The Story
(Plot & Characters)
Figurative Language
Tone & Mood
Setting & Conflict
Vocabulary
100

Who is the main character in The Banana Tree?

Gustus

100

What type of figurative language is this: “The wind roared like a beast.”

Simile

100

What is the tone of the story’s climax when Gustus clings to the banana tree?

Intense, desperate, fearful.

100

Where does The Banana Tree take place?

A rural banana plantation.

100

What word in the following sentence defines "merciless"? 

From its very buildup the hurricane meant to show it was merciless, unstoppable, and with its might, changed landscapes. 

unstoppable 

200

What is Gustus trying to protect during the storm?

His family’s banana tree

200

What type of figurative language is this: “The trees danced wildly in the storm.”

Personification

200

How does the mood shift from the beginning to the end of the story?

From calm to suspenseful to reflective.

200

How does the setting impact the story’s conflict?

The storm puts Gustus in danger, forcing him to fight to save the tree.

200

What does "impeded" mean in the following sentence: 

Because the bridge was washed away, the hazardous roundabout journey had badly impeded them. 

interferred with or slowed the progress of 

300

Describe the relationship between Gustus and his father. 

Their relationship is strained and Gustus feels like his father doesn't understand him. 

300

The author says that the storm is a monster. What type of figurative language is this? 

Metaphor 

300

What words in the passage “The sky darkened, and the wind howled” contribute to the tone?

“darkened” and “howled” create tension.

300

What would happen if the story took place in a different setting, such as a city?

The conflict would change; a banana tree wouldn’t be as important.

300

Relentlessly means endlessly, without stopping. Write a sentence that properly uses the word "relentlessly." 

Answers will vary

400

How does Gustus change from the beginning to the end of the story?

He matures and understands hard work & sacrifice.

400

How does the figurative language in the story affect the tone?

It makes the storm feel more intense and dramatic. It brings it to life!

400

What is the tone in the final scene when Gustus sees the destroyed banana grove?

Somber, reflective, but also proud.

400

How does the storm symbolize Gustus’s personal struggle?

Just like the storm tests the tree’s strength, it also tests his determination.

400

The calamity, or disastrous event, in "The Banana Tree" is the hurricane. List three calamities that have occurred in history. 

Answers will vary 

500

What is the theme of The Banana Tree?

Perseverance, resilience, or sacrifice

500

Take the part of the story when Gustus sees the destroyed tree, and write a sentence using a simile, metaphor, hyperpole, or personification. 

Answers will vary

500

How does the author create a suspenseful mood?

Through imagery, short sentences, and figurative language.

500

List three different conflicts in the text with their conflict type. 

The hurricane destroying land (character vs. nature) 

Gustus and his father are not getting along (character vs. character) 

Gustus decides if he should save the banana tree (character vs. self) 

500

If you could change one part of the story, what would it be and why?

Open-ended.

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