Superstitions
By: Mary La Chapelle
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Mary La Chapelle was born on April 28, 1955 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She graduated from the University of Minnesota, and from Vermont College with an MFA. She presently works at Sarah Lawrence College.
Prereading Reflections
What does it mean to be superstitious? Give an example.
To be superstitious means to believe on routines anyways of doing things. If they don't follow their superstition, they believe that something bad will happen. For example, the superstition of stepping on a crack any it'll break your mothers back.
Do you consider yourself superstitious?
Yes, I do consider myself as to be superstitious. I consider myself superstitious because I believe in doing things routines. And if I do something different in the routine, something unlucky will happen to me.
If yes, what are some superstitions you have, and why do you think you have them?
Some superstitions I have are routines, lucky numbers, and the colors I wear. If I wear or choose my lucky number, I will become successful in anything. If I wear unlucky colors, it'll be an unlucky day for me, everything will become opposite.
If no, why do you think you are not superstitious?
Why do you think people develop superstitions?
I think people have superstitions because they believe in many things. And when something good happens to them, they believe that it is because of the ways they act.
To be superstitious means to believe on routines anyways of doing things. If they don't follow their superstition, they believe that something bad will happen. For example, the superstition of stepping on a crack any it'll break your mothers back.
Do you consider yourself superstitious?
Yes, I do consider myself as to be superstitious. I consider myself superstitious because I believe in doing things routines. And if I do something different in the routine, something unlucky will happen to me.
If yes, what are some superstitions you have, and why do you think you have them?
Some superstitions I have are routines, lucky numbers, and the colors I wear. If I wear or choose my lucky number, I will become successful in anything. If I wear unlucky colors, it'll be an unlucky day for me, everything will become opposite.
If no, why do you think you are not superstitious?
Why do you think people develop superstitions?
I think people have superstitions because they believe in many things. And when something good happens to them, they believe that it is because of the ways they act.
Vocabulary
Theorized: Predict. "He theorized that little kids who got in from the top ad out from the top never had to make their beds." (P.42)
Apprehensive: Cautious. "She was apprehensive as she brushed on toward the attic, because if she were to find it had been left open, it would be a bad sign that she couldn't change." (P.42)
Compelled: Motivated. "It was something she had begun, and now she was compelled to continue." (P.43)
Persistent: Nonstop. "The sun was warm and persistent with promises to shine over everything by noon." (P.54)
Precautions: Careful. "She was aware of certain precautions, like not looking into the sun too long."(p. 54)
Perceived: To become aware. "After waiting for what she perceived as a stubbly enough amount of time, she stood up and followed him." (P.56)
Anguish: Grief. "Groggy, but conscious now, Jimmy cried like a wounded soldier, all anguish and failure in something he didn't understand." (P.60)
Apprehensive: Cautious. "She was apprehensive as she brushed on toward the attic, because if she were to find it had been left open, it would be a bad sign that she couldn't change." (P.42)
Compelled: Motivated. "It was something she had begun, and now she was compelled to continue." (P.43)
Persistent: Nonstop. "The sun was warm and persistent with promises to shine over everything by noon." (P.54)
Precautions: Careful. "She was aware of certain precautions, like not looking into the sun too long."(p. 54)
Perceived: To become aware. "After waiting for what she perceived as a stubbly enough amount of time, she stood up and followed him." (P.56)
Anguish: Grief. "Groggy, but conscious now, Jimmy cried like a wounded soldier, all anguish and failure in something he didn't understand." (P.60)
Contrasting Ideas
Frances feels STRONGWhen she helps Jimmy "Sometimes as they sat arm against arm on the sofa,and he looked ahead distracted by the TV, she would trace the veins in his fine hand with her finger, and that quiet tenderness would come over her. She would move closer too him and cover his whole arm with her own, lying her brown hand over his so each of her fingers covered one of his, and nothing was exposed." (p. 44)
When she compares herself to Jimmy "Of the two, Frances thought she was the stronger. She was tall with the dark skin of her Indian grandmother. Jimmy was fair, his skin translucent, the veins lying close to the surface. (p. 44) |
Frances feels HOPELESSWhen the attic door was open, she felt like something bad was going to happen "Her hand hesitated at the doorway molding as a draft wafted over the little hairs on her wrist. The door was open. She passed her hand over empty space, makingbelieve there was a door there. This didn't help, and the panic she had dreaded surged up from her stomach, making her run blindly down the hall until she was at the opening of the stairway. " (p. 43)
When she tells her mother about her "bad thoughts" "Sometimes I have bad thoughts." She announced this sentence, each word stated loudly and with long pauses in between, as though her mother might be hard of hearing or slow-witted. " (p. 50) |