LOSING EDDIE:  CHAPTER QUESTIONS

CHAPTER 1: SISTER
1. Briefly describe the following characters based on what we are told in the chapter:
The narrator
Sister
Mama
Daddy
Bucky
Eddie
Sister’s man
2.  Daddy drinks because his “soul is troubled” (p. 8).  What does this mean?
3.  What does mama mean by saying, “if we could see our soul we’d see that it is in the shape of wings" ?(p.8)
4.  Why was Daddy wading around in the lake?
5.  What act of bravery did Daddy perform in this chapter?*
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CHAPTER 2: WOMAN TALK
1.  What views on women are revealed in this chapter?
2.  Who is Marilyn jealous of?
3.  What is the change of life?*
4.  Pick out your favourite line(s) in this chapter which you find funny or amusing.*
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CHAPTER 3: EDDIE
1.  Describe your impressions of Eddie.
2.  Why is Eddie mad at his family?
3.  Who does mama blame for Eddie’s personality/behavior?
4.  Why does daddy buy an electric guitar for Eddie?
5.  What role has alcohol played in the family?
6.  Why are Eddie and Daddy fighting?*
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CHAPTER 4:  THREE HEARTS
1.  How old is Eddie?
2.  What excuses does mama make for Eddie?
3.  What is the most dramatic incident that happens in this chapter?*
4.  Why is Mama sick periodically?*
5.  How is Mama dressed when she helps Bucky?*  Why is this
      significant? what does it tell us about Mama?
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CHAPTER 5:  BAPTISM
1.  Why does the narrator ask, “Will braces make him stop drinking?” on p. 65?
2.  Explain the metaphor “her beauty bar skin”. (p. 66)
3.  What does the narrator mean when she says, “they make deals with Eddie” (p. 67)?
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CHAPTER 6:  A STRANGER COMES
1.  Identify and explain the literary device on page 80.
2.  Why was the narrator proud for a second?*
3.  Explain how Eddie crashed and died.*
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CHAPTER 7:  VOICES IN THE WIND
1.  What does the narrator mean on page 94 when she says sadness can be just like a song?
2.  Why might daddy drink the concoction he makes on page 95; what might it be a cure for?
3.  Offer an interpretation for the narrator’s dream on page 96.
4.  What does the narrator mean on page 10 when she says, “When I look close at mama, I don’t recognize her eyes…”?
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CHAPTER 8: STATUES
1.  Locate clues in the chapter that identify mama as the child and the narrator as the parent.
2.What does "persecuted" mean on page 116?
3.  Explain the analogy on page 120.
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CHAPTER 9: AUDREY’S HOUSE
1.  What does Audrey’s father’s actions reveal about the family’s morals on page 123?  How is this ironic when we compare it to what we later learn in the chapter?
2.  What clues are we given that Audrey is not well looked after by her parents?
3.  What is ironic about Audrey pitying the narrator?
4.  Why does Audrey keep a knife beside her bed?  Why wouldn’t she use it all the time?
5.  What dramatic actions, on Mama's part, caused Daddy to take her back to the hospital?*
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CHAPTER 10:  A BLUE BIKE
1.  What is the real reason the narrator decides not to ask for  the kitten (p. 139)?
2.  If Daddy didn't want to take Mama back to the hospital, explain why he did.*
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CHAPTER 11:  GOOD INTENTIONS
1.  What is revealed about Marilyn’s character on page 143 when she says, “Geez, don’t be wasting your time on wishes like that.  You know as well as I do that she’s not gonna get better.”?
2.  Explain what the narrator means on page 139 when she says, "Everything is black and white with her."
3.  Why is the narrator a little jealous of Marilyn?*
4.  What is Mr. Morris listening for on page 145?
5.  This chapter is a very sad chapter.  Contrast Marilyn's mama with the other two mamas in the story.*
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CHAPTER 12:  PAPER BRUISES
1.  Offer an interpretation of the narrator's dream on page 164.
2.  At the end of the chapter the narrator is dressing up in her mother's clothes.  How do you explain the significance or symbol in this?*
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CHAPTER 13:  A PRIVATE PLACE TO BE
1.  What has Mama so upset in this chapter?
2.  What does the narrator blame herself for?  What does this reveal about her?
3.  Why is the chapter titled "a private place to be"?
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CHAPTER 14:  THE GOLDENROD FIELD
1.  Who is Mrs. Harris' new friend?*
2.  Why is Arnie an angel?
3.  What does Mrs. Harris mean when she asks the narrator if her eyes are open (p. 196)?
4.  Are the narrator's eyes really open?  Explain.
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CHAPTER 15:  MY DAY
1.  Explain Bucky's "vision".  What do you think it means, if anything?
2.  a) What does the narrator mean on page 212 when she says, "they
     look like they want to love me"?
     b) What does this tell us about how the narrator feels about her
     parents and herself?
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CHAPTER 16:  THE SPARROW
1.  What is the sparrow symbolic for?  Explain.
2.  Do you think the sparrow really flew away?  Explain.
3.  Explain how the following statement relates to this novel,  "People will always try to hold you down, but you can always raise above them" (p. 218 ).
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