2. At the beginning of Chapter 7, Hagar wakes up to her first morning at the fish cannery, she thinks it would be nice to be home, but would never admit this to Doris. Why?

3. What happened when Hagar didn't have enough money to send John to college?

4. Who is the patient that befriends Hagar in the hospital?

5. The night after Bram's funeral, who was the one who cried?

Short Essay Questions

1. John's death effected Hagar deeply. However, she was not able to show the emotion until she drinks wine with Mr. Lee. Why do you think that was?

2. What is Hagar waiting for in Chapter 10, and in what other ways has she waited in the book?

3. Explain the irony of Hagar being moved to a semi-private hospital room.

4. How would you describe Mr. Murray Lees in Chapter 8?

5. Describe the irony, at the end of Chapter 6, of Bram being buried in the Currie plot, and having the Shipley name carved on the other side of the Currie stone.

6. Why do you think Hagar does not allow herself to cry in front of strangers?

7. Lottie Dreiser does not remember the incident described about the chicks. What does this say about Hagar as a narrator?

8. What turns out to be Hagar's biggest character flaws?

9. In Chapter 9, while at the hospital, Hagar finally starts to notice that she is different from other people, in what way?

10. In Hagar complaining that Arlene is always at the house, and then wishing she had not said it afterward, what does this say about Hagar?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Marvin Shipley was caught between "two fires" meaning his mother who needed, but did not want to go to the nursing home and his wife Doris (Hagar's caregiver) who wanted Hagar to go to the nursing home and could no longer keep up with the workload because of her health. What would you have done if you were Marvin? Would you have changed your mind at any point in the novel?