Plot/Setting
What state does this story take place in?
Oklahoma
A 13 year old girl who loves to play the piano
Billie Jo
What is "symbolism"
the use of symbols in art or literature to represent concepts or ideas in a figurative way.
Animate objects representing inanimate ideas
What is theme?
The message about life that the author wants you to know
What makes the people of Oklahoma begin to think that the dust plague might be over?
(a) A week of rain (b) Two days of clear blue (c) Much cooler weather (d) A rainbow
(a) A week of rain
Name two environmental issues that are affecting Billie Jo and her family
1. Dust Storms
2. Drought
This person left the kerosene near the stove
Daddy (Bayard Kelby)
Dust symbolizes:
hardship
poverty
the ends of hopes and dreams
death
Explain how the theme "It's important to forgive others" relates to the book, "Out of the Dust"
Billie Jo must learn that she has to forgive herself and her father in order to "make peace" with the past.
Why is Mad Dog leaving?
(a) To go to college (b) To work on the railroad (c) To sing on the radio (d) To work for the power company
(C) to sing on the radio
This time period that this story takes place in. Characteristics of this time period included: a lack of jobs, money, stable housing, and other resources
The Great Depression
This woman taught Billie Jo how to play the piano
Ma
Hope
Explain how the theme "It's important to persevere through hard times" relates to the book, "Out of the Dust"
Billie Jo and her family have to keep trying despite the difficulties that they face. Daddy must persevere through farming troubles and the death of his wife. Billie Jo must persevere through the death of her mother and the difficulties she faces in playing the piano with her hands.
Billie Jo is worried that her father has:
(a) the Flu (b) Chicken Pox (c) Cancer (d) Measles
(C) Cancer
Billie Jo's biggest problem in the story is...
The guilt she feels for her mother's death
Billie Jo's talented friend. Billie Jo hopes that he will court her.
Mad Dog
In the poem, "Apples", the apples symbolized...
Growth
Hope
Hard-work
Explain how the theme "family is important" relates to the book, "Out of the Dust"
Billie Jo learns that her father is the only family that she has and she much cherish that despite her feelings towards him.
How does Billie Jo feel when Livie moves away?
(a) Happy (b) Jealous (c) Angry (d) Indifferent
(b) Jealous
How does Billie Jo try to leave her home?
She boards a train headed West.
A music teacher who believes in Billie Jo's piano playing
Arley Wanderdale
"I still feel grateful she didn't make cranberry sauce" symbolizes what about Louise?
That she is not trying to take Billie Jo's mothers place
Explain how the theme "the grass isn't always greener on the other side" relates to the book, "Out of the Dust"
Billie Jo longs to leave her home to find a better life, but learns when she is on her own that things are always better when you are on your own. Leaving problems doesn't mean that you wont find new ones.
What does the man on the train leave Billie Jo?
(a) more biscuits (b) a dime (c) nothing (d) a picture of his family
(d) a picture of his family