DISCUSSION QUESTIONS for BETTY
by TIFFANY MCDANIELS
1.
(p. 8, 245, 256, 372) Discuss what you know
about the Aniwadi clan, the Cherokee, the Indian Removal Act, and the Trail of
Tears. Talk about how the Indian culture
played a role within this novel. How
would this novel faired had it not contained the race/culture aspect within it?
2.
Discuss your appreciation (or unappreciation) of
the articles and scripture given before and after each chapter.
3.
(p. 22) Chapter 2 describes each of the
Carpenter children. (Leland, Fraya,
Yarrow, Waconda, Flossie, Betty, Trustin, and Lint). Betty’s father converses with Fraya in this
chapter telling her she is his measurement.
She asks, “Why?” He responds,
“Because you’re important.” Compare each
of the siblings. Their characters and
personalities. Their importance within
the Carpenter family.
4.
(p. 19) Discuss the significance of the
half-eaten chocolate bar that Alka left on her father after Landon cut the soul
out of him.
5.
(p. 19) Betty, in first person narrative,
describes; “When I think of family now, I think of a big ol’ sorghum field,
like the one my father was born in. Dry
brown dirt, wet green leaves. And
sweetness there in the hard canes…”
What do you think of when you think of family?
6.
(p.26) Betty’s father gives her some deer skin
with some strange lettering on the backside.
He explains, “Cherokee is you.”
He adds; “They say don’t forget who you are.” Why is this such an important point
throughout the story?
7.
(p. 41, 436-7) While Betty helps her father lick
the cigarette paper to roll, she makes note of the scar on his hands. Years later, Betty finally inquiries about
the burn scar on his palm. He tells her
the beautiful lie and then finally the ugly truth. Discuss the stories her father often told her
and why they were so important to not only her but to him as well.
8.
(p. 69, 74, 279) Betty endured bullying and
mistreatment in school because of her skin color. She also faced ridicule from her own family
members. The longing to be accepted and
even a friend of Ruthis’ was apparent yet after all of the meanness, Betty
forgave Ruthis. Do you believe her
father, the one who she tended to lean on for strength, provided Betty what he
could (with parenting and support)? What contributed to Betty’s forgiveness?
9.
(p. 259, 422, 390) Betty secretly assembled a
paper girl under her bed. An ideal
picture of what she wanted to look like.
She later tore up this girl from her floor and acceptance of herself?
(Coming of age, Slipperwort’s advice, loss of sibling(s))
10.
(p. 116, 125, 69, 228, 244, 309, 348, 409, 410)
Yellow was a color theme interwoven within Alka, Betty’s mother as well as Fraya’s
life. Discuss the dandelions, the
lemons, the coffin, the dress, Fraya’s apartment, discuss
the yellow world Alka escaped to, and discuss what yellow stood
for.
11.
(p. 196) Betty’s mother, Alka, crudely describes
what her father had done to her as a child.
Why do you think Alka chose Betty to tell her secret to? Do you believe anyone else were privy (other
than her own mother) to what happened?
Betty’s mother continuously had breakdowns and eruptions. Do you think her mother had exhibited these
mental instabilities all her childhood?
If not, what do you suppose triggered or brought on her mother’s
unhealthy state of mind in her later life?
12.
(p. 197) The Carpenter family exhibited unusual
coping skills. Some might describe these
atypical approaches as eccentric or cultural differences. For example, literally burying their secrets/problems,
The Faraway Place, goodbyes in a jar, wishes to an eagle, were all
extraordinary. In your own words, how
would you describe these measures?
13.
(p. 130) The sisters connived to steal their
father’s moonshine, Betty was chosen to occupy him, as she was “his favorite”. Was Betty his favorite?
14.
(p. 206) Betty describes certain tings about her
father were “chipping away from her”.
She thought the fantasy was fading.
Why do you think this was so?
(p.337) Later, her mother insists that her father “…deserves his
child’s love. Especially from the child with the most starts.” What was unique about Betty’s relationship
she shared with her father?
15.
(p. 232) Landon referred to his daughters as
maize (Fraya), beans (Flossie) and squash (Betty). Betty was designated to “save” her sisters. This weight Betty bared and carried. Was it fair to apply this concept to such a
young child? (p. 403) After leaving
Fraya, Betty finds an owl caught on a fence line. She meets an old lady who offers to care for
the bird. She tells Betty to never lose
the thing that makes her want to save a life.
Discuss symbolism at this point in the story (owl, old woman, etc) Betty
later realizes that the old lady and barn disappeared. What really happened? How would you explain what Betty
experienced?
16.
(p. 209) It would be of popular opinion to
say that Alka was not a good mother.
However, Landon appealingly doted on Alka. Why do you think this was so? (p. 248)
Betty’s mother asks her, “Betty, do you love me.” (p. 245, 275) There were many opportunities presented
to Betty to despise her mother. Do you
believe Betty ever truly loved her mother?
(p. 469) In preparation of leaving, Betty reminisces with her mom about
the flying June bugs. “Because I was
with you, Mom.” Betty tells
her. What is your take on Betty’s
gentleness at this time?
17.
Leland returned from serving in the military, he
brought back gifts for each of his siblings.
He gave Freya a jewelry box.
Fraya, listening to her jewelry box, was one of the last memories Betty
had of her sister. Discuss Leland and
what was revealed of his evil influence over Freya and her family.
18.
(p. 227, 239, 410) Fraya continued to live a
secretive life. Ashamed, Fraya slaps
Betty after she learned that Betty discovered the secret. Leland reacted a much different way when he
found that Betty knew. Compare the two’s
reactions. Discuss why this horrible
incident was left to worsen and destroy.
19.
Fraya was allergic to bee stings. Fraya was found dead with her hand in a jar
that contained a bee. Discuss the
details surrounding Fraya’s death. Why
did Leland kill Fraya? (p. 57, 218, 221, 403, 405)
20.
(p. 338) Discuss the tenderness aspect that the
pony in the story gifted to the reader.
21.
(p. 310, 415, 422) Betty’s father said, “…some
pain you know you’ll always hold on to.”
Talk about how pain can be hard to let go of. Talk about the pain endured in Betty and her
family’s life. (p. 415) After Trustin’s
death Betty’s parents seemingly reconnected.
Betty commented, “Too bad grief made myths of everything.” What did she mean by this?
22.
(p. 299-308) Old Woman Slipperoot was a lady
whom Betty cared for during the summer.
She was peculiar woman, revealing wisdom and her nakedness
often. What did Betty learn from Old
Woman Slipperoot?
23.
(p. 303) The novel follows Betty as she walks
through childhood, onto coming of age, and finally reaching adulthood. Did Betty ever accomplish in finding who she
really was? List some indications of
this in how you might have come to this conclusion. (p. 463) Betty claims to her dead father, “I
know who I am now.” How did she find
herself?
24.
(p. 250, 317) Trustin demonstrated his jokingly
personality, outwitting his sisters using his witty antics. What role did he play in the Carpenter
family? (p. 344, 349, 362) Trustin’s
death understandably caused heart ache and change within their family. Talk about these changes. Talk about Betty’s guilt associated with
Trustin’s death. (p. 346, 349) Should
she feel guilty?
25.
(p. 470) While describing the pony’s new life
with Cinderblock John, Betty uses a metaphor to describe; “…the need to go
beyond the fence. No matter how
beautiful the pasture, it is the freedom to choose that makes the difference
between a life lived and a life had.”
What do you suppose she meant by this?
26.
The novel, Betty held raw life experiences that
the author revealed as occurring in her mother’s life. Some of these instances were uncomfortable to
read and to some were offensive. At the
end of the novel, while enduring the last moments of life, Betty’s father tells
her he loves her. Betty tells him; “You
said them (the words, I love you) every time you told me a story.” She later finds that he left her a typewriter
holding a paper simply titled; “Betty, Chapter One”. Do you believe this story needed to be told?
27.
(p. 463, 476) Landon’s quote; “No water is
ever at rest.” At the very end of
the novel, Betty says;” I know now what he meant because the ripples of his
death have weakened. But the waters will
never be still.” What is your
interpretation regarding her conclusion?
(Refer to page 462-3)
Talking Topics:
The boy who drove a car
Death of Betty’s grandpa
Leland minister
Landon’s garden
The Faraway Place
Cherokee language: Tsa-la-gi (p. 26)
Lint and his rocks and demons
Carrying Trustin’s coffin
Flossie and child, Nova
Old Woman Slipperwort
Cotton and balloon
Hank (p. 410) and Du-yu-go-dv (p. 467)
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