Girl of the Limberlost
Author: Gene Stratton-Porter
Assignments – Part II
Chapters 13-25
© 2002 Elaine E. Schneider
(Note: If you do not have a dictionary that you like, I recommend Merriam-Webster's School Dictionary. One source for purchase of this dictionary is found here, http://www.lessontutor.com/ltcreate9home.html
Chapter 13
Synopsis from the text:
Elnora meets Philip Ammon.
Vocabulary:
1. The Word: fatalist
In Context: “’This is overwhelming,’ she said at last. ‘It is making a fatalist of me. I am beginning to think things happen as they are ordained from the beginning…’” (p.257)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
2. The Word: valiant
In Context: “Valiant as she was in any good cause, this time she was compelled to admit that she was defeated. ” (p.258)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
3. The Word: deftly
In Context: “He had a queer basket strapped on his hip, and with a small rod he sent a long line spinning before him down the creek, deftly manipulating with it a little floating object.” (p.261)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
4. The Word: languid
In Context: “’I wonder how it would feel to be a pale languid lady and ride in a carriage.’” (p. 263)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
5. The Word: contemplation
In Context: “…Elnora’s bright head and her lavender dress made a picture worthy of much contemplation.” (p.264)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
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Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
6. The Word: parry (parried)
In Context:
“’…Don’t you want help?’
Elnora parried the question.
‘Have you ever hunted moths, Mr. Ammon?’”
(p.264)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
7. The Word: incentive
In Context: “’You haven’t said yet whether I may help you…It would keep me outdoors all day and give an incentive to work.’” (p.266)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: _______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
8. The Word: undulant
In Context: “There was an undulant, caressing sweetness in the girl’s voice as she sung out the call in perfect confidence that it would bring a loving answer…” (p.267)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
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Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
9. The Word: vile
In Context: “’But if people will live where they have such vile water as they do in Chicago, I don’t see what else they are to expect.’” (p.268)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
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Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
10. The Word: intersperse (interspersed)
In Context: “…the flower garden ablaze with beds of bright bloom interspersed with strawberries and tomatoes…” (p.271)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
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Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
11. The Word: arbour (Today, it is spelled arbor.)
In Context: “He was ravenous for the buttermilk, and when he stretched on the bench in the arbour, the flickering patches of sunlight so tantalized his tired eyes, while the bees made such splendid music, he was soon sound asleep.” (p.271)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
12. The Word: tantalize
In Context: “He was ravenous for the buttermilk, and when he stretched on the bench in the arbour, the flickering patches of sunlight so tantalized his tired eyes, while the bees made such splendid music, he was soon sound asleep.” (p.271)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
Writing Assignment:
Consider the following passages:
Elnora held up a lump of sugar and the butterfly, clinging to her finger, tasted daintily. With eager eyes and parted lips, the girl held steadily. When at last it wavered away, ‘That made a picture!’ said Ammon. ‘Ask me some other time how I lost my illusions concerning butterflies. I always thought of them in connection with sunshine, flower pollen, and fruit nectar, until one sad day. (page 273)
‘What did he mean about the
butterflies?’
‘That he always had connected
them with sunshine, flowers, and fruits, and thought of them as the most
exquisite of creations; then one day he found some clustering thickly over
carrion.’” (p. 275)
Your assignment is to write
a five-paragraph paper entitled:
Butterflies – Soaring or
Scavenging?
Here is the beginning of
an outline for you:
I. Introduction
II. Butterflies – general
information (do a little research here)
III. Soaring – common perceptions
about butterflies (Be sure to refer to the first quote from page 273 somewhere
in your paragraph.)
IV. Scavenging – reality
(Be sure to refer to the second quote here from page 275.)
V. Conclusion – sum up and
wrap up butterflies, especially the information that refers to soaring
and scavenging
Chapter 14
Synopsis from the text:
A new position is tendered
Elnora, and Philip Ammon is shown Limberlost violets.
Vocabulary:
1. The Word: myriad
In Context:
“’What are fall things?’
‘Oh, fringed gentians, asters,
ironwort, every fall flower, leaves from every tree and vine…abandoned
bird nests, winter quarters for caterpillars and insects, what becomes
of the butterflies and grasshoppers – just myriads of stuff.’” (p.278)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
2. The Word: pathetic
In Context: “’Can I really help you?’ Mrs. Comstock’s strong face was pathetic. ” (p.278)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
3. The Word: coquetry
In Context: “She might as well have been a boy, so lacking was she in any touch of feminine coquetry toward him.” (p.283)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
4. The Word: unfathomable
In Context: “’It takes the large wisdom of the Unfathomable, the philosophy of the Almighty, to bear some of it.’” (p. 284)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
5. The Word: constitute
In Context: “’Now, work that I love has come – that should constitute happiness.’” (p.284)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
6. The Word: surpass
In Context: “Elnora knelt, and slipping her fingers through the leaves and grasses to the roots, gathered a few violets and gave them to Philip. ‘Can your city greenhouses surpass them?’ she asked.” (p.285)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
7. The Word: cyanide
In Context: “So they set out, Ammon carrying the dope, Elnora the net, Billy and Mrs. Comstock following with cyanide boxes and lanterns.” (p.288)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: _______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
8. The Word: pretense
In Context: “’If I can find a hidden moth, slip up and catch it unawares, or take it in full flight, it’s my captive, and I can keep it until it dies naturally. But this way, you seem to get it under false pretenses, it has no chance, and it will probably ruin its wings struggling for freedom before morning.’” (p.289)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
9. The Word: beau
In Context: “’Is that
man going to be your beau?’
‘Billy! No! What made you think such a thing?’
‘Aunt Margaret said likely he would fall in love with you , and you wouldn’t
want me around anymore.’” (p.290)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
Writing Assignment:
none
Chapter 15
Synopsis from the text:
Mrs. Comstock faces the
Almighty, and Philip Ammon writes a letter.
Vocabulary:
1. The Word: consume
In Context: “’I am consumed with anxiety to learn if we have made a catch.’” (p.291)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
2. The Word: pursy
In Context: “It climbed up the wood, its stout legs dragging a big pursy body, while it wildly flapped tiny wings the size of a man’s thumbnail.” (p.294)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
3. The Word: exquisite
In Context: “The outside of the wings thus exposed was far richer color, more exquisite texture than the under (side), and they (the wings) slowly half lifted and drooped again.” (p.297)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
4. The Word: grosbeak
In Context: “Ammon leaned back in the arbor, watching the grosbeak as it hunted food between a tomato vine and a day lily.” (p. 304)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
5. The Word: conservatory
In Context: “’I must tell you about his music. I am sure he never saw inside a conservatory. I think he merely picked up what he knows by ear and without vocal training, but there is a tenderness in his tones, a depth of pure melody, that I never have heard surpassed.’” (p.306)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
Writing Assignment:
Consider the following passage
from this chapter:
“Maybe earth and air
accumulate, but it takes the wisdom of the Almighty
God to devise the wing of a moth. If there ever was a miracle, this whole
process is one.”
Do you believe in miracles?
Why or why not? Write a paragraph of at least 150 words.
Chapter 16
Synopsis from the text:
The Limberlost sings for
Ammon, and the talking trees tell great secrets.
Vocabulary:
1. The Word: granger
In Context: “’…I should think the moth hunting and life at that cabin would be very good for you, but…keep away from that Grosbeak person and don’t come home with your head full of granger ideas.’” (p.309)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
2. The Word: perennial
In Context: “’No doubt he has a remarkable voice, but I can’t bear untrained singers, and don’t you get the idea that a June song is perennial.’” (p.309)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
3. The Word: gad
In Context: “’You are not hearing the music he will make when the four babies get the scarlet fever and the measles and the gadding wife leaves him at home to care for them. Poor soul, I pity her!…No wonder she gads when she has a chance!’” (p.309)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
4. The Word: recompense
In Context:
“’…I never shall ask her to deal with oily butter and frozen pumps-‘
‘– and measly babies,’ interpolated Elnora.
‘Exactly!’ said Ammon. ‘Just the same, I find so much to counterbalance
those things, that I should not object to bearing them myself, in view
of the recompense.’” (p. 310)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
5. The Word: vagabond
In Context: “’…I have a vagabond streak in my blood and it’s in evidence. I am going to show you where real flowers grow, real birds sing, and if I feel quite right about it, perhaps I shall raise a note or two myself.’” (p.311)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
6. The Word: revelation
In Context: “To the man it was a revelation. He stood…stunned.” (p.315)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
7. The Word: clarity
In Context: “’…I never met (anyone) who could begin to compare with you in sanity, clarity, and interesting knowledge.’” (p.317)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
8. The Word: revolutionize
In Context: “’I am not sure but I have found an idea that will revolutionize the whole course of my work, thought, and ambitions.’” (p.318)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
9. The Word: epitomize
In Context: “’What one thing epitomizes the whole month, and makes it just a little different from any other?’” (p.319)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
10. The Word: consummate
In Context: “’…it’s June, when it comes to these great, velvet-winged night moths which sweep its moonlit skies, consummating their scheme of creation, and dropping like a bloomed-out flower.’” (p.319)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
11. The Word: disconsolately
In Context: “A whip-poor-will wailed in the swamp and back by the blue-bordered pool a chat complained disconsolately.” (p.322)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
Writing Assignment:
Consider the following passage
from this chapter:
“The world is full of happy people, but no one ever hears of them. You have to fight and make a scandal to get into the papers. No one knows about all the happy people. I am happy myself, and just look how perfectly inconspicuous I am.”
Write a paragraph about what it means to be happy. Be imaginative in how you present your thoughts and avoid these phrases: I think, I believe, it is my opinion, to me, and some people think.
Chapter 17
Synopsis from the text:
Mrs. Comstock dances in
the moonlight and Elnora makes a confession.
Vocabulary:
1. The Word: tumult
In Context: “The violin was in the grape arbor, singing like mad, singing a perfect jumble of everything, poured out in an exultant tumult.” (p.323)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
2. The Word: suffice
In Context: “He was not a spy and not a sneak. He merely wanted to satisfy his child-heart as to whether Mrs. Comstock was at home, and Elnora at last playing her loved violin with her mother’s consent. One peep sufficed.” (p.323)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
3. The Word: reminiscent
In Context: “Elnora had been avoiding carefully every note that might be reminiscent of her father.” (p.324)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
4. The Word: impetus
In Context: “Ammon … caught her in his arms, while to Elnora’s laughter and the violin’s impetus, they danced until they dropped panting on the arbor bench.” (p. 324)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
5. The Word: haven
In Context: “’Listen! …Elnora’s playing her violin at home! And Aunt Kate is dancing like anything … Oh, Aunt Margaret!’ Billy fled to his haven and sobbed on Margaret’s breast.” (p.324)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
6. The Word: slew
In Context: “’I remember,’ said Mrs. Comstock. ‘They are mighty pretty things. I’ve started up slews of them from the vines covering the logs, all my life.’” (p.326)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
7. The Word: spry
In Context: “’I must be cautious and catch them after this, but they seem powerful spry.’” (pp.326-327)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
8. The Word: cinch
In Context: “’I’ve had the rarest thing on earth in reach this many a day and only had the wit to cinch it just as it was going. I best I don’t let anything else escape me.’”(p.327)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
9. The Word: implicitly
In Context: “Next morning Ammon came early, and he and Elnora went at once to the fields and woods. Mrs. Comstock had come to believe so implicitly in him that she now stayed at home to complete the work before she joined them…” (p.327)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
10. The Word: impertinent
In Context: “They all lunched together in the shade of a wild crab thicket…the gold orioles streaking the air with flashes of light…while the red-wings, as always, asked the most impertinent questions.’” (p.327)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
11. The Word: prostrate
In Context: “It seemed as if every old gray tree-trunk, slab of loose bark, and prostrate log yielded the flashing gray treasures…” (p.328)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
12. The Word: paraphernalia
In Context: “Elnora got the jar and began gathering up paraphernalia. ‘When you make a find like that,’ she said, ‘it’s the right time to quit…’” (p.329)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
13. The Word: precede
In Context: “He took the greater part of the load and stepped aside for Elnora to precede him. She went down the path...” (p.329)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
14. The Word: hamper/hampered
In Context: “’I will gather
what you have here.’
‘Never mind. There is nothing of importance. I don’t want to be hampered.
I’ll send for it if I miss anything I need.’” (p.334)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
15. The Word: ghastly
In Context: “Then she saw, and stopped, gasping for breath. Her hands flew up and her lined face grew ghastly.” (p.338)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
Writing Assignment:
none
Chapter 18
Synopsis from the text:
Mrs. Comstock experiments
with rejuvenation, and Elnora teaches natural history.
Vocabulary:
1. The Word: rejuvenation
In Context: “Mrs. Comstock experiments with rejuvenation.” (p.341)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
2. The Word: grist
In Context: “’I think the mills of the gods are grinding this grist,’ said Elnora, ‘and we might as well wait patiently until they choose to send a Yellow Emperor.’” (p.341)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
3. The Word: dogged
In Context: “She had worked in dogged determination until she was exhausted.” (p.342)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
4. The Word: aggregate
In Context: “The aggregate of these sums had been compounding interest throughout the years.” (pp. 343-344)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
5. The Word: wicket
In Context: “Through her sick heart rushed the realization, that if she merely had stood before that wicket and asked one question, she would have known that all those bitter years of skimping for Elnora and herself had been unnecessary.” (p.344)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
6. The Word: extravagance
In Context: “She picked up the pencil and, with rash extravagance, wrote, ‘Found money at bank didn’t know about.’” (p.344)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
7. The Word: tansy
In Context: “Later she went out by the west fence and gathered an armful of tansy which she boiled to a thick green tea.” (pp.344-345)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
8. The Word: poultice
In Context: “She bandaged each hand and arm with the mixture and plastered the soggy, evil smelling stuff in a thick poultice over her face and neck.”(p.345)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
9. The Word: quaint
In Context: “Inside she could see bare polished floors, walls freshly papered in low-toned harmonious colors, straw rugs and madras curtains.” (p.346)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
10. The Word: accumulate
In Context: “…I went bareheaded and took all the color I accumulated.” (p.349)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
11. The Word: retrospection
In Context: “There was nothing in the new life to remind her of the old, while it seemed as if there never came a minute for retrospection…” (p.350)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
12. The Word: tedious
In Context: “Elnora was delighted with them (glass-covered plastic casts for carrying the moths) and at once began the tedious process of softening the mounted moths and fitting them to the casts molded to receive them.” (p.329)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
Writing Assignment:
The author leads us into
this chapter with the thought of Elnora’s mom experimenting with rejuvenation.
We then read how Mrs. Comstock seeks to upgrade her appearance to “fit
in” more with the times. Write a paragraph describing how you would rejuvenate
someone close to you – your mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, older sister, aunt,
uncle – you pick! Be sure that you use words that are descriptive. And
choose words that are exciting. For example, don’t tell me that you wish
your mother would “dye her hair.” Tell me that you want your mom to have
“golden hair with highlights that shimmer in the sunshine.” Also try interesting
verbs! Avoid overusing the “same old” verbs you always use: am, are, have,
is, and has. Do a little thinking and choose verbs that convey strong meanings.
There is one restriction for this paper: you are limited to 150-200 words.
That means your essay must be at least 150 words but no more than 200.
If you were to write an article for the newspaper, a magazine, or an online
publication, you would have to make your piece fit within the constraints
the editor sets forth. Learn to economize on the number of words by writing
with quality words!
Chapter 19
Synopsis from the text:
Philip Ammon gives a ball
in honor of Edith Carr, and Hart Henderson appears on the scene.
Vocabulary:
1. The Word: trousseau
In Context: “Edith Carr stood (near) the Lake Shore Club House waiting while Philip Ammon gave some important orders. In a few days she would sail for Paris to select a wonderful trousseau she had planned for her marriage in October.” (p.354)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
2. The Word: array
In Context: “Everyone was newly arrayed in her honor in the loveliest clothing…” (pp.354-355)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
3. The Word: embodiment
In Context: “I want you to be the very essence of June that night, as you will be the embodiment of love. Be a moth.” (p.355)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
4. The Word: fragmentary
In Context: “But in all the fragmentary thoughts crossing her brain the one that never came was that of Philip Ammon as the Emperor.” (p. 356)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
5. The Word: sleuth
In Context: “I knew when I heard about it how you would look, so I started a sleuth hunt, to get the first peep.” (p.357)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
6. The Word: petulance
In Context: “It said that in a fit of petulance you had broken your engagement with Ammon twice this winter…” (p.357)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
7. The Word: adage
In Context: “But you are the only woman in the world for me, and while you are free, as I now see my light, I stay by you. You know the old adage.” (p.358)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
8. The Word: pavilion
In Context: “The great open dancing pavilion was draped with yellow silk caught up with lilac flowers.” (p.361)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
9. The Word: vexation
In Context: “The girl’s face flushed, while she bit her lip in vexation.” (p.362)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
10. The Word: perverse
In Context: “The idolized only daughter of the Carr family hoped that she would drop dead from mortification, but nothing happened. She was too perverse to step aside laughingly and say that she was waiting for Philip.” (p.364)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
11. The Word: betrothed
In Context: “’My betrothed left me here,’ she said. ‘Here I shall remain until he returns for me, and then – he will be my betrothed no longer!’” (p.365)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
12. The Word: frigid
In Context: “’How did you think I was going on?’ demanded Edith Carr in frigid tones.” (p.366)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
13. The Word: infamous
In Context: “’You won’t even
hear what I have to say?…’
‘Never! Your conduct is infamous!’”
(p.366)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
14. The Word: rouse
In Context: “’Miss Carr is ill,’ he said to the footman. ‘Rouse her maid instantly, and have her prepare something hot as quickly as possible.’” (p.369)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
Writing Assignment:
none
Chapter 20
Synopsis from the text:
The elder Ammon (Philip’s
dad) offer advice and Edith Carr experiences regret.
Vocabulary:
1. The Word: traverse
In Context: “He walked straight ahead, paying no heed to where he went. He had traversed many miles when he became aware that his feet had chosen familiar streets.” (p.371)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
2. The Word: congenial
In Context: “I never met any girl so downright noble in bearing and actions. I never hated anything as I hated leaving her, for we were dear friends, like two wholly congenial men.” (p.375)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
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Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
3. The Word: mater
In Context: “…she would go into actual physical fits and spasms over some of the household crises I’ve seen the mater meet with a smile.” (p.376)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
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Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
4. The Word: condolence
In Context: “I do not need pitying glances or rough condolences.” (p. 377)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
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Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
5. The Word: curt (adjective) curtly (adverb)
In Context: “He held out
the ring. ‘I have no instructions as to that,’ said the elder Ammon…Possibly
Miss Carr would have it as a keepsake.’
‘I am sure not,’ said Henderson curtly.” (p.379)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
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Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
6. The Word: hansom
In Context: “Going out on the streets, he walked until exhausted, then he called a hansom, and was driven to his club.” (p.379)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
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Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
7. The Word: saunter
In Context: “As he sauntered into the room, an attendant hurried to him.” (p.380)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
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Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
Writing Assignment:
Consider the following quote:
Seeing the change in her face, and hearing her meaningless accusations, killed something in his heart. Warmth went out and a cold weight took its place…(page 371)
Death cannot return to life, father. My love for Edith Carr is dead. (page 377)
Do you believe love can die?
Write a paragraph. Support your opinion with examples.
Chapter 21
Synopsis from the text:
Philip Ammon returns to
the Limberlost, and Elnora studies the situation.
Vocabulary:
1. The Word: tolerate
In Context: “’I’ll admit that you did the square thing and was a man last summer, though I’d like it better if you’d faced up and told me you were promised; but to come back here babying, ‘cause you have had a fuss with your girl, I don’t tolerate.’” (p.384)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
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Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
2. The Word: catamount
In Context: “’I’ve suffered enough in this world that I fight against any suffering which threatens her. So far as I know, you’ve always been a man, and you may stay. But if you bring tears and heartache to her, don’t have the assurance to think I’ll bear it tamely. I’ll get right up and fight like a catamount, if things go wrong for Elnora!’” (p.386)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
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Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
3. The Word: refuge
In Context: “’The fact is, I don’t care why you came. It is enough for me that we are your very good friends, and that in trouble you have found us a refuge.’” (p.387)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
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Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
4. The Word: iota
In Context: “’I
fancy we had better live a week or two before you say anything. There is
a possibility what you have to say may change in that length of time.’
‘It will not change one iota!’ cried Ammon.” (p. 387)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
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Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
5. The Word: commotion
In Context: “From afar commotion could be seen at the Sinton home. Wesley and Margaret were running around wildly and peculiar sounds filled the air.” (p.391)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
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Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
6. The Word: cholera
In Context: “’Cholera!’ groaned Sinton. ‘My hogs are dying like flies.’” (p.392)
Guess the Meaning:________________________________________________________________
Dictionary Definition: ________________________________________________________________________
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Your Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
7. The Word: antidote
In Context: “When the Sintons left, she kissed Billy with partic