Plot & Characters
What was the Scarecrow’s main job at the beginning of the story?
To stand guard in the field and scare away birds/animals.
What material is used to stuff and build the Scarecrow?
Straw/Hay
At the very beginning of the book, how does the Scarecrow feel living all alone in the field?
Lonely or isolated.
Giving the Scarecrow human feelings like sadness and love is an example of what literary device?
Personification
Why might a real farmer put a scarecrow in a cornfield?
To prevent birds/animals from eating crops
What animal falls from the sky and lands near the Scarecrow?
A baby crow
The book mentions the changing seasons. Which season comes after the harvest in autumn?
Winter
What surprising trait does the Scarecrow show when he sees the fallen crow, even though crows are usually his "enemies"?
Kindness / Compassion / Empathy.
The book relies heavily on rhyme. Find two words from the story’s rhythm that rhyme (e.g., crow and ________).
Snow, grow, know, etc.
Why was it dangerous for the baby crow to be on the ground in the middle of the field?
Predators could get it, or it could starve because it couldn't fly yet.
Where does the Scarecrow decide to hide and protect the baby crow?
Inside his straw chest/near his heart
What does the word "guard" mean in the context of the Scarecrow's duty?
To watch over, protect, or keep something safe from harm.
What is the main message or theme of the story regarding unexpected friendships?
Friendship can come from anywhere, even between two things that seem like opposites or natural enemies.
How does the author use imagery to show that winter has arrived?
By describing cold winds, falling snow, bare trees, or icy ground.
How does the mood of the story change from the middle of winter to the return of spring?
It changes from cold and lonely to warm, hopeful, and joyous.
What major change happens to the baby crow when spring returns?
It grows up and flies away.
What does the word "tethered" or "bound" mean when describing the Scarecrow standing in the field?
Tied down, fixed in one place, or unable to move.
Why is it symbolic that the baby crow lived inside the Scarecrow’s straw chest?
It represents the Scarecrow gaining a "heart" and learning to love.
What contrast (juxtaposition) is shown between the Scarecrow's exterior and interior?
He has a rough/scary outside, but a gentle/warm inside.
Why didn't the Scarecrow try to stop the crow from flying away when it grew up?
He loved the crow and knew it needed to be free and fly.
How does the story end when the grown crow comes back?
The crow returns with a mate and builds a nest right on the Scarecrow, so they can stay together.
What does it mean when the baby crow is described as "helpless"?
It cannot feed, protect, or take care of itself.
How does caring for the crow change the Scarecrow's sense of purpose?
His purpose changes from scaring life away to nurturing and protecting life.
Identify the repetition in the book that emphasizes the passage of time (e.g., the changing of the ________).
The changing of the seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter).
In what way is the title The Scarecrow ironic based on what happens in the book?
It's ironic because instead of scaring birds away, he welcomes and shelters one.