Dr. A. Santos Avenue, Brgy.

San Dionisio, Parañaque City, Philippines 1700

Integrated Basic Education Department
Jacob E. Patero                                                                                                        10 -
Sobriety
March 27, 2022 Ma’am Enalyn Catubay

Comprehension Questions – A Long Walk to Forever

1. How would you describe the kind of relationship between Newt and
Catherine?
- Newt and Catherine were childhood friends, or should I say, best pals. But even then,
the narrative seemed to kind of start with the the fact that despite their friendship,
feelings, warmth, and affection were established as they grew older. It’s just that,
neither of them had the courage before to step up to the plate and confess their
feelings for each other, and because they both had their own busy lives and ambitions
to live with, they had to move farther and farther away from each other (especially
Newt who had become a member of the armed forces and can only go back to his
hometown if he were to be granted a furlough, or if he went AWOL, as he did), which
probably caused a rift in their relationship, suggesting that their love for each other
grew apart and they continued on with their lives, as if they had moved on with that
past, but regretting that they hadn’t done what should’ve been done, that is to
acknowledge and concede their fondness for each other.

2. How does Newt find out that Catherine was getting married?
- There was nothing in the passage that mentioned how Newt found out about
Catherine and Henry’s wedding, however, he did note that his mother wrote letters to
him in the Army, and from that, we could come to a supposition that Newt’s mother
wrote a letter to him, with an intention of sending regards to him, and then mentioned
in some parts of the message about the rumors of the potential marriage of Catherine,
and that’s when Newt realizes his regets and impulsively ditches the military (left his
duties or went AWOL) to go after the person that he genuinely loves so that he
may confess his long endured adoration for her.
3. Who do you think between the two is more sensible? Does Catherine
succeed in talking sense to Newt? Cite specific lines from the test that
will support your answer.
- It is without a doubt that between the two, Catherine thinks more rationally than
Newt, who I think very much acts impetuously and his initiatives are predicated on
his emotions (he literally left the military and went out on a date with a “married
woman”, and even kissed her without considering the implications that he may face!).
As for Catherine, she undoubtedly loves Newt ever since they were children and
even, ‘till now, but she takes into account the sentiments of her husband-to-be (as in
line 61) and made clarification that she was indeed getting married.  She thinks about
the repercussions that may follow if others saw her with Newt prior to her wedding (a
reference to line 55) and these all only demonstrate how much she loves Henry, and
her intention of becoming committed to him.  fBut despite that, the reality remains
that she loves Newt, and she will always do; anybody, neither she, could alter
erase that fact. Initially, Catherine did knock some sense into Newt, and she even
insisted in returning to her home, yet her feelings gained the upper hand and after a
while, she forgot her true purpose and inevitably fell madly in love once again with
the main he fell for before (as she mentioned in the lines between 75-85 about her
feelings for him before and not halting the kiss that transpired between them). 
However, that was foolish for her too, she didn’t think about her actions clearly and
again, the characters centered themselves on their emotions. All of these potential
concerns surrounding the wedding, and many more, could’ve been averted if only
Catherine hadn’t hurried into her marriage, and if only both had the courage to stand
up for what their heart is standing for. These could’ve all happened when Catherine
was still single, and all that they would have to care about, if that were to happen, is
all about their future, instead of the consequences that they would face for their
forbidden love. In the end, Catherine may have been more sensible than Newt, but
she still had her blunders. She did manage in talking some reason into Newt, but she
also couldn’t suppress her emotions and her affections for him. In the end, both key
characters, even Henry himself (because he did not allow himself the sufficient time
to get to know more about Catherine, and rushed their relationship, headed straight to
marriage), were reckless and had their own shortcomings.

4. Symbolically, what effect does the walk have on the plot of the story?
What does it reveal to you in the end?
- For me, the walk became the very embodiment that their unrequited love became
anew. It wasn’t a simple walk, nor is it a walk that lasted for around 30 minutes,
babbling all about their former lives and all their regrets. No, it wasn’t just that. That
 stroll that transpired between them by the fringes and woodlands and orchards,
figuratively became the bridge for their reconciliation and gave way to their
rekindling love. It became the avenue for them to be honest about how they feel for
each other and bear the gamble to love each other again, and for me, it was all Newt’s
effort which gave way to this very moment; Catherine just responded to that call, but
both of their hearts were crying for each other, and they both recognize that they want
it. At first, it was a mess. They were puzzled and didn’t know what to do, but with
each step, built a stronger bond and they got fond of each other once more, whisking
everything behind themselves and starting over together. If the walk hadn’t happened,
Newt would’ve probably spent his 30 days, suffering from the depths of the stretches
that we call, the “friendzone”. In the end, it helped me understand that nothing is
never too late. If people love each other, they will find a way to love one other, and
that is simply how love is, problems will arise and it all matters upon them if they will
persist or be bested, all in the name of attaining their forevermore.

5. What can you say about the repetition of the word late toward the end
of the story?
- I firmly believe that the repetition of the word late at the end of the story emphasizes the
reality that everything that transpired that day can no longer happen, and will never ever
happen again, albeit that memory will linger on a loop in their thoughts. They weren’t
discussing about time, they weren’t talking about the evening approaching, instead they
wanted to express to one other that they’ve comprehended and embraced the truth that their
love for each other was too late, and everything, from the confession to the kiss, they were all
too late. Again, if everything had simply happened earlier when Catherine was single or
before Catherine was about to tie the knot, perhaps they could’ve changed the fate of things,
and they could’ve lived blissfully together. They had enough opportunity to do so in the past,
but both of them chose not to, and it just continues to expand on the thought that their love is
solely inconceivable because pursuing their love, that is verboten, would come with great
costs, and both of them are aware of that, that is why they forbid themselves from loving each
other, and go on with their lives as mere friends, nothing more than that, all for the sake of
their lives and their future. But in the end, they broke that commitment and still end up in
each other’s arms.
6. Did you expect what Catherine did in the end? Do you think she made the
right decision? Why or why not?
- Right from the very moment when Catherine trudged on the trail to the woods, I
already knew what was unfolding. I understood that despite she is engaged, the one
man that genuinely stays in her heart is the man that she was always waiting for,
Newt. From that single step, I inferred the fact that while she is reluctant with her
decision, her body, mind, and heart acted on their own, and before she even noticed it,
time passed by, her sentiments changed, and they were long gone from home, and
from that very first kiss, everything was bound. That kiss was the exact reason why
Catherine wanted Newt to look back at her, and why in the end, she went after him
instead of carrying on with her marriage. As for my judgement on her decision, I do
not think that what she did was right (but it is a right decision that she chose Newt
because Newt is genuinely in love with her, as seen by his actions and how he sees
Catherine as a person), however a part of me thinks that her situation is the same as
Antigone’s. Both women stood for what they believe, in this instance, what
Catherine’s heart truly felt and understood was best for her, regardless how absurd it
may seem. Still, the fact remains that what she did can cause implications for the
marriage, and both for herself and the supposed husband, but think about it, would
you rather choose to love a man whom you’ve known for a few years and already
headed straight into marriage with, without even properly knowing each other or a
man you’ve known ever since you were young, and loved ever since then? But again,
Catherine has made a lot of follies, and if only she had done a little bit of self-
reflection, maybe she could’ve realized that the guy who her heart longed for was
indeed Newt, instead of Henry. If it had just happened, she could’ve cancelled the
marriage and waited for Newt, then they could’ve married each other without any
complications to fret about, but there wouldn’t be any story in that, yeah?

7. What word does the author use to create a peaceful mood at the
beginning of the story?
- The author, Kurt Vonnegut, initiated the narrative with a brief explanation of where
the story was set; particularly the following – “On the fringe of a city, near fields and
woods and orchards, within sight of a lovely bell tower that belonged to a school for
the blind.” and words such as playful, comfortable warmth, love and especially the
repetitive phrase, “One foot in front of the other, through leaves, over bridges”. .
These phrases and words all depict that the novel rather concentrates on romance, and
delivers to the viewer a special feeling of tranquility It also helps with imagery, to be
particular, it enables the audience to paint a picture of what the setting looks like, and
how the sensation and atmosphere must have felt if you were to stroll along the trail
 where the main characters walked to as well. Additionally, the expression , “One foot
in front of the other, through leaves, over bridges. They add up – the steps.”, also acts
as a sort of remembrance which makes the two characters remember the experiences
they’ve had as children, walking down through that same path whilst repeating that
same phrase over and over through the years, as well as all those time and fun they’ve
expended and had throughout their childhood; this all bring a sort of nostalgic and
serene mood for the audience who wishes to reminisce the times when living was still
youthful and blissful.

8. How does the author introduce Newt? What tone or impression is

created by those details?
- In the short story entitled “The Long Walk to Forever”, Kurt Vonnegut depicted the
male lead as a shy person, dressed with dusty shoes and a rumpled uniform, and he
used minimalistic diction in order to portray this personality of his which could also
be seen in his manner of speaking – “speaking absently, as though what really
concerned him were far away—as though he were a secret agent pausing briefly on a
mission between beautiful, distant, and sinister points”. Though that may be the case,
Newt proved himself from the very beginning and throughout the story; he became
gutsy and bold to follow his dreams and fess up his feelings for a married woman
(whom he believes loves him ever since they were young), hoping that those feelings
would become reciprocated. Even though he was being repelled, he persevered and
viewed the situation on an optimistic take, displaying his eagerness to bring out
Catherine’s heart’s genuine feelings which was suppressed. Still, there’s the fact that
he did all these when Catherine’s about to be married, when he could’ve done all this
in the past, plus he was quite impulsive with his decision (ditching his purpose as a
soldier of the military and going AWOL just to “confess and take a walk”) and it
was way off the mark for a man like him. These subtle details altogether give me an
idea that Newt is the sort of guy that is introverted and restrained, he is insecure and
has difficulties in expressing himself, and typically uses irony whenever the situation
is awkward or when he wishes to change the subject. But in balance of things, he can
be forthright and take the initiative when the situation demands for it, despite the
uncertainties, which can make anybody lift their head up to his conviction,
relentlessness, and genuine passion for his loved one.

9. How does the author introduce Catherine? What is your reaction to these
descriptions?
- In the short story entitled “The Long Walk to Forever”, Kurt Vonnegut depicted the
heroine or the female lead (Catherine) as someone who is indecisive and lets her
feelings/emotions cloud her judgement, making her blind to what is reasonable and
what is not; though there is still a little bit of sense in her, as when she thought about
 the consequences that may come if people saw her with Newt prior to her wedding
and how she wishes to stay loyal to Henry, her husband-to-be. There were moments
when she also shut him down a lot of times when Newt made several attempts to
proclaim his love for her, but in the end, Catherine argued and was conflicted with
her emotions and eventually gave in, overwhelmed by her feelings for Newt. Frankly
speaking, there are a lot of people like Catherine and generally, these actions may
lead to devastating repercussions. But, there are moments when we have to discern
the distinctions between what our heart and what our mind desires, and in this
scenario, Catherine followed her heart, and I appraise her for that. I do not side with
her, neither do I think that what she did was right, but I believe that she is not really
in the wrong. It all relies upon one’s perception and for me, I want to trust in their
love and I want to think that it will work out. I do hope that pursuing their love was
the right decision and that they can resolve the consequences that will become due to
such actions, because in the end, love will always prevail and love will always find a
way to be triumphant in any extremeties that people may face. That is my
take/reaction to the character of Catherine, and I can see a little bit of myself in her.
(I’m the sort of person who feels that thinking rationally is essential, but also thinks
passionately but love, hehe.)

10. How does walking in the woods prepare the readers to the ending of the
story?
- The date through the woods sort of became Kurt’s way of teasing us about the
outcome of Newt’s and Catherine’s love for each other and he did that by leaving
traces of hints and bits of romance between the two which contributed in the story to
progressively build the emotional responses of Catherine which ultimately led to her
course of action of building a new life together with Newt. In a sense, it helped us, the
readers, to take the short amount of time to know more about our characters and why
the confession is happening only now, instead of before things hit the skids.
Additionally, it helped us comprehend and critique each character’s decisions and
actions, allowing us to judge them based on our own values and convictions. 
Basically, everything that transpired during the walk helped us to get information
(about Henry, their childhood, and such) that will allow us to determine whether what
happened in the end was prudent or not, and this is a very interesting take for
Vonnegut, it was brilliant and very immersive for the audiences (even I was debating
with myself if do I side with Catherine’s decision or not, and after hearing everyone’s
opinion during the class, my mind went blank and I thought to myself, “There is so
much to this story than a mere walk, and I love it!”). Also, since Catherine’s feelings
were very confusing, as she was going places and didn’t know what to do, it made the
 ending (her decision) quite hard to anticipate since I’ve also had a thought, during my
first read on the story, that maybe everything was really too late and that Catherine
and Newt will really continue on with their lives, until Catherine spoke to herself
about Newt looking back and the rest was history. It was quite unpredictable, at first,
and for certain, the walk through the woods definitely made the ending
nervewracking.

11. In general, what emotions and feelings are evoked in you by the story? 
- It is without a doubt that the narrative was superb and in fact, it was quite simple and
uncomplicated. It wasn’t like Shakespeare’s works, neither was it a novice’s work; it
wasn’t like a haiku where you had to find out the precise meaning behind each lines
and phrases.  Everything, from the plot and to the choice of language were planned
and on purpose. See, the writing was basic, and yet, the narrative was exceptional,
and because of that, the story was able to evoke the feelings of entertainment, and
delight, and at the same time, it was able to generate the sensation of sorrow and
grief. Life these days has been rather challenging, and I can tell for certain that it was
different from when we were young, and this story was able to let me dwell on the
days and delights of youth and love. It allowed me to look back on things when
everything was so serene and joyful, and the sentiments of love when I was first
introduced to it, the risks and pleasure that comes with it. Actually, when I read
through each line, I remembered some recollections of me and my first childhood
crush. I was like Newt, I used to kiss her on the cheek without asking for permission,
I was impulsive with my decisions and actions, and though she didn’t like it, she
would laugh at me and say that I was cute, ehe (mind you, I was 7 or 8 years old at
the time? Anyway, we were young, and I was already a gentleman 😉). I also looked
back on my first heartbreak and I thought about what Henry must’ve felt when he
found out that Catherine left her for another man. It must’ve hurt, and I understood
the feeling; however, I don’t want to probe deeper on it. I also felt grief when both
characters were willing to leave everything behind – their memories, and everything –
all because they cannot happen because of the wedding. But, in the conclusion of the
story, I felt content with what unfolded for Catherine and Newt. I am happy that they
chose what their hearts chose to do, instead of following their minds because there are
times when we will have to make decisions in life, and some of those decisions has to
be approved by what we think has to be done, even if there are consequences or
collateral damage that has to take place (I’m sorry Henry, I really feel bad for him. He
got cheated on without his knowledge, but again, it is his fault as well. He didn’t take
the time to know Catherine more.). Overall, the storyline was terrific. With simple
phrases that are easy to grasp, the author was able to develop the story into something
that is such a masterpiece without the necessity of elaborate terminology or setting.
With such simplicity, he was able to make me reminisce on my fondest memories. I
can’t believe that this short story is not relevant in our contemporary world, many
teenagers (even adults) would’ve appreciated this.