Worksheets and activities that directly address the content standards and allow

students extensive practice in literary skills and analysis. Standards Focus activities are found with

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 Figurative Language

 Irony

 Flashback

Please note: While there is a specific focus for these Standards Focus activities, many other

standards are being addressed at the same time. Consult your state‘s content standards often

for these correlations.

 Assessment Preparation—Vocabulary activities which emulate the types of vocabulary/ grammar

proficiency on which students are tested in state and national assessments. Assessment Preparation

activities are found within every chapter or section. Some examples:

 Context Clues

 Connotation/Denotation

 Word Roots

Please note: While there is a specific focus for these Standards Focus activities, many other

standards are being addressed at the same time. Consult your state‘s content standards often for

these correlations.

 Quizzes and Tests—Quizzes are included for each chapter or designated section; final tests as well

as alternative assessment are available at the end of each Guide. These include:

 Multiple Choice

 Matching

 Short Response

 Pre-Reading, Post-Reading Activities, Essay/Writing Ideas plus Sample Rubrics—Each

Guide also has its own unique pre-reading, post reading and essay/writing ideas and alternative

assessment activities.

Each Guide contains handouts and activities for varied levels of difficulty. We know that not all

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Name Period

Standards Focus: Author Biography

Christopher Paul Curtis

Christopher Paul Curtis was born in Flint, Michigan on May 10, 1953. He grew up

learning about his famous grandfathers Earl ―Lefty‖ Lewis, who was a pitcher in the

Negro Baseball League, and Herman E. Curtis, the bandleader of ―Herman Curtis and the

Dusky Devastators of the Depression,‖ both of whom would later become inspiration for

characters in Bud, Not Buddy.

After graduating from high school in 1971, Curtis worked at several odd jobs, including

thirteen years hanging doors on automobiles in Flint. As he worked, he attended the

University of Michigan in Flint part time, studying for a degree in Political Science. On

his breaks at the factory, Curtis spent time writing. Eventually, his wife Kaysandra

suggested Curtis to take a year off from work to write full time. He spent hours in the

local library finishing his first novel The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963, which was

published in 1995. The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 went on to receive numerous

awards, including the prestigious Newberry Honor Book Award and the Coretta Scott

King Honor for an outstanding contribution to children‘s literature by African-American

writers.

For his second novel, Bud, Not Buddy, Curtis spent months reading old books, magazines,

and newspapers researching the Great Depression. The book was originally intended to

be about the strikes and the formation of the United Auto Workers Union in the 1930‘s,

however after attending a family reunion, Curtis decided to write about his grandfather

Herman E. Curtis as a young boy. His story changed again as the character of Bud was

developed, and the characters Herman E. Calloway and Lefty Lewis, were instead based

upon his grandfathers and their stories.

Like his first novel, Bud, Not Buddy received numerous awards, including the distinctive

honor of being the first book to win both the Newberry Medal and Coretta Scott King

Author Award in 2000. Curtis‘s third book, Bucking the Sarge was published in 2004,

followed by Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money in 2005.

According to Curtis, although he never intended on becoming a writer of children‘s books,

he loves making his characters come to life for his audience. While he was not an avid

reader growing up because of the lack of reading material that appealed to the young

Curtis (―there weren't books by, for, or about me‖) he now has found a few favorites,

including: Toni Morrison, Kurt Vonnegut, Zora Neale Hurston, and Jim Thompson. Curtis

hopes that his books will touch the lives of all kids from all backgrounds and cultures.

Christopher Paul Curtis currently lives with his wife, Kaysandra, in Windsor, Ontario,

Canada. They have two children, Steven and Cydney.

Name Period

Standards Focus: Exploring Expository Writing

Directions: Using the article about Christopher Paul Curtis, answer the following using

complete sentences.

1. Who were inspirations for characters in Bud, Not Buddy? Why do you think Curtis

based his characters on these men?

2. What are the names of Curtis‘s books? When was each published?

3. Curtis originally intended to write a different story for Bud, Not Buddy. What was

his original intention, and how did he change it?

4. Why was Curtis not an avid reader growing up? Do you think the variety of books

available has changed in any way?

5. If you were to ask Curtis two questions, what would you ask him?

6. Using the Internet, conduct a search for the Coretta Scott King Award. Who was

Coretta Scott King married to? Why did she establish this award? Who does her

award aim to honor? What are some of the names of past award-winning books?

Do any of these appeal to you? Why?

Name Period

Standards Focus: Historical Context

The Great Depression

One of the worst periods in United States history was

a time called the Great Depression. The specific

causes of this era are debated, however the

widespread poverty and social despair that resulted is

indisputable.

There are many theories about the causes of the

Great Depression. During the 1920s, America was

experiencing a time of great prosperity and living a

life of excess in which people had lots of money and

weren‘t afraid to spend it on new inventions such as

automobiles, refrigerators, and the radio. For the

first time, people had credit cards, and were spending more than they made. Individuals

were living life to the fullest, and the U.S. economy began to thrive at an unprecedented

rate.

In 1929, on a day that was eventually called ―Black Tuesday,‖ the stock market crashed.

This meant that eventually, the value of money had lost its worth. Essentially, what

someone could have bought with one dollar the day before now cost three to five dollars.

Businesses could no longer afford to pay their workers, and began laying off hundreds of

thousands of people. Banks could not afford to give people their money, and were

forced to declare bankruptcy. People‘s life savings suddenly disappeared, and as a result,

people could not afford to pay their house payments or buy food, clothing or other

necessities.

The downward spiral continued. Because people had no money, harvesting and

manufacture of new crops and products slowed drastically. Since no one had money to

buy anything, production slowed, and even more people lost their jobs. By 1932, 30%

(about 16-20 million people) of the American population was unemployed. Since people

couldn‘t work, they couldn‘t pay their debts, and many were left homeless. When

inflation (a rise in prices) hit, even more could not afford to buy food, clothing, or other

necessities. Because the American people could no longer afford to spend money, the

economy began to worsen even more. Banks could not afford to stay open, and many

people‘s entire life savings disappeared.

In 1932, Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President of the United States in

the hopes he could turn the economy around and help those who were suffering.

Despite changes such as the New Deal, which helped instill faith in the government by

introducing new programs such as Social Security, mass unemployment and economic

stagnation continued for several years. The start of World War II soon sparked the

economy, as foreign countries began buying from American producers. While the Great

Depression officially ended after the United States entered World War II in 1941, the

scars of extreme poverty and despair left their mark, and the Great Depression

continues to be viewed as one of the most difficult periods in U.S. history.

from the Migrant Mother Collection

by Dorothea Lange

Name Period

Standards Focus: Exploring Expository Writing

Directions: After reading the article about the Great Depression on page 8, answer the

following questions, either writing the letter of the correct answer on the line provided,

or writing the answer using complete sentences.

1. _______ What does the word indisputable mean in the following sentence from

the article?

a. arguable

b. dishonest

c. unchanging

d. undeniable

2. _______ What would be the BEST way to improve the following run-on sentence?

a. During the 1920s, America was experiencing a time of great prosperity; living

a life of excess in which people had lots of money—who weren‘t afraid to spend

it on new inventions such as automobiles, refrigerators, and the radio.

b. During the 1920s, America was experiencing a time of great prosperity.

Americans had a lot of money and weren‘t afraid to spend it on new inventions

such as automobiles, refrigerators, and the radio.

c. During the 1920s, America was experiencing a time of great prosperity, and

living a life of excess. People had lots of money, and weren‘t afraid to spend it.

On new inventions such as automobiles, refrigerators, and the radio.

d. During the 1920s, America was experiencing a time of great prosperity, living a

life of excess in which people had lots of money. They weren‘t afraid to spend

it on new inventions such as automobiles, refrigerators, and the radio.

3. Why did production of new crops and goods slow during this time?

4. Why did the Great Depression finally end? Explain what contributed to its end and

how these things helped bring this era to a close.

The specific causes of this era are debated, however the widespread poverty and

social despair that resulted is indisputable.

During the 1920s, America was experiencing a time of great prosperity and living a

life of excess in which people had lots of money and weren‘t afraid to spend it on

new inventions such as automobiles, refrigerators, and the radio.

Name Period

Anticipation/Reaction Guide

Directions: Before reading the novel, write ―yes‖ if you agree with the statement, ―no‖ if you

disagree with the statement, and ―?‖ if you don’t have a strong opinion about the statement.

After reading the entire novel, you will complete the last column, revisiting your responses.

Yes = I agree No = I disagree ? = I don’t know

After completing the ―Before Reading‖ column, get into small groups to discuss the

statements above. Using the chart below, record the number of ―yes‖, ―no‖ and ―?‖

responses for each question, as shown in the example below.

Group Members:

Once you have collected your data, discuss those issues about which your group was divided.

Make your case for your opinions, and pay attention to your classmates’ arguments. Once

you have discussed all of the issues, answer the questions on the next page.

*Your teacher will collect and keep your chart and responses to use after you have

finished reading the novel.

Before

Reading

Statement

After

Reading

1) It is important to everyone to have a family.

2) Running away is not a good option.

3) We never forget loved ones who have died.

4) Poverty affects all races.

5) There was a time in American history when many people

were not able to find jobs and were homeless.

6) All orphans want to be adopted by a good family.

7) Humor can be a helpful skill for survival.

Statement #

Yes

No

I Don’t Know

EXAMPLE



   

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Name Period

Anticipation/Reaction Guide Response

Pre-Reading Individual Reflection

Directions: Use the information and discussion from the ―Before Reading‖ responses to

answer the following questions. Be sure to use complete sentences.

1. Which statement triggered the most thought-provoking or interesting discussion?

Why?

2. Summarize your group‘s most interesting discussion/debate.

3. For any of the statements that you discussed, what were some of the strongest or

most memorable points made by your group members? Why were they strong or

memorable?

4. How did you feel when a group member disagreed with the way you feel about an

issue? Did they accept your personal opinion or disrespect it? What was your

response to the disagreement?

5. Was any argument strong enough to make you change your mind or want to

change any of your initial responses? Why or why not? What made the argument

effective? How could your own arguments been more effective?

*Your teacher will collect your chart and responses to be used again

when you have finished reading the novel.*

Name Period

Standards Focus: Elements of Fiction

Literary Terms to Know

Books can be divided into two broad categories: fiction and non-fiction. Non-fiction

texts are true stories—they give real accounts of events that actually happened. Such

non-fiction literature includes newspaper articles, biographies, autobiographies,

documentaries, textbooks, etc. Fiction is made-up. Fiction can be based upon true

events, such as in Bud, Not Buddy, but the majority of the novel is from the author‘s

imagination. Fiction includes novels, short stories, fables, fairy tales, and more. As you

read Bud, Not Buddy, pay attention to each of the characteristics of a novel, and see

how well the book fits into the category of fiction.

Directions: For each of the following examples, indicate whether the text is fiction or

non-fiction.

Type of Text

Fiction or Non-Fiction?

1. Magazine article from Newsweek

2. Magazine article from The National Enquirer

3. Instructions on how to install a software program

4. Dictionary definition

5. Newspaper article from the LA Times

6. Comic book

7. Advertisement in a magazine

8. List of ingredients in a recipe

9. Novel about the first American Colonists

10. Short story about first love

11. Biography on Abraham Lincoln

12. Poem by William Shakespeare

13. Essay on the Paleolithic Era

14. Comic strip

15. First-person accounts of slavery

Name Period

Bud, Not Buddy Vocabulary List

Chapters One-Three

1. brute

2. commence

3. cur

4. decoder

5. glum

6. ilk

7. ingratitude

8. lavatory

9. provoked

10. twine

11. urchins

12. vermin

13. welted

Chapters Four-Six

1. crouched

2. lam

3. privilege

4. raggedy

5. spigots

6. swopped

Chapters Seven-Eight

1. britches

2. crawdad

3. dandelion

4. gait

5. hypnotizing

6. kin

7. matrimonial

8. muskrat

9. radiating

10. retrieve

11. whiff

12. wiry

Chapters Nine-Eleven

1. conscience

2. fangs

3. knickers

4. paltry

5. puny

6. scooted

7. trousers

Chapters Twelve-Fourteen

1. acquaintance

2. alias

3. bawling

4. festering

5. meddling

6. mellowed

7. scamp

8. shunned

9. sully

Chapters Fifteen-Seventeen

1. copacetic

2. embouchure

3. scales

4. slacking off

5. strap

Chapters Eighteen-Nineteen

1. offended

2. stiffed

3. nudging

4. rummaging

5. insinuating

6. tidings

7. conclusions

8. crow (verb)

9. ornery

Name Period

Allusions and Terminology to Know

Chapter One

 caseworker- a social worker assigned to

find homes for and take care of orphans

 foster home- a temporary home in which

orphans go until they are adopted

 “doggoned”- slang for ―darn‖; used to

emphasize how bad something is

 Depression- the Great Depression; an

era of severe economic crisis during the

1930s in which many, many people were

left jobless and homeless; said to be

caused by the Stock Market Crash of 1929

 Flint- a city in Michigan, the fourth largest

city in the state; located along the Flint

River

Chapter Two

 locomotive- a railroad engine; a train

 “kiss my wrist”- a saying used by Bud

meaning ―think twice‖

 John Dillinger- an infamous gangster of

the 1920s and 30s; listed as Public Enemy

Number One on the FBI‘s Most Wanted

List for bank robbery

 cream puffs- a baked sweet treat with

cream in the middle

 Brer Rabbit- the hero of Uncle Remus

stories derived from African-American

folktales

 icebox- an early name for refrigerator; a

wood box in which blocks of ice were kept

to keep food chilled

Chapter Three

 whilst- an outdated expression meaning

―while‖

 Louisville Slugger- a baseball bat

 Paul Bunyan- a mythical lumberjack in

American tall tales; said to be an

enormous hero traveling with an equally

large blue ox named Babe

 Paul Robeson- an African-American actor,

author, and activist; one of the most

prolific black actors of his time

Chapter Four

 Public Enemy Number One- the top

criminal on the FBI‘s Most Wanted List; at

the time the novel takes place, John

Dillinger was considered Public Enemy

Number One

 J. Edgar Hoover- founder and director of

the FBI (see below)

 FBI- Federal Bureau of Investigation;

began in 1908 as the primary

investigators of crime and terrorism in the

United States

 “on the lam”- slang for ―on the run‖

Chapter Five

 “Pretty Boy” Floyd- Charles Arthur

―Pretty Boy‖ Floyd; a bank robber and

killer on the FBI‘s Most Wanted List

 The “Real McCoy”- the ―real McCoy‖ is

an idiom for the ―real thing‖; its origins

are still being debated

 twenty-five gallon hat- similar to the

legendary ten-gallon hat, a legendary

cowboy hat; it is depicted as being

extremely tall

 telegraph- a type of communication

system through wires used before the

telephone was invented

 mission- a building or group of buildings

run by a religious organization; often a

center to help the needy

Chapter Eight

 cardboard jungle- an area of shacks and

huts inhabited by homeless people

 mouth organ- a harmonica

 Hoovervilles- a collection of huts and

shacks at the edge of a city, housing the

homeless during the 1930s; named after

President Herbert Hoover (see below)

 Herbert Hoover- the 31

st

President of

the United States; blamed for society‘s

problems during the Great Depression

Chapter Nine

 Billy Goats Gruff- ―The Three Billy Goats

Gruff‖ is a traditional fairy tale in which

three goats try to cross a bridge guarded

by a troll

 “The Fox and the Grapes”- a fable

attributed to Aesop in which a fox cannot

reach grapes hanging high in a tree; the

moral is that it is easy to hate what we

cannot have

 “The Dog That Saw His Reflection in

the Water”- Aesop‘s fable in which a dog

sees another dog holding a bone in a

reflection in a river; the dog wants the

bone and goes after it, causing him to

drown; the moral is that you should not

let go of what you have in order to go

after something that may not really be

there

 boxcar- an enclosed railroad car

 billy club- a long stick used by police

 Shantytowns- small towns of very low-

cost homes, usually made of scraps of

wood or cardboard

 Commies- a derogatory term for

Communists; Communism is a type of

government in which property is believed

to be held by the common society

 “Big Little Books”- a series of compact

books (usually about 4‖) published by the

Whitman Publishing Company of Racine,

Wisconsin.

 Gangbusters- one of the series of ―Big

Little Books‖; first printed in 1938; later

became a radio program; stories of

dramatic police case histories

Name Period

Chapter Nine

 Grand Rapids- a city in Michigan; the

second largest city in the state

 Jack Robinson- a make-believe person;

indicates a very short amount of time

Chapter Ten

 pop- a short name for ―soda pop‖; a

carbonated beverage

 ventriloquist- someone who manipulates

his or her voice so it appears as if a doll is

speaking

 “Baby Face” Nelson- Lester Joseph Gillis;

also known as George ―Baby Face‖ Nelson

for his youthful face; a bank-robber and

member of the Dillinger Gang

 FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List- The

Federal Bureau of Investigation‘s list of

the ten most dangerous criminals in the

United States

Chapter Eleven

 Big War- a slang term for World War I

 George Washington Carver- an African-

American scientist; known for

transforming southern agriculture by

introducing products made by peanuts and

sweet potatoes, easing the reliance on

cotton farming

 Tuskegee, Alabama- where George

Washington Carver worked as director of

the Department of Agricultural Research

 “boo”- slang term meaning ―anything‖ or

―nothing‖

 Pullman porter- a porter is employed to

carry people‘s luggage at a railroad station;

Pullman porters were employed by the

Pullman company; by the 1920s, more

African-American men were working as

Pullman Porters than any other job

Chapter Twelve

 Western Union- a money transfer

company started in the 1850s

 telegram- a message sent by telegraph

 “Machine Gun” Kelly- George Kelly

Barnes; bank robber and gangster;

wanted by the FBI; listed as an expert

machine gunner

 Al Capone- Alphonse Capone; notorious

gangster known for terrorizing Chicago in

the 1920s; committed numerous murders

 labor organizer- a person who tries to

get workers united and organized in order

to get improved working conditions and

benefits

 Packard- a brand of luxury car; first

made in 1890 by the Packard Motor

Company

 ethyl- a form of fuel for cars; used from

the 1920s to the 1950s

 Ku Kluxer- slang for a member of the Ku

Klux Klan, an organized group of whites

seeking supremacy over other races

 John Brown- a white abolitionist who

was hung for treason for his beliefs

Chapter Thirteen

 “Sam Hill”- an expression for ―heck‖ or

―hell‖

 “bread and butter”-an expression that

means that something is a person‘s main

source of income

 “mean old coot”-an expression after the

―coot‖, an aggressive, territorial bird

 “play the dozens”- to hurl insults back

and forth in a sort of game; to tease

 “stuff our craws”- similar to ―stuff

ourselves‖; a craw is another name for an

animal‘s throat or stomach

Chapter Fourteen

 “Blind” Lemon Jefferson- a blind blues

singer and guitarist from Texas; popular

during the 1920s and 30s

Chapter Fifteen

 Grand Central Station- a train station

terminal in New York City, New York;

currently serves nearly 600,000 visitors

per day

 YMCA- Young Men‘s Christian Association;

originally founded in London in 1844 in

response to poor living conditions; in

1853 the first African-American YMCA was

founded in Washington D.C.; work for

social change and help underprivileged

youth

Chapter Sixteen

 outhouse- an outdoor toilet

 Loudean- possibly Calloway‘s feminine

nickname for the car (refers to ―plugs‖,

which may be spark plugs); the author

could not find any indication that the

Loudean was a brand of automobile

 moving pictures- an early term for

cinema, motion pictures, or movies

Chapter Seventeen

 Twenty Thousand “Leaks” Under the

Sea- Bud is referring to Twenty Thousand

Leagues Under the Sea, a science fiction

novel by Jules Verne

 Captain Nemo- the protagonist in

Verne‘s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under

the Sea

 Niagara Falls- giant waterfalls located on

the Niagara River, on the border between

New York and Canada; a popular tourist

spot

Chapter Eighteen

 “eighty-eights”- a slang term for piano

Chapter Nineteen

 peanuts- slang for a very small amount

of money

 pawnshop- an establishment in which

personal property can be left as security

in exchange for a loan of money

Name Period

Chapters One-Three

Note-Taking and Summarizing

To help you keep track of the novel’s events as they happen, use the following note-taking chart

to help you summarize the important details for Chapters One-Three. For each chapter, fill in the

chart with the necessary information. A brief explanation of each column is below Chapter one.

Chapter One

Characters We

Meet

(A list of the names of new characters [if any] in the chapter)

1.

2.

3.

Description and

Useful

Information

About Character

(A description and/or useful information about the new characters from the chapter.)

1.

2.

3.

Summary of the

Chapter

(A 3-5 sentence summary of the chapter.)

Most Important

Events of the

Chapter

(Choose the 3 most important events of the chapter)



Prediction of

Coming Events

(Make a prediction of what you think will happen in the next chapter.)

Chapter Two

Characters We

Meet

1.

2.

3.

Description and

Useful

Information

About Character

1.

2.

3.

Name Period

Summary of the

Chapter

Most Important

Events of the

Chapter



Prediction of

Coming Events

Chapter Three

Characters We

Meet

1.

2.

3.

Description and

Useful

Information

About Character

1.

2.

3.

Summary of the

Chapter

Most Important

Events of the

Chapter



Prediction of

Coming Events

Name Period

Comprehension Check

Chapters One-Three

To help you understand all parts of the novel, answer the following questions for Chapters

1-3. Write your answers on a separate piece of paper using complete sentences.

Chapter One

1. Where do the boys live?

2. Where does the woman tell Buddy he will be going?

3. What is Bud‘s reaction to this news?

4. Why does Bud think that where Jerry is going will be better than where he is going?

5. How is being six years old a turning point in kids‘ lives, according to Bud?

6. Why was losing a tooth such a traumatic event for Buddy? What did he fear might

happen next?

7. What does the blue flyer have on it? Why is Buddy so impressed by the six

exclamation points?

8. Why does Bud keep the flyer in his suitcase?

9. What do you think Bud means by repeating ―Here we go again‖ at the end of the

chapter?

Chapter Two

1. What does Toddy do to Bud at the beginning of the chapter?

2. Why does Toddy begin to breathe ―like some kind of big animal was inside of him‖?

3. What lie does Toddy tell?

4. Why does Bud keep a numbered list of ―Rules and Things‖?

5. What do you think of Bud‘s Rule Number 118?

6. Where does Bud have to spend the night? Why?

Chapter Three

1. What happened to Bugs?

2. What does Bud think he sees in the corner of the shed? What did he really see?

3. What does Bud want to do at the end of the chapter?

Name Period

Standards Focus: Figurative Language

Chapters One-Three

Figurative language is the use of words to communicate a deeper meaning in a text.

Often, skilled writers use figurative language to make a story more interesting and to

paint a picture in a reader‘s mind. Some common types of figurative language (also

called figures of speech) are simile, metaphor, and personification.

Simile is a comparison between two seemingly unlike things, using the word ―like‖ or

―as‖ in the comparison. For example, ―Lisa‘s tears streamed down her face like a dam

had been broken.‖

Metaphor is a comparison between two seemingly unlike things, without the use of the

words ―like‖ or ―as.‖ For example, ―My brother is a garbage disposal—he‘ll eat

anyone‘s leftovers!‖

Personification is when human characteristics are given to non-human objects. For

example, ―The wind sang its sad song.‖

Directions: For the following examples from Chapters 1-3, a) underline the words used in

the figurative language, b) identify the type of figurative language being used, and c)

explain how the figurative language is being used. An example has been done for you.

Ex. ―All the kids watched the woman as she moved along the line, her high-heeled shoes

sounding like little fire-crackers going off on the wooden floor.‖

Type of figurative language: simile

Explanation: The heels of the woman’s shoes were making light, quick tapping sounds

when she walked on the wood floor.

1. ―Jerry looked like he‘d just found out they were going to dip him in a pot of boiling

milk.‖ (Chapter 1)

 Type of figurative language:

 Explanation:

2. ―Unless you‘re as stupid as a lamppost, you‘ve got to wonder what‘s coming off

next, your arm?‖ (Chapter 1)

 Type of figurative language:

 Explanation:

3. ―Todd‘s next punch crashed into the side of my ear and I fell on the floor and

pulled my knees up to my chest and crossed my arms in front of my head like a

turtle in a shell.‖ (Chapter 2)

 Type of figurative language:

 Explanation:

Name Period

4. ―He started huffing and puffing with his eyes bucking out of his head and his chest

going up and down so hard that it looked like some kind of big animal was inside

of him trying to bust out.‖ (Chapter 2)

 Type of figurative language:

 Explanation:

5. ―‗I was only trying to help…‘ –he was sounding like a horse that had been run too

hard in the winter—‗and…and look what it‘s gotten me.‘‖ (Chapter 2)

 Type of figurative language:

 Explanation:

6. ―In her eyes, Todd‘s mouth was a prayer book.‖ (Chapter 2)

 Type of figurative language:

 Explanation:

7. ―What had really happened was that I woke up from a good sleep because it felt

like a steam locomotive had jumped the tracks and chug-chug-chugged its way

straight into my nose.‖ (Chapter 2)

 Type of figurative language:

 Explanation:

8. ―Todd might‘ve been a lot bigger than me but he‘d better be ready, this wasn‘t

going to be a bird‘s nest sitting on the ground for him.‖ (Chapter 2)

 Type of figurative language:

 Explanation:

9. ―These Amoses might look like a bunch of cream puffs, but if she was anything

like Todd I bet she could pack a real wallop.‖ (Chapter 2)

 Type of figurative language:

 Explanation:

10. ―I squeezed my tongue between my teeth to hold it still ‗cause I know a lot of

times your brain might want to be brave but your mouth might let some real

chicken-sounding stuff come out of it.‖ (Chapter 2)

 Type of figurative language:

 Explanation:

Name Period

Assessment Preparation: Word Origins

Chapters One-Three

Directions: For each of the vocabulary words from Chapters 1-3 below:

a. Read the origin of the word

b. Draw an inference of the vocabulary word’s meaning based upon the word origin

c. Look up the meaning in a dictionary

d. Use the correct definition in a complete sentence, showing that you understand what the

vocabulary word means.

Ex. brute

a. Word Origin: ―of or belonging to animals,‖ from Middle French brut ―coarse, brutal,‖ from

Latin brutus ―heavy, dull‖

b. My Definition: acting mean or uncivilized; like an animal

c. Dictionary Definition: someone who is cruel, ruthless, or insensitive

d. Sentence: Mrs. Amos thought Bud was acting like a brute, so she made him sleep outside

like an animal.

1. commence

a. Word Origin: from Old French comencier, from Latin cominitiare, which means ―to initiate as

priest,‖ from the Latin combination of com- ―together‖ + initiare ―to initiate‖

b. My Definition:

c. Dictionary Definition:

d. Sentence:

2. cur

a. Word Origin: from curre, from Old Norse kurra meaning ―to growl‖

b. My Definition:

c. Dictionary Definition:

d. Sentence:

3. decoder (de- + code + -er)

a. Word Origin: a combination of Old French code ―system of laws,‖ from Latin codex, ―book,

book of laws,‖ PLUS the prefix de-, meaning ―opposite of; reverse, PLUS the suffix –er,

which changes the verb to a noun

b. My Definition:

c. Dictionary Definition:

d. Sentence:

4. glum

a. Word Origin: from Middle English gloumen ―become dark,‖ gloumben ―gloomy or sullen‖

b. My Definition:

c. Dictionary Definition:

d. Sentence:

5. ilk

a. Word Origin: from Old English ilca meaning ―same‖

b. My Definition:

c. Dictionary Definition:

d. Sentence:

Name Period

6. ingratitude (in- + gratitude)

a. Word Origin: a combination of Medieval Latin gratitudo, from Latin gratus ―grateful‖ PLUS

the prefix in- meaning ―not‖

b. My Definition:

c. Dictionary Definition:

d. Sentence:

7. lavatory

a. Word Origin: from Latin lavatorium ―place for washing,‖ from Latin lavare ―to wash‖

b. My Definition:

c. Dictionary Definition:

d. Sentence:

8. provoked (provoke + -ed)

a. Word Origin: from Latin provocare ―call forth, challenge,‖ from pro- ―forth‖ + vocare ―to

call,‖ PLUS the suffix –ed, changing the present tense to a past tense verb

b. My Definition:

c. Dictionary Definition:

d. Sentence:

9. twine

a. Word Origin: from Old English twin ―double,‖ and Ger. zwirn ―thread‖

b. My Definition:

c. Dictionary Definition:

d. Sentence:

10. urchins (urchin + -s)

a. Word Origin: from Old French herichun ―hedgehog‖ ; the meaning ―poorly clothed, raggedy

child‖ emerged the 1550s

b. My Definition:

c. Dictionary Definition:

d. Sentence:

11. vermin

a. Word Origin: from Latin vermis ―worm‖; the meaning ―low, detestable people‖ appeared in

the 1560s

b. My Definition:

c. Dictionary Definition:

d. Sentence:

12. welted (welt + -ed)

a. Word Origin: from Middle English welten ―to overturn, roll over‖ from Old Norse velta

b. My Definition:

c. Dictionary Definition:

d. Sentence:

Name Period

Chapters Four-Six

Note-Taking and Summarizing

Chapter Four

Characters We

Meet

1.

2.

3.

Description and

Useful

Information

About Character

1.

2.

3.

Summary of the

Chapter

Most Important

Events of the

Chapter



Prediction of

Coming Events

Chapter Five

Characters We

Meet

1.

2.

3.

Description and

Useful

Information

About Character

1.

2.

3.

Name Period

Summary of the

Chapter

Most Important

Events of the

Chapter



Prediction of

Coming Events

Chapter Six

Characters We

Meet

1.

2.

3.

Description and

Useful

Information

About Character

1.

2.

3.

Summary of the

Chapter

Most Important

Events of the

Chapter



Prediction of

Coming Events

Name Period

Comprehension Check

Chapters Four-Six

To help you understand all parts of the novel, answer the following questions for

Chapters 4-6. Write your answers on a separate piece of paper using complete

sentences.

Chapter Four

1. What is the first part of his ―revenge plan‖? Why does he do this?

2. What does Bud do to get revenge on Toddy?

3. Why do you think he chooses this particular act of revenge?

Chapter Five

1. To where does Bud run away? Why does he go there?

2. Why can‘t Bud get into the library?

3. Where does he decide to go instead? Why is this a good spot?

4. When Bud checks to make sure nothing is missing from his suitcase, what do we

learn he has been carrying around with him?

5. According to Bud, why was his momma upset in the picture?

6. Why does Bud insist that he not be called ―Buddy‖?

7. What advice did his momma give him? How does he explain what she meant?

8. Where is Bud planning to get breakfast the next morning?

Chapter Six

1. What does the man in overalls call Bud? Why?

2. What are the Pretend Poppa and Pretend Momma doing for Bud?

3. Describe the gigantic picture. Why do the people in line find it so amusing?

4. What does Pretend Daddy mean when he says ―…you wouldn‘t expect that they‘d

have the nerve to come down here and tell the truth‖?

5. Why do you think the mission would have to announce on a big sign in big letters

that they have no work available?

6. What special treat does Pretend Momma give the children?