Four Miles to Pinecone
Day 2 NOTES: Chapters 2-4
CHARACTERS
Mr. Singleton:
-English teacher
-Wears glasses (without them looks 10 years older & tired)
-Crooked gray teeth (rather behave than look at them a 2nd time)
-Repulsive smile to those that talk out of turn
-Tom needs to write a 47-page story to pass the class
Tom:
-Main character
-Junior (11th grade), 16 years old
-Failed sophomore English (English 10)
-Works at Kerr’s Grocery
-Has to write a 47-page story to pass English 10 (making up for his missing assignments)
Mouse:
-Tom’s friend
-Lazy (like his dad; mom does everything)
-Thinking about quitting school now that he is 16
-Has a “fantastic” job offer and if he likes it, his school days are over
-Never worked
-Smokes
-Likes to read
-“Mouse is quite the talker.”
Mr. Kerr:
-Tom’s boss
-Handled the business all by himself, getting old & needs help
-Lives alone in an apartment above the store
-“Big stomach for such a short man”
-Gruff, but basically a kind man-always helping people out
-Touchy about his lettuce
-Doesn’t think much of Mouse
Tom’s Parents:
-Tom feels they care more about his grades than he does; they are not happy about his grade
-Dad works night shift in a factory, is a man of few words, favorite pastime is watching ball games on T.V. in his undershirt
-Mom has never met Mouse’s mom, but they always call to compare sons
-Makes Tom give half his pay (put in fridge) and Tom doesn’t know why
Mouse’s Parents:
-Dad is lazy, unemployed for the most part (works for the street dept. once in awhile), always complains about money and food
-Mom does everything
Bob Peabody:
Uncle Chad/Aunt Gert:
Lester Flett:
Bruno Rock
SETTINGS
St. Paul, MN
1. Public library (pen & notebook)
2.Donnelly High School
3.Kerr’s Grocery: owned by Mr. Kerr, one-man store with two aisles of groceries and a meat counter across the back, Tom works here part time during the school year and full time in the summer
4.Apartment: old and stained with soot and pushed right up to the street with no front yard,
5.
CONFLICT & RESOLUTION
Person vs. Person:
-Tom vs. Mr. Singleton:Didn’t do his work = failed English 10 and now has to write a 47-page story to pass the class.
Person vs. Self:
-Tom vs. Self:Didn’t want to do the work, because English came easy for him = failed English 10 and now has to write a 47-page story to pass the class.
Person vs. Society
Person vs. Nature:
Person vs. Fate:
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
1. “Hope is a thing with feathers that perches in the soul.” P. 2
2. “My mother might die from grief.” P.4
3.“…he realized I was spreading it pretty thick.” P.4
4.“The sultry air hung in the little store.” P.7
5.“I was working the cash register like a typewriter.” P.8-9
6.“Speak of the devil” p. 14
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INFERENCES
1. Tom’s parents care about his grades. They will be really upset about his failing grade and Tom will be in trouble.
2. Mouse is lazy, because he is like his dad who never does anything—his mom does everything.
3.The47-page story represents the 47 missing assignments
4.Tom’s dad is stricter with his grades and his discipline.
5.Mr. Kerr tells Tom not to spend his money on parasites…meaning Mouse.
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