“The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” by Katherine Anne Porter

“The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” Reading Comprehension Sequence

DirectionsKatherine Anne Porter uses flashbacks, foreshadowings, and shifts back and forth between the present to the past to give necessary background information about the meaning and the characters. Below are listed thoughts or events. If the thought or event happened in the present write P on the line following it. If it happened in the past and Porter tells about it in one of Granny’s flashbacks, write F on the line. Then reorder the following events as they would have happened in real life or as they flashed through Granny’s mind.

1. The letters from George and John. _____

2. Granny rides in a wagon with a man she knows. _____

3. Granny’s first lover, George jilts her at the alter sixty years ago. _____

4. Granny received satisfaction in the raising of her children.

5. Doctor Harry visits Granny. _____

6. Granny blows out the eerie light at the end. ._____

7. Granny has made plans to leave certain possessions to her children. _____

8. Her dead child Hapsey’s ghostly form appears near her bed. _____

9. The priest, Father Connolly visits Granny. ._____

10. Granny raises her children alone. _____

11. Granny marries John who dies young. _____

12. Doctor Harry visits Granny when she delivers her first child. _____

13. Granny has milk-leg, and double pneumonia. _____

14. Granny’s child Hapsey dies. _____

15. When Granny was sixty, she made her will and cane down with a fever._____

Stream-of-Consciousness Writing. Complete the chart below. On the left, list examples of stream-of-consciousness in the story. On the right, explain what the examples mean. One example has been done for you.

Stream-of-consciousness writing / Explanation
"It was Hapsy she really wanted. . . . They leaned forward to kiss. . . ." / Granny remembers her dead daughter; in her confused mind she is also Hapsy and Hapsy's baby is Hapsy.
FREE ASSOCIATION
INTERIOR MONOLOGUE:
MULTIPLE POINT OF VIEW:
TIME MONTAGE: similar to free association

Write an obituary for Granny Weatherall, including details that will communicate to your readers what was unique or characteristic about her, as well as facts about her life. Make sure you proofread carefully! An obituary template is available at

OBITUARY TEMPLATE

  • NAME / ANNOUNCEMENT
  • Full name of the deceased,including nickname, if any
  • Age at death
  • Residence (for example, the name of the city) at death
  • Day and date of death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • LIFE
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Names of parents
  • Childhood: siblings, stories, schools, friends
  • Marriage(s): date of, place, name of spouse
  • Education: school, college, university and other
  • Designations, awards, and other recognition
  • Employment: jobs, activities, stories, colleagues, satisfactions, promotions, union activities, frustrations,
  • Places of residence
  • Hobbies, sports, interests, activities, and other enjoyment
  • Charitable, religious, fraternal, political, and other affiliations; positions held
  • Achievements
  • Disappointments
  • Unusual attributes, humour, other stories
  • FAMILY
  • Survived by (and place of residence):
  • Spouse
  • Children (in order of date of birth,and their spouses)
  • Grandchildren
  • Great-grandchildren
  • Great-great-grandchildren
  • Parents
  • Grandparents
  • Siblings(in order of date of birth)
  • Others, such as nephews, nieces, cousins, in-laws
  • Friends
  • Pets (if appropriate)
  • Predeceased by (and date of death):
  • Spouse
  • Children (in order of date of birth)
  • Grandchildren
  • Siblings(in order of date of birth)
  • Others, such as nephews, nieces, cousins, in-laws
  • Pets (if appropriate)
  • SERVICE
  • Day, date, time, place
  • Name of officiant, pallbearers, honorary pallbearers, other information
  • Visitation information if applicable: day, date, time, place
  • Reception information if applicable: day, date, time, place
  • Other memorial, vigil, or graveside services if applicable: day, date, time, place
  • Place of interment
  • Name of funeral home in charge of arrangements
  • Where to call for more information (even if no service planned)
  • END
  • Memorial funds established
  • Memorial donation suggestions, including addresses
  • Thank you to people, groups, or institutions
  • Quotation or poem
  • Three words that sum up the life