I Just Kept on Smiling
Interpretive Questions
1.) Why does the narrator steal the exercise books?
The narrator steals the exercise books because he treats thievery as a sport and the exercise books are important to him because they belong to the teacher. The books are crisp and clean, part of the reason he wants to keep them. "How clean and white they were." (p.109)
2.) Why doesn’t the narrator want to crease or mark the exercise books?
The narrator doesn't want to crease or mark the books because he believes they are beautiful. "They were beautiful." (p.102)
3.) Why does thinking about the hidden exercise books help the narrator “a lot”? (p. 109)
Thinking about the exercise books help the narrator “a lot”? (p. 109) because it gives him something to look forward to. It also gives him a little bit of pride.
4.) Why does the narrator decide to tear up the exercise books and throw them away?
The narrator decides to tear up the exercise books and throw them away because they are a symbol of guilt for letting his teacher and friends down. They are also a reminder that he lie. Maybe because this happened after parents day he was reminded that he got a new friend and didn't want to loose him. "That evening I decided to tear up the exercise books and throw them away." (p.109)
5.) After he decides not to keep a piece of the books, why does the narrator say, “I didn’t need to be reminded of anything. I had a secret”? (p. 109)
The narrator says “I didn’t need to be reminded of anything. I had a secret”? (p. 109) because the adrenaline of stealing is gone, he was the one who really stole the books. The secret is where he was hiding the books.
6.) Why does the narrator keep smiling at Nicky Carver at the end of the story?
The narrator keeps smiling at Nicky Carver in the end of the story because he thinks that if he smiles he will get out of trouble since he has a nice smile. "I carried on staring, and soon he looked back at me." (p.111)
7.) What does the narrator mean when he says his smile “makes people think twice”? (p. 103)
When the narrator says that his smile“makes people think twice”? (p. 103) because he thinks that he is perceived as innocent and cute when he smiles.
8.) Why does the narrator spend time with Nicky Carver?
The narrator spends time with Nicky Carver because they are dorm roommates and they have things in common. "His bed is opposite mine in the dormitory. We are about the same level in class. People usually bracket Nicky Carver and me together." (p.103)
9.) Why is the narrator furious when Nicky turns himself in?
The narrator is furious when Nicky turns himself in because he thinks that Nicky “had stolen [his] secret”? (p.111).
10.) Why does the narrator think that Nicky “had stolen [his] secret”? (p.111)
The narrator thinks that Nicky Carver "had stolen [his] secret" (p.111) because Nicky confessed to stealing the books. The narrator is mad because stealing was a symbol of his pride. Having the secret had made the narrator feel good so Nicky stole the secret because the narrator stole the books.
The narrator steals the exercise books because he treats thievery as a sport and the exercise books are important to him because they belong to the teacher. The books are crisp and clean, part of the reason he wants to keep them. "How clean and white they were." (p.109)
2.) Why doesn’t the narrator want to crease or mark the exercise books?
The narrator doesn't want to crease or mark the books because he believes they are beautiful. "They were beautiful." (p.102)
3.) Why does thinking about the hidden exercise books help the narrator “a lot”? (p. 109)
Thinking about the exercise books help the narrator “a lot”? (p. 109) because it gives him something to look forward to. It also gives him a little bit of pride.
4.) Why does the narrator decide to tear up the exercise books and throw them away?
The narrator decides to tear up the exercise books and throw them away because they are a symbol of guilt for letting his teacher and friends down. They are also a reminder that he lie. Maybe because this happened after parents day he was reminded that he got a new friend and didn't want to loose him. "That evening I decided to tear up the exercise books and throw them away." (p.109)
5.) After he decides not to keep a piece of the books, why does the narrator say, “I didn’t need to be reminded of anything. I had a secret”? (p. 109)
The narrator says “I didn’t need to be reminded of anything. I had a secret”? (p. 109) because the adrenaline of stealing is gone, he was the one who really stole the books. The secret is where he was hiding the books.
6.) Why does the narrator keep smiling at Nicky Carver at the end of the story?
The narrator keeps smiling at Nicky Carver in the end of the story because he thinks that if he smiles he will get out of trouble since he has a nice smile. "I carried on staring, and soon he looked back at me." (p.111)
7.) What does the narrator mean when he says his smile “makes people think twice”? (p. 103)
When the narrator says that his smile“makes people think twice”? (p. 103) because he thinks that he is perceived as innocent and cute when he smiles.
8.) Why does the narrator spend time with Nicky Carver?
The narrator spends time with Nicky Carver because they are dorm roommates and they have things in common. "His bed is opposite mine in the dormitory. We are about the same level in class. People usually bracket Nicky Carver and me together." (p.103)
9.) Why is the narrator furious when Nicky turns himself in?
The narrator is furious when Nicky turns himself in because he thinks that Nicky “had stolen [his] secret”? (p.111).
10.) Why does the narrator think that Nicky “had stolen [his] secret”? (p.111)
The narrator thinks that Nicky Carver "had stolen [his] secret" (p.111) because Nicky confessed to stealing the books. The narrator is mad because stealing was a symbol of his pride. Having the secret had made the narrator feel good so Nicky stole the secret because the narrator stole the books.
Vocabulary
1.) Redeem (p. 103)
Quote: "I will give the thief a chance to redeem himself." (p.103)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): make up for
Synonym: gain or regain
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): After missing the basketball shot, the player later had a change to redeem himself.
2.) Converted (p. 108)
Quote: "...who are Non-Catholics, or who have recently converted." (p.108)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to change
Synonym: switch or change
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The man converted from Catholic to Christian.
3.) Misguided (p. 108)
Quote: "...this morning's misguided little charade..." (p.108)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): led in the wrong direction
Synonym: diverted, misled
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The tourists were misguided by their tour guide.
4.) Charade (p. 108)
Quote: "...this morning's misguided little charade..." (p.108)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): an episode. Something that happened
Synonym: episode
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I hope this little charade was not found amusing.
5.) Crescent (p. 109)
Quote: "It was a cool crescent of shining green plastic." (p.109)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a curved shape
Synonym: curve
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): It looks like a crescent moon, tonight.
Quote: "I will give the thief a chance to redeem himself." (p.103)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): make up for
Synonym: gain or regain
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): After missing the basketball shot, the player later had a change to redeem himself.
2.) Converted (p. 108)
Quote: "...who are Non-Catholics, or who have recently converted." (p.108)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to change
Synonym: switch or change
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The man converted from Catholic to Christian.
3.) Misguided (p. 108)
Quote: "...this morning's misguided little charade..." (p.108)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): led in the wrong direction
Synonym: diverted, misled
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The tourists were misguided by their tour guide.
4.) Charade (p. 108)
Quote: "...this morning's misguided little charade..." (p.108)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): an episode. Something that happened
Synonym: episode
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I hope this little charade was not found amusing.
5.) Crescent (p. 109)
Quote: "It was a cool crescent of shining green plastic." (p.109)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a curved shape
Synonym: curve
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): It looks like a crescent moon, tonight.