Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Chapter 1 Focus question: The narrator doesn’t yet reveal his name. What does he tell and show about himself? Vocabulary Words: dormant – adj. asleep; inactive drastic – adj. forceful; violent

Farming in the 1920s

Chapter 2 Focus question: How do you picture Billy and his home? Vocabulary: sparsely – adv. thinly bay – v. to bark with long, deep sounds

Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma A Cherokee Chief The Cherokee Strip in Oklahoma

Chapter 3 Focus question: How does Billy change during these two years? Vocabulary: mull over – v. to think about quaver – v. to tremble; to speak in trembling tones

The Ozark Mountains

Chapter 4 Focus question: Compare Billy to the townspeople. Vocabulary: riffle – n. shallow, choppy stretch of water wince – v. to draw back suddenly

Chapter 5 Focus question: What bonds are already being forged between Billy and the pups? Vocabulary: gawk – v. to stare rudely runt – n. an animal smaller than the usual size

Chapter 6 Focus question: Are you surprised by his parents’ reaction when Billy comes home with the puppies? Why or why not? Vocabulary: query – v. to ask hamper – v. to hinder; to prevent from acting

Rural Life A corncrib is a slatted enclosure for storing and drying ears of corn. The spaced slats let air circulate and prevent rotting.

Another example of a corncrib

Chapter 7 Focus question: What do you learn about raccoons and raccoon hunting in this chapter? Vocabulary: domain – n. territory under the control of one ruler

Raccoon Hunting Dogs chase the raccoon by scent until it is “treed,” which means that it is trapped in a tree.

The dogs then “bark treed,” and then the hunter got the raccoon down by chopping the tree down or scaring it out. It was considered unsportsmanlike to kill a raccoon while it was treed.

Chapter 8 Focus Question: How does this chapter demonstrate Billy’s feelings for his dogs? Vocabulary: gruff – adj. deep, harsh, and hoarse limber – adj. flexible; bending easily lunge – v. to make a sudden forward movement

Chapter 9 Focus Question: Based on Billy’s actions, what three adjectives would you use to describe him? Vocabulary: drone – v. to make a dull, humming sound momentum – n strength and speed with which something moves

Chapter 10 Focus Question: What do you learn about the unusual qualities of Old Dan and Little Ann in this chapter? Vocabulary: nonchalantly – adv. Without showing emotion or care belligerent – adj. fond of fighting

Chapter 11 Focus Question: What do you discover about the importance of self-reliance? Vocabulary: eddy – n. a small whirlpool or current ventilate – v. to provide an opening for the escape of air or gas

Chapter 12 Focus Question: Compare Billy and the Pritchard boys. Vocabulary: sidle – v. to move sideways slowly

Prohibition (1920 – 1933)

Chapter 13 Focus Question: Are you surprised by the outcome of the ghost coon hunt? Why or why not? Vocabulary: leer – v. giving a sly, sidelong look

Chapter 14 Focus Question: This chapter reveals the personalities of Billy’s mother, his youngest sister, and his grandmother. What is Billy’s relationship with each of them? Vocabulary: jubilant – adj. joyful gloat – v. to show too much pride or satisfaction at succeeding

Chapter 15 Focus Question: What do Grandpa’s actions tell about his character? Vocabulary: monotonous – adj. without changing

Chapter 16 Focus Question: How do you predict the hunt will end? What makes you think so? Vocabulary: flit – v. to pass lightly and quickly falter – v. to hesitate

Chapter 17 Focus Question: Are the Colmans’ actions during the blizzard responsible or irresponsible? Explain your answer. Vocabulary: sear – v. to burn

Chapter 18 Focus Question: What do you learn about love and loyalty from Billy, Grandpa, and the dogs? Vocabulary: defiant – adj. openly resisting haggard – adj. looking worn from pain, tiredness or worry slaughter – n. killing, murder squabble – n. noisy disagreement

Chapter 19 Focus Question: In what ways do Old Dan and Little Ann help Billy and his family? Vocabulary: predatory – adj. living by preying on other animals Berserk – adj. carried away by wild fury Lithe – adj. bending easily Scourge – n. something that causes great trouble Entrails – n. the inner parts of the body

Chapter 20 Focus Question: How does Billy come to terms with the deaths of Old Dan and Little Ann? Vocabulary: caress – n. a gentle, tender touch

Credit The questions and vocabulary presented on this slide were taken from: NovelWorks: Where the Red Fern Grows. Scott Foresman Literature, Jessica Elliott, Sellers Middle School Garland Independent School District