The Basics
Who is the author of the story?
Dennis Fertig
What was Martha sick with?
Polio
Who are the major and minor characters?
Major: Martha Mason; Minor: Martha's parents and Gaston Mason
Choose one of the four vocabulary words and use it in a sentence that you come up with.
Answers will vary.
What was a disease that was widespread in the 1940s and 50s?
Polio
How many paragraphs is the story?
17
What happened to Martha's brother?
He died from Polio.
How old was Martha when she passed away?
71
What does paralyzed mean?
One or more sections of your body is not able to move (i.e., your legs, or your body below your head).
Why was this story written about Martha?
She was paralyzed due to Polio.
What point of the view is the story told from?
Third-person
Why was Martha in an iron lung?
She was paralyzed due to Polio and it helped her breathe.
What was significant about Martha going to high school?
Her talent, optimism, and the great support she received helped her to graduate at the top of her class.
What is an iron lung?
An airtight metal tube.
Is Polio still an issue today? Why or why not?
No, there is now a vaccine for it.
Is the story a true story or a made-up one? What is that called?
What job did Martha end up doing when she was older?
Writing using computer technology.
Describe Martha's life based on the story we read.
Answers may vary; Ideas: She lived a great life despite her challenges, she was intelligent and successful.
What is a stenographer?
Someone who writes based on what someone says to them (dictates).
How long did doctors think Martha would live in an iron lung and how long did she actually?
Just a year or so, but she lived another 60 years!
What other story have we read that the author wrote?
Steve Jobs
How did Martha's mom help her other than helping her survive?
She helped her truly live; she acted as a stenographer and wrote down what Martha would say (to write essays and stories).
What success did Martha have in the 1990s?
She published a book called Breath.
What does composed mean?
Wrote or created.
How did the iron lung work, exactly?
An iron lung uses pressure to help the patient breath by pushing in on their body.