VOCABULARY
What does the word pensive mean?
Thoughtful or deeply reflective.
What is the narrator's biggest hobby?
Fishing.
Who is the narrator of "Marigolds"?
Lizabeth.
Who are the two main characters in "Eraser Tattoo"?
John and Shay.
What does Sammy call the leader of the three girls?
Queenie.
If someone has an antipathy toward something, how do they feel about it?
They strongly dislike or have an aversion to it.
Who is Sheila Mant?
A teenage girl the narrator has a crush on.
Who grows the marigolds?
Miss Lottie.
What is happening to Shay's neighborhood?
It is experiencing gentrification and significant change.
Why does Lengel confront the girls?
He disapproves of their clothing and believes they are dressed inappropriately for the store.
What does it mean to do something surreptitiously?
To do it secretly or without being noticed.
What does the narrator catch while fishing?
A large bass.
Why does Lizabeth destroy the marigolds?
She is overwhelmed by anger, confusion, frustration, and the difficult circumstances surrounding her family.
What does John give Shay that becomes an important symbol in the story?
An eraser tattoo.
Why does Sammy quit his job?
He wants to stand up for the girls after Lengel confronts them.
Which vocabulary word means extreme sadness, hopelessness, or loss of hope?
Despondency.
What two things does the narrator struggle to choose between?
Keeping the bass and impressing Sheila.
What does Lizabeth overhear her father doing that deeply affects her?
She hears him crying.
How does the setting contribute to the story's conflict?
The changing neighborhood creates circumstances that threaten the stability of John and Shay's relationship.
What does Sammy expect will happen after he quits?
He seems to expect that the girls will notice or appreciate his action.
Which vocabulary word means intense emotional or physical suffering?
Anguish.
How does the narrator's relationship with Sheila contribute to the story's coming-of-age theme?
His desire to impress her causes him to make a choice that helps him recognize the importance of being true to himself.
What do the marigolds symbolize?
Hope, beauty, and the desire for something better despite poverty and difficult circumstances.
Why is the eraser tattoo an effective symbol?
An eraser can remove something, reflecting the characters' fear that their relationship and memories might be changed or erased by circumstances.
What does Sammy's decision to quit reveal about his character?
He wants to see himself as independent and rebellious, but he does not fully understand the consequences of his actions.