Characters and Relationships
Who does not show up to watch Holling in his performance at the Shakespeare Holiday Extravaganza?
Mr. Hoodhood
Why does Holling initially believe Mrs. Baker dislikes him?
He thinks she is making his life difficult by keeping him after school while the other students attend religious instruction.
During which decade does the novel take place?
The 1960s
What is the full name of the famous playwright that Mrs. Baker introduce Holling to?
William Shakespeare
The word malice means...
evil
Holling’s classmate and friend who is the daughter of a competing architect.
Meryl Lee
In November, how did Holling acquire the first class set of cream puffs?
He agrees to play Ariel the fairy for Mr. Goldman.
What major conflict is affecting American families during the novel?
The Vietnam War
Holling is forced to play the part of _______ a fairy, in a production of the Shakespeare play, The Tempest.
Ariel
What is a “flower child”?
A name given to “hippies” and others who stood for peace
What are the names of the rats Holling accidentally sets loose?
Sycorax and Caliban
Why does Mr. Hoodhood control Holling's and Heather's actions to a certain extent?
He only cares about his business.
Holling's father refers to their residence by this two-word "flawless" name.
"Perfect House"
In the Merchant of Venice, a very complicated character that can be considered both a villain and someone to feel sorry for.
Shylock
The quality of __________ is not strained.
mercy
A woman who experiences grief after her husband is killed while serving in Vietnam.
Mrs. Bigio
In December, why is Mrs. Baker not in the happy holiday spirit?
Her husband, Lieutenant Tybalt Baker is fighting in the war.
Who was the acting President during this part of the book?
Lyndon B. Johnson
A military leader meets three witches in the woods and begins to feel prideful and ambitious. He and his wife murder the king and have to suffer the consequences of their selfish decisions.
Macbeth
What book has Holling read four times (his favorite)?
Treasure Island
Who didn't sign a baseball for Holling and why?
Micky Mantle because he does not sign baseballs for kids in yellow tights.
How does Hollings emotional state change from the beginning of January to the end of January?
He starts the chapter being humiliated and broken; he ends the chapter admired and being a hero.
How was Mai Thi able to come to America?
The Catholic church provided a mission for refugees from Vietnam.
What does Holling learn about Shakespeare's plays as he reads them?
They explore human emotions, relationships, conflict, and important life lessons.
What is a literary allusion?
a brief, indirect reference to an external person, place, event, literary work, or myth that the author expects the reader to recognize to help them make a comparison.