Word Roots
The Greek root graph means "to write." What does the word autograph most likely mean?
A signature or something written by yourself
What are the three types of narrative point of view?
First person, third-person limited, third-person omniscient.
What is the difference between internal and external conflict?
Internal is a struggle inside a character's mind; external is a struggle against an outside force.
What kind of animal does Uncle Tommy care for at his home?
Hawks, owls, and eagles — injured birds of prey
How does Uncle Tommy know Mitchell's father?
He knew him when Mitchell's father played baseball at Haskell Indian School, where Tommy was teaching in the crafts program.
The Greek root phon means "sound." What does the word microphone most likely mean?
A device that makes sound louder or captures it
In first-person point of view, who is telling the story?
A character inside the story, using I, me, my.
Mitchell strikes out twenty times in a row. Is this an example of internal or external conflict — or both?
Both — external because he is failing at the game, internal because of the grief and pressure he carries every time he steps on the field
Uncle Tommy never cages or ties down his birds. What does that detail tell you about him?
He respects freedom and trusts nature; he does not try to control things... he lets them find their own way.
After Mitchell strikes out for the twentieth time, Uncle Tommy is waiting alone in the bleachers. What does that action tell you about him?
He is dedicated to Mitchell and cares for him like a parent. He shows up without being asked and stays without explanation.
The Greek root kryptos means "hidden." What does the word cryptic most likely mean?
Mysterious or unclear; something hidden
When Mitchell tells us what his mom is thinking, can we trust that he is 100% correct? Why or why not?
No... he is the narrator and can only guess at her thoughts; first person limits us to his perspective.
What does Mitchell want most in this story, and what is getting in the way?
He wants to feel connected to his father; his grief and inability to separate baseball from losing his dad gets in the way.
Uncle Tommy asks Mitchell: "How can this hawk catch a bird in flight at ninety miles an hour?" What is the answer Mitchell figures out?
The hawk does not see where the bird is... it sees where the bird is going to be.
Uncle Tommy rarely gives Mitchell direct answers. Instead, what does he do?
He asks questions and lets Mitchell figure things out himself.
The Greek root pathos means "feeling" or "suffering." Which word comes from this root: sympathy, pathogen, or photograph?
Sympathy
How does first-person point of view limit what a reader can know about other characters?
We only see other characters through the narrator's eyes. We cannot access their actual thoughts or feelings directly.
Mitchell yells "I quit!" and throws his glove. Is this moment mostly about baseball, or something deeper? Explain.
Something deeper... it is his internal conflict boiling over; he is not just frustrated with the game but overwhelmed by grief and pressure.
At the big game, a hawk appears and does something unexpected. What does it do, and how does Mitchell react?
It catches Mitchell's would-be home run ball in its claws and flies toward the mountains; Mitchell whispers "You got it, Dad."
Uncle Tommy tells Mitchell "your mind is getting clear, but you still need to train your eye." What are the two things he is saying Mitchell needs to work on?
His emotional clarity is improving (internal conflict resolving) but his physical skill still needs development.
Mitchell describes himself as "pathetic" with a glove and a bat. Using the root pathos, explain what Mitchell is really saying about himself.
He is saying he is pitiful or deserving of pity, his performance causes suffering or makes others feel sorry for him.
Mitchell describes his mom smiling while her fists crush the soda can. Is he telling us what she thinks, or what he observes? What is the difference?
He is observing her body language and inferring her feelings. That is different from claiming to know her thoughts, which he cannot actually access.
By the end of the story, has Mitchell's internal conflict been resolved? Use evidence from the story to support your answer.
Yes, Mitchell's conflict is resolved. He lets go of his anger and puts his heart in the game. When the hawk takes his ball he says "You got it, Dad," showing he has found a way to feel connected to his father through baseball.
The hawk appears several times in the story. Name two different things it does and explain how each one connects to Mitchell's story.
It teaches Mitchell a lesson about seeing where the ball will be, which helps him improve
It also catches his home run ball during the game, which helps him feel connected to his father and resolve his grief
How does Uncle Tommy help Mitchell resolve his internal conflict? Use at least two specific moments from the story.
He waits in the bleachers after the game and asks questions instead of giving answers, helping Mitchell realize he plays for his dad; he then trains Mitchell using the hawk to teach him to see where the ball will be, giving him both emotional and physical tools to succeed.