The Education of Little Tree

Study Questions

Chapter 15 - 16

Racism /Poverty

Chapter 15

1. Why did Grandpa plant by the stars? Do you think it will work? Why?

2. What part does super play in plantin’ and watermellon pickin’? What else"figures in" to it?

3. What can you tell about Pine Billy from his outlook on life, work, sex and responsibility? In what ways is he like Grandpa? In what ways is he different?

4. Why do you think Little Tree kept saying things were "reasonable"? In what ways were they reasonable? In what ways weren’t they reasonable?

 5. Why do you think Willow John’s eyes twinkled when Little Tree said or did things to him?

6. Why was Willow John so bitter? What form of racism/ prejudice was practiced against the Cherokees?

Chapter 16

1. Why did Grandpa mistrust preachers?

2. What was Grandpa’s problem concerning the Pharasees and the pastor?

3. What point was the author trying to make in this chapter? Was this based on fact? Was it based on personal experience? Is there any difference between the two?

4. From p. 152, how do you think Grandpa would relate to welfare? Why?

5. Why do you think the author gives the animals human characteristics in this book?

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