Model Response

1. What does the audience learn about Dave Burdow in Chapter 5? Murder. Eighteen months earlier, the reality and darkness of murder were very real to

the Creighton family and the community that they lived in when Travis Burdow shamelessly killed Mary Creighton. Around town, the Burdow family was “…commonly despised throughout the countryside as a shiftless lot with a bad background” (Hunt 12). Dave Burdow, the father, was known to be “a sullen, silent man who shunned people in general and accepted their insults as a matter of course when he was forced to deal with them” (Hunt 12). He didn’t seem to be a man that cared or had any compassion because of his lack of reaction at Mary’s murder. However, readers soon learn that Travis Burdow does have a hint of compassion or at least enough integrity to make situations right.

When Jethro goes to town for his mother and father, he encounters a very awkward and difficult situation. During his visit to the general store, Jethro is confronted by a group of men that question who he is. Dave Burdow is among the men. There is also another man among the group by the name of Wortman. In a drunken state, Wortman mockingly and angrily questions Jethro about Bill and the fact that he chose to fight for the South. He even asks, “What I want to ask you is this: is yore pa good and down on Bill? Does he teach you yore brother is a skunk that deserves shootin’ fer goin’ aginst his country” (Hunt 78-79)? Jethro quietly defends his brother and his father, and the man is basically kicked out of the store for bothering a young boy. Dave Burdow says nothing and leaves during the exchange, proving that he really is quiet and doesn’t like to deal with things unless he has to. However, it is discovered later that there is more to Dave Burdow than meets the eye.

On Jethro’s journey home, he runs into Dave. Jethro is frightened and scared because of the reputation of the Burdows. However, Dave gruffly says to him, “There be evil in these woods tonight. I seed evil a passin’ my place a while ago, comin’ in from the the shortcut road to town and reelin’ in the saddle” (Hunt 89-90). He was referring to Wortman and told Jethro that he was going to ride with him for a while. Just as predicted, Wortman jumps from behind a tree to attack the boy and his team. Dave saves Jethro and goes on his way after the attack. Jethro managed the words” I’m obleeged, “ but Dave Burdow made no sign of having heard him” (Hunt 91). This part in the story shows that Dave is still a quiet, withdrawn man, but it also proves that he may be somewhat compassionate or that he feels as if he owes Matt Creighton for how he convinced the townspeople not to kill his son, Travis Burdow, when he murdered Matt’s daughter, Mary. One might speculate that Dave helped Jethro for these reasons.

Reading Response Topic

1. Education is a theme in Across Five Aprils. Discuss the importance of education to both Shad and Jethro. Use evidence from the text.

*Hint: Be sure to include facts and also include

inferences such as why you think

education is important to them.

Paragraph 1Introduction that gives background information along with a thesis statement

Paragraph 2 Evidence from the text and elaboration (Make a statement, explain, describe, give more than one specific example, include your own thoughts and observations)Be sure to connect your details to your thesis statement

Paragraph 3Conclusion with a logical ending that flows with the previous paragraph and gives finality to your responseBe sure to refer back to your thesis without restating it