1
The House of Dies Drear
VOCABULARY PREVIEW CHAPTERS 1-7
Agitated: uneasy; upset
Calamity:disaster
Lapse: to fall; to slip
Pathetic: sorrowful; inviting pity
Percolating: seeping; filtering
Plunder: to rob and destroy
Specter: ghost; spirit
VOCABULARY PREVIEW CHAPTERS 8-13
Aloofness:indifference; lack of interest
Bemused:preoccupied
Brooding:gloomy
Conceal:to hide
Cumbersome: awkward
Gauge:to measure
Malice:ill will
ornate:flashy; decorated
shrewd:quick; sly
VOCABULARY PREVIEW CHAPTERS 14-19
Curator:person in charge of an exhibit
Fanatical:extreme
Inkling:hint
Painstakingly: in a manner showing care
Peeved:annoyed
Premonition:warning
Rampart:barrier
Steadfastness: firmness
Stupendous: astounding
The House of Dies Drear
A good reader will often make note of where he/she left off when they stop reading. As you finish each chapter, your job is to give a brief summary of the chapter and one or two important events that happened within that chapter. This way, you will always know what is going on in the story when you come back to read. Also, jot down any questions or predictions you might have for the next chapter.
Chapter / Summary/Prediction / Main Events1 / Thomas, the main character, is dreaming. It is a scary dream and the person within the dream says the “Carolina is the place for you,” not Ohio, where they are going. He wakes up and is in the car traveling to his new home. He talks briefly to his mom and dad about the house. He and his mom are both unsure and I believe are fearful of the new house. I predict that Thomas’s dream will come to true sooner or later. Is that a good thing or bad? /
- Thomas had a scary dream
- The family is moving to Ohio from North Carolina
- The mother is just as uncertain of the new house as Thomas
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Keeping Track of Characters
While you read, you will be introduced to new characters. Good readers make note of these new characters and will often write down a brief description of them. Details are important, and as you read, continue to update the information about these characters as you learn more.
Character’s Name / DescriptionThomas Small / 13 years old, very inquisitive mind, seems to be more interested in adults than children his own age…
Setting
The setting is the time, place, atmosphere and sometimes the mood of a story. In The House of Dies Drear, the setting plays a very important role. You will often find that there is a new setting within each chapter of this book. As the settings change, your job is to write down the settings along with a brief description of that setting.
Chapter / Setting / DescriptionChapter 1 / The characters are in the car traveling to their new home in Ohio. / It is raining and I get the feeling of foreboding. I feel like is constantly dark and cool outside.
Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is a literary technique that hints at events that are to come. Virginia Hamilton uses this technique consistently throughout this book. Good readers can spot examples of foreshadowing and make predictions about what is to come next. As you read, find examples of foreshadowing and use them to make predictions of your own.
Example of Foreshadowing (Quote and page number) / Analysis / Prediction“That was a good dream. Good and scary, he thought. I was in the trees at home and the man was somebody I should know. I can’t place him right now, but I do know him,” pg. 3 / I believe that Thomas will meet this person when he gets to his new house. I’m just not sure if this person is good or bad…
8th Grade Reading Questions - The House of Dies Drear
How does the house influence the setting?
The house in this story establishes mood and gives readers the feeling that danger is lurking and it could be said that the house itself is a character. In the graphic organizer below, list important details and phrases that describe the house of Dies Drear and the area that surrounds it.
Analyzing Literature
Chapters 1-7
1. What information does Thomas gather about his new home before he arrives?
How might this information have influenced his feelings about the house?
______
2. Who is Mr. Pluto? Why is Thomas angry that Mr. Pluto arranged the family’s furniture?
______
3. Describe Thomas’s experience in the hidden passageway. How does his experience
add to the mystery of the story?
______
4. How do you think Hamilton wants readers to view Pluto? Why?
______
5. Based on what you know about the old house, would you want to live in it? Explain.
______
6. How does Mr. Small explain Pluto’s odd behavior and appearance? In your
opinion, are Mr. Small’s explanations believable? Explain.
______
7. How does Thomas feel about his new community after attending a church
service? Why does he feel this way?
______
8. Why do Mr. Small and Thomas go through the tunnel in search of Pluto at the
end of this section? How do they feel about Pluto at this point?
______
9. What is your opinion of the triangles the Smalls find? Do you agree with their
ideas about them?
______
10. Do you believe the house is truly haunted, or do you think someone is playing
pranks? Explain why.
______
Analyzing Literature: Chapters 14-19
1. What do Mr. Small and Thomas find in the cavern? How does Pluto respond to
their being there?
______
2. Who is Mayhew, and what has he been doing to trick people? What is his reason
for fooling people?
______
3. What frightens Pluto most about the Darrows? Why was the “performance” involving
Mr. Small, Thomas, Mayhew, and Pluto an effective way to deal with them?
______
4. Why might Hamilton have decided to end the book with a scene that includes
Thomas and Pesty? What does the author mean when she says, “And they didn’t
mind the waiting, not this day nor the days to come”?
______
5. What is your view of Pluto at the end of the book? Is it different from the view
you had of him at the beginning of the book? Explain.
______