An American Childhood
An American Childhood Study Guide
1. Why does the author of An American Childhood resist going to bed when she is five?
2. Why does the author of this story not tell anyone about her feelings at bedtime?
3. Why does the author’s sister not feel the same as the author?
4. What does the author see every night in her bedroom?
5. Find 2 examples of sentences from An American Childhood that create a mood of fear
a. _________________________________________________________________
b. _________________________________________________________________
6. The author describes a previous experience in which she heard a loud noise during her naps. How is this similar to her experience at bedtime?
7. What happens after the author figures out the mystery?
8. When does the mood of this story change to wonder?
9. What is the author’s purpose in describing what she sees as a “spirit” entering her room?
10. What facts about the author’s life do you learn from An American Childhood?
Vocabulary questions:
11. Find a synonym for serene: __________________
12. Which sentence contains a personal pronoun?
a. Where did they go for lunch?
b. Bill read the book over the weekend.
c. Many people enjoy going to museums.
d. Is going to the beach fun?
13. What is the definition of conceivably?
14. Define luminous.
15. Use luminous in a sentence.
16. What is the possessive pronoun in the following sentence? “Tom walked his dog to the store and back.”
17.
Author’s purpose
Details about the object that frightens her
What do these details indicate about the author’s general purpose?
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18. In An American Childhood, the author discovers that she – not the world – can control her feelings. In an essay, answer the following questions: (10 pts.)
a. First, tell what she first feels about what she sees at bedtime.
b. Describe what parts of the bedtime experience lead to that feeling.
c. Then,
1. Why does the author of An American Childhood resist going to bed when she is five?
2. Why does the author of this story not tell anyone about her feelings at bedtime?
3. Why does the author’s sister not feel the same as the author?
4. What does the author see every night in her bedroom?
5. Find 2 examples of sentences from An American Childhood that create a mood of fear
a. _________________________________________________________________
b. _________________________________________________________________
6. The author describes a previous experience in which she heard a loud noise during her naps. How is this similar to her experience at bedtime?
7. What happens after the author figures out the mystery?
8. When does the mood of this story change to wonder?
9. What is the author’s purpose in describing what she sees as a “spirit” entering her room?
10. What facts about the author’s life do you learn from An American Childhood?
Vocabulary questions:
11. Find a synonym for serene: __________________
12. Which sentence contains a personal pronoun?
a. Where did they go for lunch?
b. Bill read the book over the weekend.
c. Many people enjoy going to museums.
d. Is going to the beach fun?
13. What is the definition of conceivably?
14. Define luminous.
15. Use luminous in a sentence.
16. What is the possessive pronoun in the following sentence? “Tom walked his dog to the store and back.”
17.
Author’s purpose
Details about the object that frightens her
What do these details indicate about the author’s general purpose?
-
-
-
-
-
-
18. In An American Childhood, the author discovers that she – not the world – can control her feelings. In an essay, answer the following questions: (10 pts.)
a. First, tell what she first feels about what she sees at bedtime.
b. Describe what parts of the bedtime experience lead to that feeling.
c. Then,