February 11, 2016Jarrett Chong

The Friday Everything Changed Answers

1) Why are the boys so upset at the idea of the girls carrying the water bucket?

The boys are upset because it’s their way to get freedom and be different from the girls

2) What strategies do the boys use to pressure the girls to give in? How do the girls react?

The boys used intimidation and threatening. The girls grouped together more to help and support each other.

3) Who is telling the story? What does she think of Ms. Ralston and the conflict over the water? From what point of view is the story told?

Alma is telling the story. Ms. Ralston has no real opinion showed to the conflict over the water bucket until the boys started exclude the girls from softball. Limited Omniscience.

4) What is the setting (provide evidence)? How does setting intensify the conflict? What kind of conflict is it? (Person vs. person – person vs. self – person vs. society) Provide evidence for each conflict.

Small town – one teacher one classroom, older times – one school in the area, softball diamond – Ms. Ralston hits a homerun out of the park. In the story, it isn’t as advanced as we are here, so it’s harder to deal with problems. Person vs. person – the boys verbally abuse the girls, person vs. person – the boys physically abuse the girls, person vs. person – the boys don’t allow the girls to play softball.

5) Who is the protagonist? How do you know?

Alma is the protagonist. She is the one who starts the conflict by asking “Why can’t girls go for the water too?”

6) In what way has everything changed on that Friday? What is the significance of Ms. Ralston’s action in the last paragraph? What is the message (theme) the author is exploring?

That the girls get to carry the water. It changed everyone’s “picture” about Ms. Ralston. That anyone can ask a question but only a few can get the answer.

  1. Galvanized – The shock or excitement of someone doing an action.
  2. Remotest – The slightest chance of something happening is unlikely.
  3. Intoxicated – The excite or exhilarate of being in something.
  4. Ominous – The impression of something bad is going to happen.
  5. Supplementary – The completion or enhancement of something.
  6. Forlornly – The meaning to lose completely.
  7. Earnestly – The intent of being seriously intent, purpose or effort.
  8. Gloating – The great or excessive look or think about being better than something else.
  9. Transfixed – The motionless object that has been in awe of astonishment, horror or wonder.
  10. Pirouettings -- The meaning to spin around, revolve, turn around, etc.