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Chapter Three: Bad Boy *O.E. Stem: While reading chapter two and chapter three, readers notice a drastic change in the way David explains his childhood. In chapter two, he refers to his mother as, “Mom” while in chapter three she turns into “Mother.” This change in David’s diction directly relates to the change in his relationship with his abusive mother. • As David’s relationship changed for the worse, how was he able to determine the type of day he would have? How did this make him feel? Use evidence in the text to support your answer. • Explain David’s motivation behind finding his mother’s “lost” treasures. Use evidence in the text to support your answer. • Why was it such a shock to David when his father knelt down before leaving the house one day and requested that he be a “good boy”?
1. What did David begin to fantasize about? 2. Who gave David a glimpse of hope throughout this “hell” he as living in? How did this make his situation worse? 3. Who was the first one in David’s school to suspect that he was being abused? How did that several month-long situation end? Chapter Four: The Fight for Food
Chapter Four: The Fight for Food • Food • His father gave him a “glimpse of hope” because he would fight for him and argue with David’s mother to allow “The Boy” some food. This arguing made David’s situation worse because Mother would always win and torment David even more. • Miss Moss – 2nd grade teacher questioned his attentiveness and reported her concerns to the principal. The night she did so, David received a bloody nose and lost a tooth. Mother went into school the next day with the newborn and told the principal that her son, David, was a habitual liar and had an “overactive imagination” (Pelzer 53).
Chapter Four: The Fight for Food 4. Why didn’t David’s father or his brothers ever do anything about the abuse he was enduring from his mother? 5. Elaborate on how David shows endurance throughout Chapter Four.
Chapter Four: The Fight for Food • Although David’s father would argue for him that he should receive food, David reminds the audience that his mother never acted as odd when the other family members were around. • David shows endurance through his will to survive. His endurance is seen as he deals with bullying in school, the fight for food and its continuous setbacks, and lastly, how he tolerates his mother’s horrific “games.”
Chapter Four: The Fight for Food 6. Towards the conclusion of Chapter Four, David feels as though he is slipping farther and farther apart from his father. He actually states how, “I hated Mother to no end, but I hated father even more” (p.67). Why does David feel this way towards his father? 7. Why was David’s anxiety growing while he was doing his chores on the day where he begged for food at the wrong house? (p.71)
Chapter Four: The Fight for Food 6. David begins to despise his father because the abuse he endures from Mother is revealed throughout the chapter. David’s father becomes an eyewitness account to his abuse and does nothing to stop it. 7. David’s anxiety is growing during this day/night because his mother is simply following him around. He is attempting to anticipate her hit, but instead, she keeps following him around, taunting him. Clear mental/emotional abuse here. He has been trained like a dog to know when she is upset and what he will receive for being “bad.” The anticipation alone is enough for him to have a mental breakdown.
Why did David refer to Russell as Mother’s “little Nazi?” • After “the accident,” Mother attends to business, which is strictly keeping David alive. However, there is a slight change in her behavior the night that David is stabbed. Where has her frightening/abusive demeanor gone? Why? 3. How is the sparkler a metaphor for David’s inconsistent treatment after “the accident” occurs? Chapter Five: The ACCIDENT
Chapter Five: The ACCIDENT • David noticed how Russell didn’t seem fazed by the tone of their mother’s voice. He didn’t flinch when their mother screamed out loudly, because even at age four or five, Russell knew he was never the brunt of her aggression. • Mother could have stopped her abuse because she sensed that David might not survive another day. Although she shows NO emotion, she allows him to lean against her, tells him he can play outside with his brothers, and asks him if he would like a sparkler.
Chapter Five: The ACCIDENT 3. The sparkler is a metaphor for the inconsistent treatment David receives. He is finally allowed to play with his brothers, he receives a “toy” that he never thought he’d EVER have access to, and then he savors the temporary fun until the sparkler fizzles out. The key point is that the sparkler is temporary fun, similar to the temporary, care he receives from his mother.
In what way were the roller skates another way for Mother to torture David? • Describe Mother’s “apology.”(p.123) What do you think caused David’s mother to change her behavior in that moment? • Even after Mother’s actions began to change, why did David still feel like he was, “walking on eggshells”? (p. 124) • What was Mother’s overall motivation in changing the way she treated David? Chapter SIX: WHILE FATHER IS AWAY
CHAPTER SIX: WHILE FATHER IS AWAY • David’s mother forced him to roller skate outside their house for houses at a time in the cold weather. She made the situation appear as if David loved skating, even in the cold bitterness. • Mother’s apology appears sincere. She could have deep remorse due to her new relationship with Shirley and Shirley’s concerns. • “Walking on eggshells” is an expression used to describe someone’s actions when he/she is on high alert, using caution, and being very careful. David was not sure if his mother had truly changed or would revert back to her daily, abusive ways.
CHAPTER SIX: WHILE FATHER IS AWAY 4. Mother’s motivation was fueled by the house visit she knew would occur the following day. David’s mother was expecting a visitor from social services so she apologized and began to treat David as a human again.
When one is traumatized, harassed, and mentally, physically, or emotionally abused for a period of time, he/she can suffer from a loss of identity. • How do you know that David suffered this loss throughout reading his story? Cite a piece of evidence from the story. Flat characters are those who exhibit one dominant quality. • Explain how Mother is the perfect depiction of a flat character throughout the entire autobiographical novel. Use evidence from the book to support your answer. • Can someone develop the same self-worth they possessed before abuse took place? Chapter SEVEN: the lord’s prayer *o.e.
