Part 2.

The Blanket by

FLOYD DELL

A. Pre-Reading About the Author

1. Think Before You Read

Answer the following questions: 1. What is a nursing home? Have you ever visited anyone in a nursing home? 2. o you or did you have a grand!arent you !arti"ularly loved or admired? #. What are some of the things you en$oyed doing with that grand!arent? %. How are older !eo!le treated in your "ountry?

2. Story Preview
Read the !review of the story and try to guess the meaning of the words in bold !rint.

Petey& an eleven-year-old 'oy& is unha!!y 'e"ause his father is sending Petey(s grandfather to a nursing home. Petey is sad 'e"ause this is the last evening he and )randdad will have together. Petey is unha!!y also 'e"ause his father is going to marry a young woman who doesn(t want an old man around the house. *he thin+s )randdad will 'e a nuisance. Petey(s father doesn(t really want to send )randdad away& 'ut he wants to !lease his fiance. He doesn(t want to lose her. ,he father 'uys )randdad a blanket to ta+e with him to the nursing home so that he won(t 'e "old at night. When the young woman sees the 'lan+et& she 'e"omes angry& and she reproaches Petey(s father for 'uying it 'e"ause she thin+s it is too e-!ensive.

3. Using the Vocabulary

.ill in the 'lan+s 'elow with the bold words from the *tory Preview a'ove. When they rarely re"eive visits from their "hildren or others& many older !eo!le in nursing homes 'e"ome 'ored and unha!!y. *ometimes& a !arent is sent away 'e"ause the family feels that the !arent is a ////////////// and that "aring for him or her is too mu"h trou'le. 0hildren living with older !arents "an 'e"ome im!atient with them as the !arents 'egin to forget things. 1n!leasant s"enes "an result when "hildren /////////////////////// their !arents for small mista+es& su"h as tearing a //////////////////////// or another !art of the !arent(s 'ed. *ometimes& a man who lives with an older !arent 'e"omes more im!atient when he !lans to get married. A diffi"ult moment for the man might "ome when he has to introdu"e his !arent to his ///////////////.

4. Making Predictions
.rom the *tory Preview& try to !redi"t what will ha!!en. Whi"h of the following !redi"tions do you thin+ is the most probable? 0ir"le your "hoi"e or give an answer that you thin+ is 'etter. 1

1.Petey(s father will ta+e the 'lan+et 'a"+ to the store. 2. He will +ee! his father at home. #. He will 'rea+ his engagement. %. He will !ersuade his fian"ee to "hange her mind. 2. He will feel ashamed of himself. 3. ///////////////////////////////////// . 4 fetch : get bring tune up : ad$ust the strings of a musical instrument so it
has the right sound

456*

A7

89PR8**457* take !myself" off : go a#ay eyes cast do#n : looking do#n

slobber : act e%cessi&ely affectionate

a huff : a fit of anger come in handy ' be useful later

(. iterary !er"# Poetic $ustice 4n real life& !eo!le don(t ne"essarily get what they deserve. *ometimes& good !eo!le have 'ad things ha!!en to them& and 'ad !eo!le have good things ha!!en. However& in fi"tion& authors "an reward or !unish "hara"ters for their a"tions. ,his is "alled poetic $ustice ;'e"ause it is literary and the "hara"ters get what they deserve<. When you read =,he >lan+et&? as+ yourself if ea"h "hara"ter gets what he or she deserves.

>. ,H8 *,5R@ About the Author About the Author >orn in 4llinois& .loyd ell ;1AAB - 1C3C< moved to 7ew @or+ 0ity when he was in his twenties. ,here he $oined a num'er of radi"al "auses and lived in )reenwit"h Dillage& where he asso"iated with writers& a"tors& and !ainters. ell wrote novels& !lays& and short stories& in addition to his auto'iogra!hy & Home"oming. 4n most of his fi"tion& ell shows sym!athy for the !oor and under!rivillaged& es!e"ially the aged& as you will see when you read =,he >lan+et?.

!he Blanket

Petey hadn(t really 'elieved that >ut here was the 'lan+et that

ad would 'e doing it : sending )randdad ad had that day 'ought for him& and in the

away. =Away? was what they were "alling it. 7ot until now "ould he 'elieve it of ad. morning he(d 'e going away. And this was the last evening they(d 'e having together. ad was off seeing that girl he was to marry. He(d not 'e 'a"+ till late& and they "ould sit u! and tal+. 4t was a fine *e!tem'er night& with a thin white moon riding high over the gully. When they(d washed u! the su!!er dishes they went out on the shanty !or"h& the old man and the 'it of a 'oy& ta+ing their "hairs. =4(ll get me fiddle&? said the old man& =and !lay ye some of the old tunes.? >ut instead of the fiddle he 'rought out the 'lan+et. 4t was a 'ig& dou'le 'lan+et& red& with 'la"+ "ross stri!es. =7ow& isn(t that a fine 'lan+etE? said the old man& smoothing it over his +nees. =And isn(t your father a +ind man to 'e giving the old fellow a 'lan+et li+e that to go away with? 4t "ost something& it did : loo+ at the wool of itE And warm it will 'e these "old winter nights to "ome. ,here(ll 'e few 'lan+ets there the equal of this oneE? 4t was li+e )randdad to 'e saying that. He was trying to ma+e it easier. He(d !retended all along it was he that was wanting to go away to the great 'ri"+ 'uilding : the government !la"e& where he(d 'e with so many other old fellows having the 'est of everythingF >ut Petey hadn(t 'elieved ad would really do it& until this night when he 'rought home the 'lan+et. =5h& yes& it(s a fine 'lan+et&? said Petey& and go u! and went into the shanty. He wasn(t the +ind to "ry& and 'esides& he was too old for that& 'eing eleven. He(d $ust "ome in to fet"h )randdad(s fiddle. ,he 'lan+et slid to the floor as the old man too+ the fiddle and stood u!. 4t was the last night they(d 'e having together. ,here wasn(t any need to say& =Play all the old tunes.? )randdad tuned u! for a minute& and then said& =,his is one you(ll li+e to remem'er.? ,he thin moon was high overhead& and there was a gentle 'reeGe !laying down the gully. He(d never 'e hearing )randdad !lay li+e this again. 4t was as well on the old !or"h of fine evenings& with )randdad gone.
#

ad was

moving into that new house& away from here. He(d not want& Petey wouldn(t& to sit here

,he tune "hanged. =Here(s something gayer.? Petey sat and stared out over the gully. ad would marry that girl. @es& that girl who(d +issed him and slo''ered over him& saying she(d try to 'e a good mother to him& and allF His "hair "rea+ed as he involuntarily gave his 'ody a !ainful twist. ,he tune sto!!ed suddenly& and )randdad said: =4t(s a !oor tune& e-"e!t to 'e dan"ing to.? And then: =4t(s a fine girl your father(s going to marry. He(ll 'e feeling young again& with a !retty wife li+e that. And what would an old fellow li+e me 'e doing around their house& getting in the way& an old nuisan"e& what with my tal+ of a"hes and !ainsE And then there(ll 'e 'a'ies "oming& and 4(d not want to 'e there to hear them "rying at all hours. 4t(s 'est that 4 ta+e myself off& li+e 4(m doing. 5ne more tune or two& and then we(ll 'e going to 'ed to get some slee! against the morning& when 4(ll !a"+ u! my fine 'lan+et and ta+e my leave. Histen to this& will you? 4t(s a 'it sad& 'ut a fine tune for a night li+e this.? ,hey didn(t hear the two !eo!le "oming down the gully !ath& ad and the !retty girl with the hard& 'right fa"e li+e a "hina doll(s. >ut they heard her laugh& right 'y the !or"h& and the tune sto!!ed on a wrong& high& startled note. ad didn(t say anything& 'ut the girl "ame forward and s!o+e to )randdad !rettily: =4(ll not 'e seeing you leave in the morning& so 4 "ame over to say good-'ye.? =4t(s +ind of you&? said )randdad& with his eyes "ast downI and then& seeing the 'lan+et at his feet& he stoo!ed to !i"+ it u!. =And will you loo+ at this&? he said in em'arrassment& =the fine 'lan+et my son has given me to go away withE? =@es&? she said& =it(s a fine 'lan+et.? *he felt of the wool& and re!eated in sur!rise& =A fine 'lan+et : 4(ll say it isE? *he turned to "ost something& that.? He "leared his throat& and said defensively& =4 wanted him to have the 'estF? ,he girl stood there& still intent on the 'lan+et. =4t(s dou'le& too&? she said re!roa"hfully to ad. =@es&? said )randdad& =it(s dou'le : a fine 'lan+et for an old fellow to 'e going away with.? ,he 'oy went a'ru!tly into the shanty. He was loo+ing for something. He "ould hear that girl re!roa"hing ad& and ad 'e"oming angry in his slow way. And now she
%

ad& and said to him "oldly& =4t

was suddenly going away in a huffF As Petey "ame out& she turned and "alled 'a"+& =All the same& he doesn(t need a dou'le 'lan+etE? And she ran u! the gully !ath. ad was loo+ing after her un"ertainly. =5h& she(s right&? said the 'oy "oldly. =Here& s"issors. =0ut the 'lan+et in two.? >oth of them stared at the 'oy& startled. =0ut it in two& 4 tell you& out. =And +ee! the other halfE? =,hat(s not a 'ad idea&? said )randdad gently. =4 don(t need so mu"h of a 'lan+et.? =@es&? said the 'oy harshly& =a single 'lan+et(s enough for an old man when he(s sent away. We(ll save the other half& adI it will "ome in handy later.? =7ow& what do you mean 'y that?? as+ed ad. =4 mean&? said the 'oy slowly& =that 4(ll give it to you& ad : when you(re old and 4(m sending you : away.? ,here was a silen"e& and then ad went over to )randdad and stood 'efore him& ad(s not s!ea+ing. >ut )randdad understood& for he !ut out a hand and laid it on : 4 +new you didn(t mean itF? And then Petey "ried. >ut it didn(t matter : 'e"ause they were all three "rying together. 0 . A.,8R R8A
47)

ad? : and he held out a !air of adE? he "ried

shoulder. Petey was wat"hing them. And he heard )randdad whis!er& =4t(s all right& son

%.

Understanding the Story

Answer these questions.

1. Why is )randdad 'eing sent away? 2. How old is Petey? #. What ma+es Petey realiGe that )randdad is really going to the nursing home? %. What e-"uses does )randdad ma+e for his sons !lan to send him away? 2. How would you des"ri'e the woman that Petey(s father intends to marry? 3. o you thin+ ad will "hange his mind a'out sending )randdad away? .ind senten"es from the story that su!!ort your o!inion.

2. Vocabulary &o"'rehension
Read ea"h of the following senten"es. ,hen "ir"le the letter of the answer that gives the "orre"t meaning for ea"h word in 'old !rint. 2

1. )randdad(s 'lan+et slid to the floor. a. was !ushed ". was thrown '. fell d. lay 2. Petey went to fet"h )randdad(s fiddle. a. harmoni"a ". violin '. 'ugle d. u+ulele #. His "hair creaked. a. sagged '. 'ro+e ". stiffened d. squea+ed

%. He in&oluntarily gave his 'ody a !ainful twist. a. deli'erately c. rudely '. unintentionally d. consciously 2. )randdad and Petey were startled 'y the girl(s laugh. a. frightened ". disgusted ". pleased d. surprised ). *he spoke re!roa"hfully to Petey+s father about the cost of the blanket. a. !leadingly '. in a s"olding manner ". un!leasantly d. indifferently

B. Petey went into the shanty to get the fiddle. a. garage '. atti" ". sha"+ d. !or"h

A. Petey(s voi"e was harsh when he told his father to "ut the 'lan+et in half. a. rough '. soft ". gentle d. "old

C. )randdad felt that he had 'e"ome a nuisance in the house. a. too old '. an annoyan"e ". not understanding d. a finan"ial 'urden

1J. Petey(s father s!o+e defensi&ely a'out 'uying an e-!ensive 'lan+et for his father. a. with "onvi"tion ". e-"using himself '. un"aringly d. a""using others 11. )randdad stooped to !i"+ u! the 'lan+et. a. sat down ". 'ent over '. moved away d. got u! 12. )randdad was embarrassed to tal+ a'out the 'lan+et in front of ad(s fian"ee. a. un"omforta'le ". unha!!y '. una'le d. un"ertain 1#. Petey abruptly went inside to loo+ for the s"issors. a. qui"+ly ". slowly '. suddenly d. gently 1%. )randdad didn(t want !eo!le to hear him "om!lain a'out his aches and !ains. a. "ontinuous !ain ". 'ad !ain 3

'. sudden !ain

d. mild !ain

3. (ord )or"s 0om!lete the "hart 'y filling in the various forms of the following words ta+en from =,he >lan+et.K 1se your di"tionary if you need hel!. ,ote- ,here may 'e more than one !ossi'le word for
the same !art of s!ee"h.

.erb re!roa"h !retend !ain slee! startle

*oun reproach

/d$ecti&e

/d&erb

intent

.ind at least three other ver's in =,he >lan+et? and write their various word forms in a "hart li+e the one a'ove. ,hen write senten"es using these words as ad$e"tives& adver's& or nouns. 0. 1rammar- Phrasal Verbs A !hrasal ver' ;also "alled a two-word ver'< is a "om'ination of a ver' and a !re!osition or adver'. 8-am!les: Petey s father intends to send )randdad away. )randdad tuned u! his fiddle. Petey got u! and went into the shanty. *ome !hrasal ver's "an 'e se!arated 'y a noun or !ronoun. 8-am!le:
B

Petey hadn(t really 'elieved that ad would 'e . . . sending )randdad away. 5ther !hrasal ver's "annot 'e se!arated. 8-am!les: ads fian"ee ran u! the !ath. ,he students "ame a"ross a good story.

+. A''lication
Reread the story to loo+ for other e-am!les of !hrasal ver's. ,hen guess the meaning of the !hrasal ver's and "om!lete the following "hart. ,he first two e-am!les have 'een done for you. Phrasal &erb
washed u! went out

2eaning
washed the dishes after eating

*entence
When they(d washed u! the su!!er dishes& they went out on the shanty !or"h.

left the house

7ow write three senten"es with the !hrasal ver's you found.
1. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 2. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

#. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

. , H47L47) A>51, %. Sharing ,deas

,H8

*,5R@

is"uss the following questions with a !artner or in a grou!: 1.Why does Petey disli+e the woman that his father intends to marry? 2. o you thin+ that Petey(s father will ever marry his fian"ee? Why or why not? #.What is the real reason that Peteys father 'ought the 'lan+et? %. 7i"e !eo!le sometimes do un+ind things. )ive an e-am!le from your own e-!erien"e or from another story you have read. 2.What lesson do you thin+ Peteys father learned? 4n your o!inion& did the fian"ee get what she deserved? 2. -eading Between the ines >eing a good reader involves reading between the lines. 3his means coming to a
conclusion from the facts gi&en in a story or te%t. For e%ample in 43he 5lanket 6 the author does not tell us that Petey+s father has changed his mind about sending 1randdad to the nursing home but #e conclude this since the story ends #ith the sentence 43hey #ere all three crying together.6

Pra"ti"e reading 'etween the lines. 0ir"le the letter of the answer that 'est "om!letes ea"h of the following statements: 1. We "an assume that Petey(s father intended to send )randdad away 'e"ause
a. he had no regard for his father(s ha!!iness. '. he 'elieved that )randdad would 'e ha!!ier in a nursing home. ". he was easily influen"ed 'y his fian"Me.

2. We "an assume that the fian"Me o'$e"ted to the gift of the 'lan+et 'e"ause
a. she wanted the money for herself. '. she didn(t li+e )randdad. ". she wanted to +ee! the money for Petey. C

#. When the author des"ri'es

a. her 'eauty. '. her deli"a"y. ". her la"+ of +indness.

ad(s fian"Me as =the !retty girl with the hard& 'right

fa"e li+e a "hina doll(s&? he wants to em!hasiGe

3. Analy.ing the Story

Hoo+ 'a"+ at the Literary 3erm on !age 2. ,hin+ of some e-am!les of !oeti" $usti"e in
this story. 6a+e a "hart li+e the one 'elow and list ea"h "hara"ter(s a"tions in the se"ond "olumn. ,hen list the things that ha!!en to ea"h "hara"ter in the third "olumn.

0hara"ter
Petey

What ha!!ens to him or her at the end shows his anger about Dad Granddad stays home with sending Granddad away him and Dad.

What the "hara"ter does

)randdad ad
,he fian"Me

4. (riting
0hoose one of the following writing assignments: 1. Write a summary of the story in two or three !aragra!hs. 6a+e sure to in"lude all

of the ma$or events. Hoo+ at the "hart a'ove if you need hel!. 2.Why do some !eo!le "ry when they(re ha!!y? Write a short "om!osition a'out an e-!erien"e when you or someone you +new "ried for $oy. #.6a+e u! a "onversation 'etween Petey and )randdad the morning after the in"ident with the 'lan+et. %. Peo!le often 'uy gifts to "over u! a guilty feeling. 0om!are the father(s gift to )randdad with a !resent that was given to you 'e"ause someone else felt guilty. 2. is"uss some of the !ro'lems grown "hildren sometimes fa"e with their !arents. What !ro'lems do !arents have relating to adult "hildren?

1J