One True Thing Short Essay Answer Key

Short Essay Answer Key

1. What are some of the noises Ellen hears while she's in jail?

She describes the clacking of a typewriter and says that the person typing obviously doesn't really know how to type. She also describes the hum coming from the ceiling and the sounds from the police radio.

2. Describe the story about Ellen that appears in the Tribune.

The story had a picture of her smiling which she describes as a "Mona Lisa smile." The story included notes from the jailer who apparently told the reporter that Ellen had slept peacefully through the night and that she'd been very smart in school.

3. In the prologue, what does Ellen say is the truth about her mother's death?

She says that she died a little with her mother as her mother died. She also says that she didn't kill her mother, but that she wishes...
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