Too Soon A Woman

By Dorothy M. Johnson

Words To Own

Directions: Skim through the text which begins on page

547 and copy all of the “words to own” that you see indicated by a number and noted at the bottom of the pages. Copy the definition and provide the parts of speech.

There are seven.

A typical teenager

Pre-Reading Discussion:

“How would you describe a typical teenager today?”

Reading Guide Questions

1. What do we learn about the family in the very first paragraph of the story?

2. Who is Mary? What do we learn about her when the family meets her?

3. Why does Pa change his mind and allow Mary to travel with them?

4. Summarize the family’s problems. What must Pa do on their behalf?

Reading Guide Questions

6. What motivates Pa to say the following: “There ain’t anything good left in the world, or people to care

if you live or die. But I’ll get grub in the town and come back with it.” p.548

7. “We’re prid’ near out of grub…” is an example of what literary device?

8. p.549 Re-read the paragraph that begins “The fifth day…” Based on the details so far what do you think has happened to Pa? What predictions can you make about what will happen to Mary and the rest of the family?

Reading Guide Questions9. What does Mary return with after going

outside to check on the family’s horse. How is it described? What do you think the color white symbolizes?

10.How do you think Mary got the scars on her shoulder? How has this affected her character?

11. Why does Mary insist that the children wait until the next day to eat some of the mushroom?

12. What motivates the narrator to doze with his chin on his chest instead of sleeping comfortably?