Discussion Director

Little House in the Big Woods

Section 1 p. 1-23

Questions:

1, On page 19 paragraph one Pa has killed many animals and Ma has stored them away for the winter. Almost the entire house is filled with food for the winter. Why did they do this and what kinds of predictions can you make for the events to come this winter?

Answer: The family needed to conserve their food in order to eat throughout the winter. Since most animals hibernate in the winter Pa had to work extra hard in order to feed his family. Therefore, he killed more animals during other months and Ma fixed them up and froze them for the winter months. I think in the winter it will get very cold and snow a lot in the big woods. They may run low on food and they might need to find other ways to eat instead of what they have saved for the winter.

2. On page 21 paragraph two Pa is talking about the animal traps he has set out for the winter months. Do you think he will catch anything? Make some predictions.

Answer: Since many animals hibernate in the winter I don’t think he will catch anything. He may catch more animals at the beginning and the end of the winter season. During the winter when it is really cold there probably won’t be any animals roaming around the big woods.

3. Describe the mood on page 11 paragraph two when Laura hears Pa’s pig squealing in the middle of the night. Then Pa runs outside with his gun and shoots it off a few times. How do you think Laura feels when this happens? Would you feel the same way?

Answer: I don’t think Laura likes the sound of pigs squealing. I bet it frightens her and she became even more scared when she heard the gun shots. She was probably very frightened lying in bed that night. I would feel scared also because when a pig squeals it is their call for trouble and danger. Therefore, I would’ve thought something bad was happening to the pig like he was in trouble and needed help.

4. Describe the Cause/Effect in this section. Refer to page 5 paragraph 3. Remember what season is coming and what Pa needs to do to prepare for it.

Answer: Winter is coming because it is getting colder and days are growing shorter (Cause) and therefore Pa must find wild game in the big woods so the family may eat throughout the winter (Effect).

5. On page 21 in paragraph 1 the family gathers after dinner and Pa tells stories. What is the significance in his stories and why do you think he tells them? How do the children react to his stories and why?

Answer: Pa tells stories from his past and experiences he has had in the big woods himself. Usually these stories have a moral or some kind of meaning for the girls. It is a form of entertainment for his children and they love to listen to his stories. He makes them entertaining by describing everything and giving vivid details so the girls feel like they are experiencing the events themselves.