Medical & Early Intervention
This medical tool was used by the doctor on Straight Beak's beak during his first check-up.
What is a stethoscope?
This specific association honored the school principal with a plaque.
What is the AG Beak Association?
In the bird world allegory, the "Eagles" represent this real-world group.
Who are hearing people (the hearing world)?
SB's parents asked these people to take care of him after their death.
Who are his siblings?
These are eaten in the valley as a symbol of the natural, ease-filled Deaf lifestyle.
What are berries?
This is the specific physical trait the parents were focused on when they repeatedly signed "still __________ __________."
What is "straight beaked"?
Because of his "disability," Straight Beak was placed on this track instead of the college track.
What is a vocational track?
The school’s philosophy that a diploma makes them "eagles" corresponds to this historical philosophy in Deaf education.
What is oralism?
The parents' request for SB to be "cared for" implies that his place in the eagle world is one of this.
What is a dependent (or a burden/lower status)?
This represents the "gatekeeper" to the eagle world, ensuring the birds are "fixed" before they leave.
What is the diploma (or graduation ceremony)?
This parent initially questions whether Straight Beak’s condition is actually severe.
Who is Mama?
This is why the teacher was "infuriated" with the birds in Chapter 3.
What were their future ambitions?
The "Valley" and "Singing" represent this positive aspect of the Deaf experience.
What is Deaf Culture (or the Deaf community)?
This character pleaded with a rabbit, showing a desperate awareness of their own lack of skills.
Who is Straight Beak?
This feeling or action by Straight Beak prevents him from "acculturating" with the other birds.
What is resistance (or awareness of his own difference)?
This is the primary conflict that begins as soon as the straight-beaked bird is hatched.
What is the conflict/disagreement between the parents?
The teacher continued to praise Straight Beak despite his inability to perform this specific eagle skill.
What is hunting?
This specific physical intervention serves as a metaphor for forced speech therapy.
What is beak bending?
This person provided "assurances" to Mama that were very similar to the failed medical attempts to cure SB.
Who is the Principal?
Straight Beak realizes he can be set "free" only after identifying his state of being __________.
What is imprisoned?
These are the two primary physical "treatments" or "corrections" used to try and fix the birds' differences.
What are beak bending and wing stretching?
This object is used at the school to test hunting competence, though SB's failure with it proves his education was lacking.
What is a dummy rabbit?
Straight Beak’s "epiphany" at the end of Chapter 6 is the realization that he has been living in this state.
What is "imprisoned"?
This is the primary reason SB's career potential was limited in Chapter 4.
What is being placed on a vocational track?
This is the underlying attitude found in all of SB's childhood "treatments."
What is the need to "fix" or "cure" him (pathological view)?