Story Line
This item Dave asks his Mother to buy at the beginning of the story.
What is a gun
The gun in the story symbolizes this quality that Dave desperately wants to prove he has.
What is manhood (or adulthood)?
What is the first and last name of the protagonist?
What is Dave Saunders
The story suggests manhood is defined by owning property, being responsible, and asserting authority - but Dave only pretends to have these qualities
What is gender lens
How many kids does Mrs.Rapant have?
What is three kids
This lie Dave stories to tell about the mule's death
What is blame it on someone else or makes an excuse to avoid full repsonsibility
The money Dave steals from his mother to buy the gun symbolizes this responsibility he lacks.
What is financial responsibility (or maturity)?
This person sold Dave the Gun
What is Mr.Joe
Money and labor control Dave's life because he has no financial independence; he must work for others and cannot make adult decisions freely
What is marxist Lens
Name something Mrs.Rapant does on her free time
What is hot yoga and sculpt, hiking and camping
How does David finally get his Mom to let him buy the gun?
What is he says it will be for his Dad to use
The mule that Dave accidentally kills symbolizes this about labor and power in Dave’s life.
What is hard work and exploitation (or the burden of labor)?
What was the animal and it's name that was shot and killed?
What is Jenny the Mule
Jim Crow era racism limits Dave's opportunities and shapes his understanding of power and adulthood.
What is historica Lens
Name two apps she has restricted her son on screen time
What is safari and socail media
What is he plows two rows of the field
The farm symbolizes the social and economic system that keeps Dave trapped in this condition.
What is oppression (or lack of opportunity)?
This character insists that Dave must pay for the mule and teaches him a lesson about responsibility.
Who is Mr. Hawkins?
The gun Dave reveals Dave's insecurities and fear of being seen as weak; he believes the gun will give him respect he doesn't yet deserve.
What is psychoanalytic Lens
What classes does Mrs. Rapant teach this year?
What is ACC English and IB English
What does David do after realizing he is still just a boy?
What is he runs away
The gun symbolizes Dave’s mistaken belief that manhood comes from this rather than responsibility.
What is violence (or physical power)?
This unnamed character goes with Dave to buy the gun.
Pick a different literary lens we haven't discussed, and analyze a connection is has to the story to the class. If successful you will receive 500 points.
500?
Name one of Mrs. Rapant's favorite authors
Who is Barbara Kingsolver and Nathaniel Hawthorne and Jhumpa Lahiri