The Box House and The Snow
Interpretive Questions
1.) Why does the daughter continue to hold up the ceiling throughout the story?
The daughter holds up the ceiling throughout the story because her father had asked her to. "Someone needs to stand on the chair now and that's the girl." (p.90)
2.) Why does the father make the daughter hold up the ceiling?
The father makes the daughter hold up the ceiling because he does not want the roof to fall and ruin his "perfect" house. "The roof was flat and the weight of the snow would collapse it." (p.90)
3.) Why does the daughter say, “I don’t think it will fail”? (p.93)
The daughter says "I don't think it will fall." (p.93) because she may just want to rest or she honestly does not think it will fall.
4.) Why does the daughter have “no choice” but to hold up the ceiling? (p.95)
The daughter has "no choice" (p.95) but to hold up the ceiling because she wants to obey her father and respect his requests of her.
5.) Why does the mother leave the daughter alone even after the daughter repeatedly tells her mother she is tired?
The mother leaves the daughter alone because she is selfish and she is bored being here and goes out to do something. "But the mother was restless and lonely in the house and when the father left, she wanted to got out, too." (p.96)
6.) Why does the father blame the daughter for ruining the house?
The daughter is blamed by the father for ruining the house because he says that she loosened her grip and let the water seep through. "She let it through..." (p.98)
7.) Why is the father afraid the house will be ruined?
The father is afraid that the house will ruined because it is a symbol of who he is and If it falls it will question his craftsmanship. "...though it scared him to recognize a bit of himself in the man, since the father was, too, buoyed by pride." (p.84)
8.) Why does the father tell himself that “if he could keep his house standing, it would be God’s way of telling him he had a reasonable sort of pride, one for which he did not deserve to be punished”? (p. 88-89)
The father tells himself “if he could keep his house standing, it would be God’s way of telling him he had a reasonable sort of pride, one for which he did not deserve to be punished”? (p. 88-89) because the house is his pride and if it doesn't fall it is God's way of sending a message that this is the perfect house.
9.) At the end of the story, why does the father insist the house is ruined?
The father insists that the house is ruined because there is water inside, the wood is wet, and it is turning black with mold. He insists it is ruined because he wants to blame the daughter since she was the only one home. "It's the wood, the father said. It's too wet now." (p.98)
10.) Why does the father whisper at the end, “She let it through”? (p. 98)
The father whispers “She let it through”? (p. 98) to confirm that the girl had let this happen and she never did anything to help this from happening.
The daughter holds up the ceiling throughout the story because her father had asked her to. "Someone needs to stand on the chair now and that's the girl." (p.90)
2.) Why does the father make the daughter hold up the ceiling?
The father makes the daughter hold up the ceiling because he does not want the roof to fall and ruin his "perfect" house. "The roof was flat and the weight of the snow would collapse it." (p.90)
3.) Why does the daughter say, “I don’t think it will fail”? (p.93)
The daughter says "I don't think it will fall." (p.93) because she may just want to rest or she honestly does not think it will fall.
4.) Why does the daughter have “no choice” but to hold up the ceiling? (p.95)
The daughter has "no choice" (p.95) but to hold up the ceiling because she wants to obey her father and respect his requests of her.
5.) Why does the mother leave the daughter alone even after the daughter repeatedly tells her mother she is tired?
The mother leaves the daughter alone because she is selfish and she is bored being here and goes out to do something. "But the mother was restless and lonely in the house and when the father left, she wanted to got out, too." (p.96)
6.) Why does the father blame the daughter for ruining the house?
The daughter is blamed by the father for ruining the house because he says that she loosened her grip and let the water seep through. "She let it through..." (p.98)
7.) Why is the father afraid the house will be ruined?
The father is afraid that the house will ruined because it is a symbol of who he is and If it falls it will question his craftsmanship. "...though it scared him to recognize a bit of himself in the man, since the father was, too, buoyed by pride." (p.84)
8.) Why does the father tell himself that “if he could keep his house standing, it would be God’s way of telling him he had a reasonable sort of pride, one for which he did not deserve to be punished”? (p. 88-89)
The father tells himself “if he could keep his house standing, it would be God’s way of telling him he had a reasonable sort of pride, one for which he did not deserve to be punished”? (p. 88-89) because the house is his pride and if it doesn't fall it is God's way of sending a message that this is the perfect house.
9.) At the end of the story, why does the father insist the house is ruined?
The father insists that the house is ruined because there is water inside, the wood is wet, and it is turning black with mold. He insists it is ruined because he wants to blame the daughter since she was the only one home. "It's the wood, the father said. It's too wet now." (p.98)
10.) Why does the father whisper at the end, “She let it through”? (p. 98)
The father whispers “She let it through”? (p. 98) to confirm that the girl had let this happen and she never did anything to help this from happening.
Vocabulary
1.) Derision (p. 84)
Quote: "...they laughed with derision and agreed..." (p.84)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): being make fun of
Synonym: ridicule, mockery
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): As the teacher made a mistake, the class laughed with derision.
2.) Collectively (p. 84)
Quote: "...this is the story they would collectively decide upon..." (p.84)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): done as a group
Synonym: together
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The class collectively formed a discussion.
3.) Opaque (p. 84)
Quote: "The world was black, caked on and opaque." (p.84)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): something that cannot be seen through.
Synonym: solid
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The teacher asked,"Are we clear?" and the students sarcastically said,"No, were opaque."
4.) Cascading (p. 85)
Quote: "...it gave the appearance of cascading walls of snow..." (p.85)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a small waterfall like pattern
Synonym: falling, folding
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The girls were cascading chocolate layers of frosting on their cake.
5.) Invincible (p. 91)
Quote: "It was not invincible." (p.91)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): unable to destroy
Synonym: indestructible unbreakable
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Wolverine is invincible, however he could suffer memory loss if injured in the brain.
Quote: "...they laughed with derision and agreed..." (p.84)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): being make fun of
Synonym: ridicule, mockery
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): As the teacher made a mistake, the class laughed with derision.
2.) Collectively (p. 84)
Quote: "...this is the story they would collectively decide upon..." (p.84)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): done as a group
Synonym: together
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The class collectively formed a discussion.
3.) Opaque (p. 84)
Quote: "The world was black, caked on and opaque." (p.84)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): something that cannot be seen through.
Synonym: solid
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The teacher asked,"Are we clear?" and the students sarcastically said,"No, were opaque."
4.) Cascading (p. 85)
Quote: "...it gave the appearance of cascading walls of snow..." (p.85)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a small waterfall like pattern
Synonym: falling, folding
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The girls were cascading chocolate layers of frosting on their cake.
5.) Invincible (p. 91)
Quote: "It was not invincible." (p.91)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): unable to destroy
Synonym: indestructible unbreakable
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Wolverine is invincible, however he could suffer memory loss if injured in the brain.