Red Fern Study Guides

8/3/2019 Red Fern Study Guides

1/20

Chapter OneVocabulary:

Word DefinitionSquall Harsh, loud cry

Cur Mutt

Coax Encourage, persuade, convince

Bailing wire Wire used on a farm to bale hay or straw

Crude Simple

Dormant Sleeplike, almost as if asleep, inactive

Gratitude The state of being grateful, thankful

Quench To satisfy

Devotion Dedication to something or someone

Tetons Mountain range in Wyoming & Idaho

Rocker Rocking chair

Gleamed Glowed, glistened, shone brightly

Sheen Glimmer, shine, luster

Comprehension Questions:

1. Why, according to the man, was it a rare day?

2. Describe the scene in which the dogs are fighting.

3. Why did the man believe that the dog belonged in the country?

4. How did the man help the dog?

5. Describe the two cups on the mantel.


2/20

Chapter TwoVocabulary:

Word DefinitionSycamores Any of several North American plane trees

Waddling To walk with short steps, swaying or rocking from side to side, as aduck.

Corncrib A ventilated structure for the storage of unhusked cornGrieve To feel grief or great sorrow

Bawling To cry or wail lustily

Muzzle A device, usually an arrangement of straps or wires, placed over ananimal's mouth to prevent the animal from biting, eating, etc


6. What terrible disease was he infected with when only ten years old?

7. How did Billys Papa pour cold water on his idea?

8. Why was Billys mother allotted a strip of land along the Illinois River?

9. What did Billys father do for a living?

10. What animal tracks along the riverbank fascinated Billy the most?

11. List at least five animals that Billy catches in his traps.

12. How was Papa going to put the muscles back on Billy?


3/20

Chapter ThreeVocabulary:

Word DefinitionFestered To rankle, as a feeling of resentment

Prowl To rove or go about stealthily, as in search of prey, something to steal, etc.

Haunches A hindquarter of an animal

Quavering To shake tremulously; quiver or tremble

Kennels A house or shelter for a dog or a cat

Horehound An Old World plant of the mint family; a brittle candy or lozenge flavoredwith horehound extract.


13. Why does Billy hurry to the deserted campground?

14. What does he discover in the sportsmans magazine?

15. Describe how Billy hoped to earn enough money to buy some pups.

16. Why does Billy ask his grandfather not to say anything to his father about his plan?

17. How long does it take the young boy to save enough money?

18. How many sisters does Billy have?


4/20

Chapter FourVocabulary:

Word DefinitionDepot

Gunny sack

Riffle

Briers

Bolts


19. What good news does Billy receive about the price of the dogs?

20. Why did Billy have to go to Tahlequah?

21. Why does Billy ask how far it is to Kentucky?

22.

What was the population of Tahlequah?

23. How do we know that Billy is very poor?

24. Describe some of the things that surprise Billy when he arrives in town.


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6/20

Chapter SixVocabulary:

Word DefinitionRomping to run or play in a lively or carefree manner

Nestled to settle snugly or comfortably

Trance A state of profound abstraction or absorption

Querying To ask questions in order to solve a doubt


31.Describe how Billy decides to name his dogs.

32.How did Billys father already know where he had been?

33.Why did Mama and Papa want to move into town?

34.Why did they have to wait to move into town?


7/20

Chapter SevenVocabulary:

Word DefinitionWily

Woe

Forefinger

Churn

Pry

Frazzle


35. Why does Billys grandfather need a brace and bit to catch a raccoon?

36. Why does Billy think Grandpa is joking?

37. According to Papa, why is Billy unable to catch any coons?

38. Why does Billy desperately need a coon skin for his pups?

39. Why is Papa surprised when they finally free the coons paws from the hole?

6. Describe how Billy Colman trains his hounds.


8/20

Chapter EightVocabulary:

Word DefinitionLard

Grinding

Wobbling

Rustle

Elders

Domain


40. How did Billy prepare for the first hunt?

41. What do Billys parents think about him going hunting?

42. Why is it necessary for Billy to hunt at night?

43. Why does Billy groan and close his eyes when he sees where the coon has beentreed?

44. Why is Billy so determined to cut down the tree?


9/20

Chapter NineVocabulary:

Word DefinitionThrobbed

Dumplings

Civet Cat

Winced


45. Why was Billy crying?

46. What plan of action does Grandpa suggest?

47. Why does Grandpa pick up Old Dan and place him in the buggy?

48. What does Grandpa think about young boys chopping down such large trees?

49. What fad has started back in the New England states?

50. Describe what happens when Billy is wrapping his hands to make a final attack onthe tree.

51. What is it that Billy is firmly convinced of at the conclusion of the chapter?


10/20

Chapter Ten

Vocabulary:

Word DefinitionSpellbound

Belligerent

Stunted

Peroxide

Slough

Feat


52. What did Billys mother do with the first coon hide?

53. Which dog did Billy think was smarter? Why? Give specific examples.

54. What happened to the price of coonskins? Why?

55. Describe what happened to Old Dan and how Billy managed to rescue him. (Twodifferent situations.)


11/20

Chapter Eleven

Vocabulary:

Word DefinitionPredicament

Ceased

Rile

Eddy

Trough

Stomped


56.Why did Billy think that the hunting would be good at night?

57.Why was Billy unable to see his dogs?

58.What has happened to the dogs?

59.Describe the scene in which Billy rescues his dogs.

60.At the end of the chapter, why does Billy keep checking the handle on his lantern?


12/20

Chapter TwelveVocabulary:

Word DefinitionPelts a skin stripped of hair or fur

Wattle askin stripped of hair or furSidled to cause to move or turn sideways

Leering to cast a sidelong glance

Maneuver a procedure or method of working usually involving expert physicalmovement


61.What is meant by the expression, shell corn?

62.Describe the Pritchard family.

63.What bet do the Pritchard boys make with Billy?

64.Why was Grandpa unhappy with the Pritchard boys?

5. Describe the ghost coon.


13/20

Chapter ThirteenVocabulary:

Word DefinitionPredicament

Ceased

Rile

Eddy

Trough

Stomped


65.According to Rubin, who had lived there a long time ago and farmed the fields?

66.Why does Billy give Rubin the two dollars?

67.Where is Little Ann finally able to locate the ghost coon?

68.Describe the horrible scene that Billy is confronted with after breaking up the fight.

69.How does Billy pay his respects?


14/20

Chapter FourteenVocabulary:

Word DefinitionTragedy

Zipped

Stubble

Quivered

Blurted

Droning

Bashful

Codger


70.Why does Grandpa blame himself for Rubins death?

71.How does Billy feel about entering the championship coon hunt?

72.Why does Billy think he is the luckiest boy in the world?

73.What comment does Billy make that indicates he is confident about his chances of winning?

74.According to Billy, whats the one thing wrong with Little Ann?


15/20

Chapters Fifteen and SixteenVocabulary:

Word DefinitionMush

Dutch-oven

Monotonous

Jinx

Mares

Bawl

Discouraging

Flitted

Elimination


75.Why did Grandpa have an astonished look on his face?

76.Explain the superstition about hearing the owl.

77.Why was Billy having so much difficulty sleeping?

78.Describe how Billy groomed his dog.

79.Why was he awarded a small silver cup?

6. Why did Billy crawl under the buggy?


16/20

7. Why did the contestants decide to move a few miles downstream?

8. What is meant by strike a trail ?

9. Why did Grandpa try to put his britches on backwards?

10. Why did Papa tell Billy about the two mules?

11. Explain how the two dogs doctored one another.


17/20

Chapters Seventeen and EighteenVocabulary:

Word DefinitionRhythmic

Mackinaw

Lull

Baying

Canebrake

Loomed

Gawking

Haggard

Engraving

Stock

Pane


80.How do we know that Billy is a brave and determined boy?

81.What did the judge say to indicate that he thought it would be wise to give up the hunt?

82.Describe what happened to Grandpa.


18/20

83.How did Billy warm Grandpas injured foot?

84.Why were the limbs on the trees snapping?

85.Who came searching for them?

86.What did Mr. Benson say that shocked Billy?

87.Why did Billy decide to take the cup home?

88.Why did Mama press her lips together tightly?


19/20

Chapters Nineteen and TwentyVocabulary:

Word DefinitionFoliage

Berserk

Jugular

Trance

Ghastly

Cleaved

Pry

Entrails

Spiral


89.Why doesnt Billy like hunting bobcats?

90.What is the devil cat of the Ozarks?

91.How does Billy finally kill the big cat?

92.How would you have felt in this situation?

93.How did the dogs prove their loyalty to Billy?


20/20

94.What does Billy discover when he examines the dogs after the fierce battle?

95.Do you think it is possible for animals to die from a broken heart? What about people?

96.What does Billy mean when he says, Papadidnt have that whipped look on his faceanymore?

97.What does Billy see when he goes to say goodbye to his dogs?

98.Briefly retell the story of the Indian legend.

11. Are you surprised when Billy says that he has never been back to the Ozarks? Why?

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