Story Elements
What is the setting of Bud, Not Buddy?
Be sure to include:
- City, State
- Year
- Era
Flint, Michigan in 1936 during the Great Depression
Reread pages 21-22. Based on Bud's narration, what mood is being presented? explain
Bud is trying to present the overall feeling of being scared, fearful, or anxious because he describes his breathing as so loud that it sounds like 6 scared people were in the shed with him. The environment is described as grey and there are scary fish head guards blocking the door.
Why did Bud live at a foster home? Explain
Skim through page 2, recite the detail that reveals a historically accurate setting.
"...there's a depression going on all over this country. People can't find jobs and these are very, very difficult times for everybody." pg 2
“You can't be too sure, though, 'cause it shakes you up a whole lot more than grown folks think it does when perfectly good parts of your body commence to loosening up and falling off of you.”pg 5
What does commence mean as it is used in this sentence?
Commence means to begin, to start
What point of view is the story written in? Explain how the POV affects the story.
First person point of view because Bud is the narrator and the main character. We get insight into Bud's inner thoughts and feelings only.
Reread pg 73. What is the symbolic meaning of Bud's suitcase? Explain using text evidence
Bud carries the memory of his mom (family) in his suitcase.
Explain the importance (significance) of the blue flier in his suitcase.
Skim through chapter 6, explain how chapter 6 reveals a historically accurate setting.
The author made Bud visit the Mission, a soup kitchen. Soup kitchens were common during the Great Depression. Soup Kitchens provided free food to those in need. Many people ate at soup kitchens because they were poor, had no food or money.
“ ‘Not only have you struck him, you have provoked his asthma!’” pg 11
What does provoke mean as it is used in this sentence?
Prokove means to cause, to stir up
Read pgs 106-107; what character trait best describes Bud in this scene?
a) depressed and withdrawn
b) sadness and melancholy
c) daring and bold
d) timid and shy
Bud always refers back to his Rules and Things for having a funner life and making a better liar out of himself. Why does he make these rules?
He makes these rules to help him survive in the world without a mother and father to guide him.
Skim through chapter 7. Why does Bud leave the library disappointed?
The reason he leaves the library disappointed is because he went there to look for Ms. Hill. He was hoping that Ms. Hill could help him out but she got married and moved away to Chicago.
Describe what a hooverville is. How did come to existence?
A hooverville is a shanty town where homeless Americans lived. Hoovervilles came into existence because many people became poor and homeless during the Great Depression. The people were angry at the president for doing a poor job, so they named the shanty towns across the country after him.
"Man! I was on the lam. I was just like Public Enemy Number One. If J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI saw me now I'd be in some real serious hot water!" pg 35
What does on the lam mean as it is used in this sentence.
It means to be on the run, especially from authority or police.
"You might think or you might hear that things are better just down the line, but they're singing the same sad song all over the country" pg 68
What literary conflict is inferable from the detail above? Explain
a) character vs nature
b) character vs self
c) character vs character
d) character vs society
d) character vs society because no matter where Bud (or other people go) the society as a whole is suffering from the Great Depression. The problems are everywhere.
Read page 41. Find the detail that best describes how Bud feels about his mother using figurative language. What type of figurative language is it? What does it mean?
Bud describes his mother as a tornado because she was always moving. Describing her as a tornado implies she is unorganized, unruly, or disasterous.
How did Bud and Bugs get separated?
Bud and Bugs were trying to sneak onto a freight train. Bugs made it on the train but Bud wasn't fast enough. The train left with Bud stuck at the Hooverville and Bugs alone on the train going west.
In this plot event, Bud tries to board a freight train but is stopped by the railroad bulls. Railroad bulls were hired to prevent nonpaying customers on trains. The hooverville residents ran to board the train. Bud was unable to board.
"Boym" Mrs. Amos said, "I am not the least bit surprised at your show of ingratitude." pg 14
What does ingratitude mean as it is used in the sentence?
Ingratitude means ungrateful, not thankful
Explain how the setting of the novel contributes to the conflict Bud faces in the story.
“It’s funny how ideas are, in a lot of ways they’re just like seeds. Both of them start real small and then…woop, zoop, sloop…before you can say Jack Robinson they’ve gone and grown a lot bigger than you ever thought they could.” pg 91 and 92
Seeds are being compared to ideas. What type of figurative language is this? What does it reveal about Bud?
This reveals that Bud had an idea that is starting to really grow. He has a plan to go to Grand Rapids to find his father.
How did Bud end up in the middle of Owosso Michigan, a sundown town, at 2:30 AM?
Bud wanted to go to Grand Rapids to find his father and began walking from Flint in that direction. Along his journey he arrived in Owosso, Michigan. A town that doesn't let black people stay there (a sundown town)
Skim through chapter 10. Explain the setting's historical accuracy of this chapter.
Bud was walking around Owosso, Michigan at 2:30 am. Owosso was a sundown town which means black people weren't allowed to be there after the sunset. A man stopped Bud while he was walking in the town.
"She said, 'Don't you have no other kin here in Flint?'" pg 73
What does kin mean as it is used in this sentence?
Kin means family