Study Guide Tuck Everlasting yy Natalie Babbitt & (2 eraw-nin| Meet Natalie Babbitt [Natalie Habit} isan tartrate ith pon and Brash, bt as with were orton Chpan, tere wt the aot 11a young age. Natalie Babbitt knew ‘he wanted to become an ilustrator. Her mother, an artist gave Natalie and her sister art lessons as children, Natalie spent hours practicing her drawing, often using colored pencils. At age nine, she discovered the children's clase Alice in Wonderland ‘and fll i fove with John Tenaiel’s pen fnd.ink illustrations forthe book, His ar ‘work inspired her so that she decided she also would be an illustrator of children’s books,“ would dra funny, beautiilpie tures in pen and ink,” she explains. Babbitt say, however that at this early stage of her life “I never thought about writ- ing Nevertheless, sa child, she loved the fairy tales her mother read aloud to her. abit leamed to read before she entered school. These early experiences helped to lay the groundwork for her career asa writer of fantasy books for children uk Beresng Sy ae Babbitt strong interest in drawing led her to major in art in college. While there, she met her husband. After marrying, Babbitt focused on raising her thee chil dren, By the age of thiety, she sill had not Jaunched her eater as an illustrator. At that time, the 19506, few women looked for jobs ‘outside the home, Babbit says, "Women my ‘age and older, having maried ata different time, had to meet all the expectations of society before we did anything In the mid-1960s, Babbitt decided she would do what she had always wanted to do. She gave her husband, a writer, the idea for ‘children’s book she wanted to illustrate He wrote the words, and she drew the pen- and-ink illustrations, The Forty-Ningh Magician was published in 1966, ‘With the encouragement of her husband and her editor, Babbitt began Co write her ‘vn picture books. The Search for Delicious ‘was published in 1969, and Kreeknook Rise was published in 1970, Both books combine elements of folklore, fairy tale, and myth. In The Search for Delcious—which Features group of dwvars,a mermaid, anda tree ddyeller~a 12-year-old boy must sve his kKingsom by discovering the correct defi tion of the word delicious. In Kneeknack Rise, 1 boy investigates a town's fear of a mythical creature that lives on top of a nearby moun ‘ain, Babbitt’ mos poplar book, however, is Tuck Everasing a blend of realism and Tanta, fist published in 1975. ;Babbits books have been praised for their wit, clear and poetic writing style, and themes that address thought-provoking questions about life and human nature Babbitt says that she writes for children, but hher award-winning books are enjoyed by readers ofall ages.Introducing the Novel For the wood was filo i. seen ‘and amber and ave, quvering in phe ‘he pied ound amin io std spe ‘epeon the reer. and here en tere fale og, half reted Bf with patches of ‘eet gery mss ek Brag This description of Treegp woods, part of the setting of Tuck Everkating, shows Natalie Babbitt sil with words, Asone expert on children’ fiteratue has noted, "No one imi- tates Natalie Babbit, because no one can.” Tuek Everasingis Baits best-loved novel. At the beginning ofthe story, we meet ‘Winnie Foster. Neary eleven yeas old, ‘Winnie has litle experience with life beyond her fenced font yard and yearns to spread her wings Her life changes dramatically when ‘she meets the odd Tuck family and discovers fa secret they have kept for many years. Thus hes aventave wit lhe Tock, Winnie makes another, fr more important, Aiscovery—Winnie discovers here. ‘Suspenseful, funny. and touching, ck Bverlasing explores a serious quesion about life and about how it should be lived ‘The Tuck family in the novel shares some similarities with Babbitreal:ie ancestor, ‘who were ently pioneers Inthe late 17005, some Babbits journeyed from Connectiut to ‘Ohio to settle. At that time, Ohio was covered with an immense fore where bears roamed ‘and Native Americans lived and hunted. AS more and more settlers ive, the forests were ‘cleared to create farmland, Patches of woods remained. Woods like thes are the home of the Tucks a the time Winnie mects them. Like Babbitt other novels, Fuck Everlasting isa fantasy, type of ition that ‘stall includes fletional characters and imaginary settings. But unlike many of her novel, Tuck takes place inthe everyday ‘world, Asan “earthbound fantasy" the novel is often compared to FB. White’ Charlot’ Web, Both delicately balance the real and the imaginary. Babbitt’ skill asa soryteller makes the unbelievable sem believable. ‘The term fama includes many types of fiction, from moder firy tales to science fe- tion. A fantasy is work that takes place in ‘an unreal world or conoeens unreal characters and events. A fantasy ean feature knights and dragons, talking animals or time travelers. can be et in the long-ago pat othe distant future It includes works as different as Winnie the Pook and Star Wars. What links thes i= ferent kinds of writing together is that they all focus onthe imaginary Fantasieshave thee roots folktales, legends, and myths. Folktales are traditional stories that convey the beliefsor cusoms ofa calture. Legend, part fact and part fiction, tell bout the great deeds of heroes. Myths are narratives that attempt to explain certain events sich asthe creation ofthe world oF forces of nature, These forms of erature came into being hundreds-even thousand:—of ‘years ago, The sories wer pase along by ‘word-of mouth for generations before being ‘written down, “Man fantasy writers, such as Natalie Babbitt, ne Yolen, and Bran Jacques, are faeinate by these earl tales and borrow from them in ther own sores For that reason, when you ead a fantasy the pot, characters, or theme may seem fall: As Yolen points ou: Str anon ries, tan at Ts oni oth the rere hose of ance ‘ory nceary for any ive appreciation of toy’ leur. ‘The main source of al fantasy stores, however, isthe human heart and mind. Like the ancient, unnamed storytellers, fantasy iter today address our darkes fears and rates hopes. They also stretch our imagina tions by helping us dream and look at the ‘word in new and unusual ways. Speaking of Teck erasing Sy Gide a raudizy meet 9 WMOoon by Te Mec compas the importance of the imagination, fantasy ‘writer Pal Fenimore Cooper notes Heo aks agian est hl af. ‘He as hiseperiences, he as sos he has is ing. But cy yo tery ve inks touched bs the ma ofthe imation? While many fantasies are designed to pro- vide an entertaining esape fom the every ‘rid the richest fantasies llr insights about the real world. For example, Charles Web, hich feature a talking spide an pigs well asa reali Iitl gi, helps us underand true friendship. Tuck Even, which aso hasa young gi asthe main character, fesinsights ‘nan even larger quesion. The bes fantasies, hile inviting usto consider the imposible at thesme time have the ringof rath ‘THE TIME AND PLACE Babbitt gves cues that allow the reader to figure out thatthe events ofthe novel take place inthe 1880s. By providing details about Winnie high-button shoes and people’ use fof wagons and horses rather than cars, Babbit shows the time in which the events occu. The story takes place in the imaginary village of Treegsp. Treegsp is based on ‘The ia of ning forever hes tasenatod humankind or conta. the 13008, ‘madieval chemists ed to dscoer a iquld {hat coud extend ie forever. Thy aed this magical ein the “eof a" In China, fotower of ligon calla Tani ‘2earened fora similar substance called the Tok Serastng Suny ce AE ——————————— Clinton, New York, a small town in the foothills ofthe Adirondack Mountains, here Babbitt snd her husband lived. The ‘Adirondack Mountains cover about 12,000 Square miles in northeastern New York. In the mid-1800s, people began visiting the ‘Adirondacks 1 enjoy the scenery wlif tnd reereational activities. ‘Babbitt may have been inspired by Norse mythology when she created the woods of ‘Treegap. Though the Foster family owns the ‘woods, Winnie has never entered them. In ‘Chapter 1 we learn thatthe woods have a huge ash tee at their center In Norse myth—part ofthe traditional culture of Sweden, Norway, and Deama a giant ash (ree stands atthe center ofthe world and supports the universe. At its base ae three holy wells. The tree like the [Norse gods, immortal, but an evil mon- ster gnawe a its rots, While there are no ‘monsters in Tuck Everlaing, the ash tree in the woods of Treegap, like the ash tre in ‘the myth, has water at its base. A small spring bubbles up from underground. In the novel, the spring plays critical par in the novel plot and presents an important ques- tion for readers “pil ot immortality Some Tacit aso ‘ougt that peopl could approach immer tality by fatlowing certain dally practices. Thoybelived that mediation, breathing nerses, and det could reverse the rermal ‘aging process by changing the bods Interna chemistryBefore You Read Tuck Evertasting Prologue and Chapters 1-8 Focus ACTIVITY If you had the chance to tay young forever, would you take HY Why or why nol? ‘Think PairShare ‘With & partner, lit possible advantages and disadvantages of never growing any older. Setting a Purpose Read to find out how a mysterious family ays young. BACKGROUND ‘The Passage of Time ‘The time of year isan important feature of the setting in Tuck Everlasting. The prologue, or Introduction tothe novel states that the month is August, and the fst paragraph opens with & ‘tiking summer image. The author describes a Ferris wheel pausing in its turing, with the top seat hanging in the sillnes. This image helps o tthe mood, or atmosphere, ofthe particular August when the novel takes place, Notice thatthe author describes the frst week of Aug a8 “motionless and hot” and Augus a5 "the top ofthe year” Her description sugess thatthe year {sata tuming point. The opening image also hints tht the main character may be at a tuning point in her ite VOCABULARY PREVIEW ‘ads [ak sis]. straight line around which something rotates ccontempiation [kon tam pla”shan] 1. proces of thinking something through disheartened [ais hart”and) a. discouraged implore [im plor] v. to beg primi [prime] a. dainty recede [ri sed] v. to move hackward; 0 withdraw rueful[-60f01} a sad venture [ven char] n. bold or sky act "uc Sriasting Sey use ae munis maton ma weName —________ bate __ dass __ Responding ‘Tuck Everlasting Prologue and Chapters 1-8 Personal Response ‘What do you think will happen next in the story? Why? Analyzing Literature Recall and Interpret 1 Billy describe the Foster’ house and yard. How do they rflct the Fosters" personality? 22, What does Mr Tuck dream? What does the dream suggest about Mr. Tuck’ stitude toward his life? 5. What thoughts does Winnie express tothe toad? How does she fel about her lifer How does the weather reflect her fesings? 4, What draws Winnie tothe woods? What isJesw Tuck doing when Winnie fist sees him? What does she think of Jesse? 5. What seeret do the Tucks share with Winnie? Why do they kidnap her? How ‘does Winnie fel about the Tucks? “ Tuck Beriasing Sy ui ser sata numa wDae © ye Meant compris, Name Responding Tuck Everlasting Prologue and Chapters 1-8 ‘Analyzing Literature (continued) Evaluate and Connect 6, Who overhears the Tuck sere? How do the actions of his character ereate suspense of tension in the pl? Date ass 17. Review your answer tothe quetion in the Focus Aetivly. Aller reading about the “Tucks, would you change your answer? Why? How might the Tucks answer the | question? Literature and Writing ‘The Story in a Nutshell In one written paragraph. sum up the part ofthe sory you have read s far. Kentfy the ‘main character in the novel snd give sme backgyound about her. Where does shelve? What semsto be troubling her? What action does she take that sts the tryin motion? Extending Your Response LUterature Groupe “Mae Tuck sys that the sping is big, dangerous eee.” Do you agree In your liseusion consider thes related questions: What might happen if the seret was revealed 1 the public? How would people’ lives be changed for beter oF wore? How ‘would society be affected? How might the planet be affected? After your discussion, take a vote to find eut how many students think the spring shouldbe kept sere Leaming for Life [News reporters often have to separate fact from fiction. Imagine you ae a repste. You have heard a rumor about a mysterious family that never seems (0 age. You editor ‘wants you t find out ifthe rumor is true. What questions would you ask to ry to get tothe bottom ofthis story? Write at leas 0 questions you would ask each major character in the story ery Yk esting Sy ice 6