This story was written in the 1960s, but takes place in the 1930s. How do you think Munro's perception of her childhood years may have affected the writing of the story? Do you find this story to present a sentimentalized version of an impoverished childhood? Or does the story strike you as realistic?

Find out more about how the Great Depression affected Canadians. In light of your research, to what extent do you think what happens to the narrator's family—and the family dynamics—is an accurate portrayal?

The 1960s, when this story was written, is generally regarded as a period epitomized by the challenging of societal norms. In that sense, the 1960s were very different from the 1950s. How do you think typical readers of the 1950s and 1960s might have reacted differently to this story?

The narrator notices...