The White Circle
Interpretive Questions
1.) Why does Tucker try to kill Anvil?
Tucker tries to kill Anvil because Anvil is "munching one of [his] apples..." (p.159) from his apple tree and he wants to plot his revenge.
2.) What does Tucker mean when he says he has to take a beating from Anvil “ because this went beyond any matter of courage or shame”? (p. 157)
When Tucker says he has to take a beating from Anvil “ because this went beyond any matter of courage or shame”? (p. 157) he means is never going to beat Anvil and if he tries to he will only make it worse.
3.) Why does Tucker sometimes try to reach out to Anvil?
Tucker fells bad for Anvil because he has no money and his dad tries to hurt him. He wants to try to be friends with Anvil because of his family situation. "They hate me because my old man's crazy." (p.162)
4.) Why does Tucker say, “It seemed very important to know what it was that Anvil wanted to, and never could, teach me and the world”? (p. 163)
Tucker says “It seemed very important to know what it was that Anvil wanted to, and never could, teach me and the world”? (p. 163) because he wants to know if Anvil could redeem himself, it might make him change his mind about planning Anvil's demise.
5.) At the end of the story, why does Tucker try to give Anvil the applies?
Tucker tries to give Anvil the apples because he feels guilty for what he did. "Anvil! Wait, I'll give them to you." (p.166)
6.) Why does Anvil bully Tucker?
Anvil bullies Tucker because he does not have a good home life, and he is jealous of everything that Tucker has. "Your old man owns everything in sight. I ain't got nothin'" (p.166)
7.) Why does Anvil force Tucker to call his father “Old Man” instead of “Father”? (p. 160)
Anvil forces Tucker to call his father “Old Man” instead of “Father”? (p. 160) because his dad is not respectful and does not act like a father so he doesn't call him a father.
8.) Why does Anvil repeatedly tell Tucker to stop “blubberin”? (p. 161-162)
Anvil keeps telling Tucker to stop "blubberin" (p.161-162) because he thinks that it is a sign of weakness since his father might tell him the same thing.
9.) Why does Anvil go home with Tucker but throw rocks at him all the way there?
Anvil goes home with Tucker "and threw rocks at [him]" (p.162) the whole time because he wants him to stand up for himself since he just takes the punishment. "
10.) Why doesn’t Anvil come after Tucker when Tucker tries to kill him with the hayfork?
Anvil does not come after Tucker after he tried to murder him with a hayfork and just "climbed the fence without looking back and set off down the road..." (p.166) because he was too shocked and hurt that Tucker would try to do such a thing.
Tucker tries to kill Anvil because Anvil is "munching one of [his] apples..." (p.159) from his apple tree and he wants to plot his revenge.
2.) What does Tucker mean when he says he has to take a beating from Anvil “ because this went beyond any matter of courage or shame”? (p. 157)
When Tucker says he has to take a beating from Anvil “ because this went beyond any matter of courage or shame”? (p. 157) he means is never going to beat Anvil and if he tries to he will only make it worse.
3.) Why does Tucker sometimes try to reach out to Anvil?
Tucker fells bad for Anvil because he has no money and his dad tries to hurt him. He wants to try to be friends with Anvil because of his family situation. "They hate me because my old man's crazy." (p.162)
4.) Why does Tucker say, “It seemed very important to know what it was that Anvil wanted to, and never could, teach me and the world”? (p. 163)
Tucker says “It seemed very important to know what it was that Anvil wanted to, and never could, teach me and the world”? (p. 163) because he wants to know if Anvil could redeem himself, it might make him change his mind about planning Anvil's demise.
5.) At the end of the story, why does Tucker try to give Anvil the applies?
Tucker tries to give Anvil the apples because he feels guilty for what he did. "Anvil! Wait, I'll give them to you." (p.166)
6.) Why does Anvil bully Tucker?
Anvil bullies Tucker because he does not have a good home life, and he is jealous of everything that Tucker has. "Your old man owns everything in sight. I ain't got nothin'" (p.166)
7.) Why does Anvil force Tucker to call his father “Old Man” instead of “Father”? (p. 160)
Anvil forces Tucker to call his father “Old Man” instead of “Father”? (p. 160) because his dad is not respectful and does not act like a father so he doesn't call him a father.
8.) Why does Anvil repeatedly tell Tucker to stop “blubberin”? (p. 161-162)
Anvil keeps telling Tucker to stop "blubberin" (p.161-162) because he thinks that it is a sign of weakness since his father might tell him the same thing.
9.) Why does Anvil go home with Tucker but throw rocks at him all the way there?
Anvil goes home with Tucker "and threw rocks at [him]" (p.162) the whole time because he wants him to stand up for himself since he just takes the punishment. "
10.) Why doesn’t Anvil come after Tucker when Tucker tries to kill him with the hayfork?
Anvil does not come after Tucker after he tried to murder him with a hayfork and just "climbed the fence without looking back and set off down the road..." (p.166) because he was too shocked and hurt that Tucker would try to do such a thing.
Vocabulary
1.) Nurture (p. 159)
Quote: "...to keep and nurture and eventually hand down..." (p.159)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to take care of
Synonym: provide for, care
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The family nurtured the injured dove back to health.
2.) Callously (p. 159)
Quote: "...the perched Anvil, callously munching one of my thirteen apples..." (p.159)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): doing something roughly or toughly
Synonym: roughly, toughly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The man callously snapped back at the woman for blaming him.
3.) Practically (p. 159)
Quote: "I planned—practically—his extinction..." (p.162)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): almost doing something
Synonym: almost, closely
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I was practically out the door when I got called back in the classroom.
4.) Extinction (p. 159)
Quote: "I planned—practically—his extinction..." (p.162)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): when something is not on the planet anymore
Synonym: gone, dead
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): People wonder how the dinosaurs had suffered their extinction.
5.) Inadvertently (p. 165)
Quote: "...no one could inadvertently pull it." (p.165)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): when something is done my mistake
Synonym: accidentally, mistakenly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The girl inadvertently insulted the teacher if front of the class.
6.) Vindictive (p. 165)
Quote: "I gave Anvil one last vindictive look..." (p.165)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a strong dislike and desire for revenge
Synonym: revengeful
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The victim gave the bully a vindictive look as he walked down the hall.
7.) Sullen (p. 166)
Quote: "After a few sullen, bewildered moments..." (p.166)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a bad tempered, gloomy, or sad feeling
Synonym: sad, gloomy
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The boy said a few sullen words before bursting into tears.
Quote: "...to keep and nurture and eventually hand down..." (p.159)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to take care of
Synonym: provide for, care
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The family nurtured the injured dove back to health.
2.) Callously (p. 159)
Quote: "...the perched Anvil, callously munching one of my thirteen apples..." (p.159)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): doing something roughly or toughly
Synonym: roughly, toughly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The man callously snapped back at the woman for blaming him.
3.) Practically (p. 159)
Quote: "I planned—practically—his extinction..." (p.162)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): almost doing something
Synonym: almost, closely
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I was practically out the door when I got called back in the classroom.
4.) Extinction (p. 159)
Quote: "I planned—practically—his extinction..." (p.162)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): when something is not on the planet anymore
Synonym: gone, dead
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): People wonder how the dinosaurs had suffered their extinction.
5.) Inadvertently (p. 165)
Quote: "...no one could inadvertently pull it." (p.165)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): when something is done my mistake
Synonym: accidentally, mistakenly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The girl inadvertently insulted the teacher if front of the class.
6.) Vindictive (p. 165)
Quote: "I gave Anvil one last vindictive look..." (p.165)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a strong dislike and desire for revenge
Synonym: revengeful
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The victim gave the bully a vindictive look as he walked down the hall.
7.) Sullen (p. 166)
Quote: "After a few sullen, bewildered moments..." (p.166)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a bad tempered, gloomy, or sad feeling
Synonym: sad, gloomy
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The boy said a few sullen words before bursting into tears.