Characters & Relationships
Who is the narrator of the story?
Travis
In what general region and time period does Old Yeller take place?
Texas in the 1860s (rural, frontier).
What does "whetted" mean?
Sparked or Fueled
Why does Travis worry about being left in charge of the family?
He worries about the farm’s safety, feeding animals, and proving he can manage without his father.
What is one theme introduced in chapters 1–8 (example choices: responsibility, growing up, loyalty)?
Responsibility (also growing up, loyalty).
Name Travis’s younger brother and describe one thing he often does that gets him in trouble.
Little Arliss — mischievous; often bothers animals or acts without thinking.
What job does Travis take over when his father leaves?
Running the ranch/farm and caring for livestock and household chores.
Use "whetted" in a sentence about Travis or Old Yeller from chapters 1–8.
Sample sentence: "Old Yeller's bold act whetted Travis’s hope that the dog could help protect the family." (Students may produce similar context-based sentences)
What happens when Old Yeller first brings a raccoon or other wild animal to the house? (Summarize briefly.)
Old Yeller brings wild game (like a raccoon); this shows his hunting skills and prompts mixed reactions from the family.
How does Old Yeller show loyalty in the first eight chapters? Give one example.
Example: Old Yeller defends the family or brings food, showing he cares for them.
Who brings Old Yeller to the Coates’ farm and why does the dog stay?
Old Yeller wanders in on his own; he stays after proving useful and loyal to the family.
Name two tasks Travis must do to care for the farm while his father is away.
Examples: feeding animals, checking fences, chopping wood, and watching younger siblings.
What does "wallowing" mean as used in the book?
"Wallowing" means rolling around, often in mud or dirt, or indulging in a situation; in the book it can describe an animal rolling on the ground.
Explain the scene where Travis protects Little Arliss. What does this show about Travis?
Travis protects Little Arliss from danger or rough play, showing bravery, responsibility, and care for his brother.
Make an inference: Why might Travis be stubborn about keeping Old Yeller even when others warn him?
Travis sees Old Yeller’s usefulness and loyalty and feels responsible to protect his family, making him stubborn about keeping the dog.
Describe the relationship between Travis and his father in chapters 1–8.
Travis respects his father, feels pressure to prove himself, and begins learning independence while following his father's expectations.
Describe the first big event that makes the family accept Old Yeller as part of the household.
The family accepts Old Yeller after he helps by bringing game or defending the homestead (students should reference the specific event in their edition).
Use "wallowing" in a sentence describing Old Yeller or another animal in the story.
Sample sentence: "Old Yeller was wallowing in the sun-soaked dirt after a long day of hunting."
What problem does Buck solve on the ranch and how does that affect Travis’s workload?
Buck (or other help) handles some animal-control tasks — teacher should confirm specifics from the edition used.
What lesson does Travis begin to learn about being a man of the household? Use a chapter example to support your answer.
He begins to learn to make hard choices, protect family, and handle chores without being told — for example, guarding animals or confronting danger.
Explain how Old Yeller changes Travis’s feelings about responsibility by the end of chapter 8.
By chapter 8, Travis accepts feeding and guarding duties and begins protecting family members, showing increased responsibility.
How does the setting (rural frontier life) create challenges for the Coates family in these chapters? Give two examples from the text.
Examples: isolation limits access to medical help; wild animals threaten livestock and safety; long travel to town for supplies.
Define "dingy" and use it in a sentence.
"Dingy" means gloomy and drab; An example might be: The dingy cabin was our home for the night.
Sequence these events in order: (A) Old Yeller fights a wild animal; (B) Travis takes over chores; (C) The family decides to keep Old Yeller; (D) Travis defends Little Arliss. Put them in correct order and give a one-sentence explanation for each placement.
Typical order: B (Travis takes over chores), C (family decides to keep Old Yeller), A (Old Yeller fights a wild animal), D (Travis defends Little Arliss). Provide one-sentence reasons based on the text for each placement.
Compare Travis’s character at the start of chapter 1 with his character at the end of chapter 8. Name two specific changes.
Start: more unsure and boylike; End: more responsible and protective. Causes: taking on chores, bonding with Old Yeller, and facing dangers.