An Introduction to Rock Climbing
“Saturday Climbing” by W.D. Valgardson
Study Questions
Before reading the story and working on the study questions, read the handout entitled “An Introduction to Rock Climbing.”
1. Valgardson opens the story by placing one of the main characters, Barry, in a predicament. Why is he in that predicament? Find all of the words/phrases that describe how Barry feels in this first section.
He got himself into that predicament because he was looking for an activity to do with his daughter that she might enjoy.
“golden line of rope” – Implies that he feels confident that the rope will prevent him from injury.
“He had been scared many times but never like this” – He’s very far away from his last chock nut and he’s worried that should he fall it would be like falling from a six-story building.
2. Look up the word “pride” in your dictionary. How can pride both aid and hinder a person?
People naturally don’t like to look weak in front of friends and family but this sense of pride can also cause problems as people will push themselves beyond their abilities to avoid humiliation.
3. What troubles does Valgardson then introduce with regards to the relationship between Barry and his daughter, Moira?
His daughter is younger than all the other kids she hangs around with so he feels she isn’t ready for the types of influences these older friends will impose upon her.
4. What does the author intend to suggest through his description of the frizzy-haired girl? Paraphrase (put in your own words) her statement: “The caged bird proves nothing but the power of the captor.”
If he tries to control his daughter then she’ll grow up to hate him even more and eventually she may end up like the frizzy-haired girl.
5. Barry signed up for the climbing classes without first asking Moira; it was an act of “desperation.” Why was he feeling so helpless? What did Barry unexpectedly discover about climbing?
He had tried so many different things to try and bond with his
Study Questions
Before reading the story and working on the study questions, read the handout entitled “An Introduction to Rock Climbing.”
1. Valgardson opens the story by placing one of the main characters, Barry, in a predicament. Why is he in that predicament? Find all of the words/phrases that describe how Barry feels in this first section.
He got himself into that predicament because he was looking for an activity to do with his daughter that she might enjoy.
“golden line of rope” – Implies that he feels confident that the rope will prevent him from injury.
“He had been scared many times but never like this” – He’s very far away from his last chock nut and he’s worried that should he fall it would be like falling from a six-story building.
2. Look up the word “pride” in your dictionary. How can pride both aid and hinder a person?
People naturally don’t like to look weak in front of friends and family but this sense of pride can also cause problems as people will push themselves beyond their abilities to avoid humiliation.
3. What troubles does Valgardson then introduce with regards to the relationship between Barry and his daughter, Moira?
His daughter is younger than all the other kids she hangs around with so he feels she isn’t ready for the types of influences these older friends will impose upon her.
4. What does the author intend to suggest through his description of the frizzy-haired girl? Paraphrase (put in your own words) her statement: “The caged bird proves nothing but the power of the captor.”
If he tries to control his daughter then she’ll grow up to hate him even more and eventually she may end up like the frizzy-haired girl.
5. Barry signed up for the climbing classes without first asking Moira; it was an act of “desperation.” Why was he feeling so helpless? What did Barry unexpectedly discover about climbing?
He had tried so many different things to try and bond with his