“THE FLOWERS” BY ALICE WALKER

VOCABULARY:
1. Benignly:

2. Debris:

3. Fragrant:

4. Frazzled:

5. Keenness:

6. Laden:

7. Vaguely:

8. Yelp:

QUESTIONS:
1. How do we know the setting of this story? What clues are in the story?

2. What can we guess about Myop? How old is she, and what might her life be like?

3. What can we guess about the dead man that Myop steps on? What kind of person was
he? How did he die?

4. How does the ending of “The Flowers” contrast with the beginning of the story? How
is the mood of the story different by the end?

5. Why does Myop lay down her flowers at the end of the story?

6. Why does Alice Walker state at the end of the story, “And the summer was over.”
Does she mean this phrase LITERALLY or FIGURATIVELY? What could she
possibly mean?

7. How can “The Flowers,” although very short, be counted as a short story? What
elements are present that make this a short story?

Adapted from Reading Reminders: Tools, Tips, and Techniques by Jim Burke, © 2000.
 “THE FLOWERS” BY ALICE WALKER
STORY STRUCTURE GRAPHIC ORGANIZER
MAIN CHARACTER:

SETTING (TIME, PLACE, ATMOSPHERE):

PRIMARY CONFLICT:

LIST THE MAIN EVENTS IN THE STORY:

CLIMAX: RESOLUTION:

Adapted from Reading Reminders: Tools, Tips, and Techniques by Jim Burke, © 2000.