Puddin’ Head Wilson

Study Guide

Chapter 1:

  1. Name (city and state) and describe the setting which opens the novel.
  1. How is David Wilson characterized in chapter 1?
  1. What nickname is given to David Wilson and why?

Chapter 2:

  1. What “amusement” was David Wilson interested in that is introduced?
  1. Describe Roxy, Roxanna.
  1. Name and describe the two infants Roxy is responsible for taking care of. Who are their parents?
  1. What happens that causes Mr. Percy Driscoll to threaten his slaves with “selling them down the river”?

Chapter 3:

  1. What does Roxy initially plan to do to insure that her child, Chambers, is never “sold down the river”?
  1. What does she decide to do when she notices the similarities between the babies?

Chapter 4:

  1. Describe “Tom” as a child and his behavior.
  1. Describe “Chambers” as a child and his behavior.
  1. Describe the relationship between the boys.
  1. How does “Tom” treat Roxy?
  1. When Percy Driscoll dies, what happens to “Tom”, “Chambers” and RoxyAND what do we learn “Tom” was trying to talk his father into before he died?

Chapter 5:

  1. What exciting event takes place at Aunt Patsy Cooper and Rowena Cooper’s home?

Chapter 6:

  1. Explain the circumstances that lead the twins to Dawson’s Landing.
  1. How does the town react to the twins’ presence?

Chapter 7:

  1. What does Wilson notice in Judge Driscoll’s house?

Chapter 8: Chapters 8 – 10 serve as a flashback before the twins arrive.

  1. What has Roxy been doing during the time “Tom” and “Chambers” have been living with Judge Driscoll?
  1. What happens to Roxy’s life savings?
  1. How is “Tom” characterized based on his actions in this chapter?
  1. What does Roxy do when “Tom” disregards her?

Chapter 9:

  1. What does Roxy reveal to “Tom”?
  1. What does “Tom” confess to Roxy he has been doing?
  2. Who is “Tom’s” father?

Chapter 10:

  1. When it says, “in several ways his [Tom’s] opinions were totally changed…but the main structure of his character was not changed”.
  1. How does “Tom” pay off his gambling debts?

Chapter 11:

  1. How does “Tom” treat the twins and Wilson?
  1. What is revealed about Count Luigi through Wilson’s use of palmistry?
  1. What causes Luigi to lose his temper and kick “Tom”?

Chapter 12:

  1. What does Judge Driscoll learn “Tom” does after Luigi beats him up?
  1. What does the Judge demand “Tom” do?
  1. What two things does the Judge do when “Tom” refuses?

Chapter 13:

  1. What is revealed about the stolen Indian dagger?

Chapter 14:

  1. What does the Judge decide to do before his duel with Count Luigi?
  1. What irony is presented by Roxy’s attitude about what makes “Tom” refuse to fight Count Luigi? What does this say about the mindset of the time period?

Chapter 15:

  1. How does “Tom” start to turn others against the twins? Give two specific examples of how he does this.
  2. What happens to “Tom’s” stolen goods as he sleeps on a boat to St. Louis? What had he planned to do with it?

Chapter 16:

  1. Why is it ironic that Roxy says, “In de inside, mothers is all de same.”?
  1. What does Roxy offer “Tom” to get him out of debt?
  1. What does “Tom” do to Roxy?

Chapter 17:

  1. What happens to the twins?

Chapter 18:

  1. Explain what happens to Roxy that makes her run away.
  1. What does Roxy insist “Tom” do at this point?

Chapter 19:

  1. What reason does Wilson give Luigi for the Judge believing “Tom” over everyone else?
  1. What does “Tom” do to his uncle, Judge Driscoll?
  1. What example of dramatic irony is presented at the end of the chapter?

Chapter 20 and 21:

  1. What do the fingerprints reveal to Wilson that he reveals in court?

Conclusion:

  1. What happens to “Chambers” after his identity is revealed?
  1. What happens to “Tom” after his identity is revealed?