Day of the Butterfly
Interpretive Questions
1.) Why does Helen insist that Myra accept the butterfly pin?
Helen insists that Myra accepts the butterfly pin because she is trying to be nice by giving her something and convinces her by saying, "You keep it,...Finders keepers." (p.149)
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”(p.147) since she is the only one with a lunch box and rubber boots in the spring because that makes her different and she is worried that because Myra is treated badly for being different, she might be.
3.) What is the “role” that Helen feels “shaping for” herself? (p. 147)
The role that Helen feels “shaping for”(p.147) herself is when Myra stops so that she can walk next to Helen and Helen feels like she is the "popular" kid to Myra.
4.) Why is Myra “scared and solemn” when Helen tells her to keep the pin? (p. 149)
Myra is "scared and solemn" (p.149) when Helen tells her to keep the pin because she is not sure if this is a joke and she will be humiliated.
5.) What is the “pledge” that Helen recognizes when her fingers touch Myra’s? (p. 149)
The "pledge" (p.149) that Helen recognizes when her fingers touch Myra's is that she has to be nicer and try to be friends.
6.) Why doesn’t Helen want to accept Myra’s gift?
Helen does not want to accept Myra's gift because she feels bad for taking something from someone on their birthday. "It's for your birthday. You always get a lot at a birthday." (p.154) Also she does not want Myra to feel like she has to pay her back.
7.) Why does Myra’s birthday party become “fashionable” with the girls? (p. 151)
Myra's party became "fashionable" (p.151) with the girls because maybe they overdo things or are the stuck-up brats in the class.
8.) At the hospital, why does Myra turn “shadowy” and “dark” to Helen? (p. 154)
Myra turns "shadowy" and "dark" (p.154) to Helen in the hospital because when she offers for Helen to come over after she is out of the hospital, the tables turn since Myra becomes the inviter and Helen becomes the invited.
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 as “innocent objects to be touched, exchanged, accepted without danger”? (p. 154) because she treats them as power in their friendship.
10.) At the end of the story, what is the “treachery” that Helen feels is in her heart? (p. 155)
The “treachery” (p.155) that Helen feels in her heart is the memory of Myra and the way their friendship turned in Myra's favor.
Helen insists that Myra accepts the butterfly pin because she is trying to be nice by giving her something and convinces her by saying, "You keep it,...Finders keepers." (p.149)
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”(p.147) since she is the only one with a lunch box and rubber boots in the spring because that makes her different and she is worried that because Myra is treated badly for being different, she might be.
3.) What is the “role” that Helen feels “shaping for” herself? (p. 147)
The role that Helen feels “shaping for”(p.147) herself is when Myra stops so that she can walk next to Helen and Helen feels like she is the "popular" kid to Myra.
4.) Why is Myra “scared and solemn” when Helen tells her to keep the pin? (p. 149)
Myra is "scared and solemn" (p.149) when Helen tells her to keep the pin because she is not sure if this is a joke and she will be humiliated.
5.) What is the “pledge” that Helen recognizes when her fingers touch Myra’s? (p. 149)
The "pledge" (p.149) that Helen recognizes when her fingers touch Myra's is that she has to be nicer and try to be friends.
6.) Why doesn’t Helen want to accept Myra’s gift?
Helen does not want to accept Myra's gift because she feels bad for taking something from someone on their birthday. "It's for your birthday. You always get a lot at a birthday." (p.154) Also she does not want Myra to feel like she has to pay her back.
7.) Why does Myra’s birthday party become “fashionable” with the girls? (p. 151)
Myra's party became "fashionable" (p.151) with the girls because maybe they overdo things or are the stuck-up brats in the class.
8.) At the hospital, why does Myra turn “shadowy” and “dark” to Helen? (p. 154)
Myra turns "shadowy" and "dark" (p.154) to Helen in the hospital because when she offers for Helen to come over after she is out of the hospital, the tables turn since Myra becomes the inviter and Helen becomes the invited.
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 as “innocent objects to be touched, exchanged, accepted without danger”? (p. 154) because she treats them as power in their friendship.
10.) At the end of the story, what is the “treachery” that Helen feels is in her heart? (p. 155)
The “treachery” (p.155) that Helen feels in her heart is the memory of Myra and the way their friendship turned in Myra's favor.
Vocabulary
1.) Melancholy (p. 144)
Quote: "They had long smooth oval faces, melancholy and discreet..." (p.144)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): sadness without an obvious cause
Synonym: mysterious,
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The boy was able to hide his emotions, melancholy.
2.) Medieval (p. 144)
Quote: "They were like children in a medieval painting..." (p.144)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): referring to something from the Middle Ages
Synonym: old, ancient
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The castle must have been built in medieval times.
3.) Cryptically (p. 144)
Quote: "...smooth and aged, and meekly, cryptically uncommunicative." (p.144)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): something difficult to understand
Synonym: complexly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The words were cryptically written on the Egyptian walls.
4.) Loitered (p. 147)
Quote: "I had often loitered in that way..." (p.147)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to stand around with no purpose
Synonym: pointlessly, purposelessly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The man loitered on the outside wall of the bowling alley.
5.) Benevolence (p. 147)
Quote: "...a great rush of self-conscious benevolence..." (p.147)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a kind or well-meaning thing or action
Synonym: kindness
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The man smiled with much benevolence to the child who found his wallet.
6.) Exalted (p. 154
Quote: "...her unknown, exalted, ether-smelling hospital world..." (p.155)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the rank of something or someone
Synonym: level, class
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The children were exalted into their own table at the formal party.
7.) Treachery (p. 155)
Quote: "...her brown carved face, immune to treachery..." (p.155)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a betrayal of your trust for someone
Synonym: deceptive, betrayal
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The boy tried to avoid treachery but was often a victim.
Quote: "They had long smooth oval faces, melancholy and discreet..." (p.144)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): sadness without an obvious cause
Synonym: mysterious,
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The boy was able to hide his emotions, melancholy.
2.) Medieval (p. 144)
Quote: "They were like children in a medieval painting..." (p.144)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): referring to something from the Middle Ages
Synonym: old, ancient
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The castle must have been built in medieval times.
3.) Cryptically (p. 144)
Quote: "...smooth and aged, and meekly, cryptically uncommunicative." (p.144)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): something difficult to understand
Synonym: complexly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The words were cryptically written on the Egyptian walls.
4.) Loitered (p. 147)
Quote: "I had often loitered in that way..." (p.147)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to stand around with no purpose
Synonym: pointlessly, purposelessly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The man loitered on the outside wall of the bowling alley.
5.) Benevolence (p. 147)
Quote: "...a great rush of self-conscious benevolence..." (p.147)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a kind or well-meaning thing or action
Synonym: kindness
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The man smiled with much benevolence to the child who found his wallet.
6.) Exalted (p. 154
Quote: "...her unknown, exalted, ether-smelling hospital world..." (p.155)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the rank of something or someone
Synonym: level, class
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The children were exalted into their own table at the formal party.
7.) Treachery (p. 155)
Quote: "...her brown carved face, immune to treachery..." (p.155)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a betrayal of your trust for someone
Synonym: deceptive, betrayal
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The boy tried to avoid treachery but was often a victim.