Name: Madison Musgrave

English Literacy
Section 2.5 Assignment

INSTRUCTOR USE ONLY:

Total marks: ( /15)
Percentage and Letter Grade: ( )

Reading for Meaning

Directions: Read the short story "Keeper’n Me," by Richard Wagamese, in the Section 2.5
Readings. This story is autobiographical, but Mr. Wagamese has named the main character
“Garnet Raven.” After reading the short story, answer the questions below in the space
provided.

IMPORTANT: When answering the questions in this assignment, think of the “big picture,”
rather than story specifics. Go deeper in your analysis than the literal story. Remember to
consider “universal truths.”

1. Paragraph 1 creates a mood of…

a. irritation.

b. longing.

c. lightheartedness.

d. joy.

Answer: B

2. Garnet (the boy in the story) belongs to the…

a. Frog clan.

b. Eagle clan.

c. Raven clan.

d. Wolf clan.

Answer: C

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3. What does the word “wandering” in Paragraph 3 hint about what will happen later?

a. Garnet’s thoughts will often wander.

b. Garnet will spend his life wandering, looking for home.

c. People will wander in and out of Garnet’s life.

d. Garnet will be sure never to leave home.

Answer: B

4. Which words from paragraph 3 help the reader understand the meaning of the word
rambunctious?

a. little

b. tied

c. disappeared

d. chasing

Answer: D

5. In paragraph 4, the author includes background information about the family move from
where they had lived for generations in order to…

a. show that separation in Garnet’s family may have started because of a separation from
their heritage and larger community.

b. make the reader angry and frustrated, with no hope for resolution.

c. describe a variety of settings in the story.

d. explain the power of the Hydro company.

Answer: A

6. Paragraph 5 is mainly about…

a. living by the clock.

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 b. childcare.

c. how unwelcome the Ojibways found themselves in their new environment.

d. the age of Garnet’s granny.

Answer: C

7. Paragraphs 6 creates conflict by…

a. introducing the Ontario Children’s Aid Society.

b. showing cultural differences in what makes for good childcare.

c. using the word “terrorizing.”

d. describing the extended family concept.

Answer: A

8. In Paragraph 7, the social workers took the children by…

a. scaring them.

b. grabbing them forcefully.

c. tricking them by offering chocolate.

d. tricking them by offering bannock.

Answer: C

9. Which phrase shows how Garnet and his siblings were treated in their foster home?

a. “At Christmastime while their kids were whooping it up in the living room the foster kids
were made to sit at a long table in the porch.”

b. “There weren’t any gifts for us either.”

c. “Anyway, these people didn’t exactly go out of their way to show us any kind of real
welcome.”

d. All of the above.

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 Answer: D

10. The story’s point of view helps the reader understand…

a. why children were taken from their families.

b. why foster care is necessary.

c. the longing of a child for his family, and vice versa.

d. how government agencies work.

Answer: C

11. The description of Garnet’s toy truck as having one wheel missing serves to…

a. show how fragile children are.

b. show how poor the family was.

c. show that the children weren’t careful with their toys.

d. show the importance of the truck.

Answer: D

12. A main theme (or idea) in a story refers to the “universal truth” which could apply to all
people in the world – beyond the characters in a story. What do you think the main theme
is in “Keeper’n Me”? Start with a topic sentence, explain your answer (support it with at
least one reference from the story), then finish your paragraph with a concluding
statement. (4 marks)

Answer: After being shoved from the land the Ravens had trapped for many
generations, Garnet found himself to be filled with loneliness, and
uncertainty of who he was. At only age 3, he “disappeared into foster
homes” for the rest of his childhood. After his first year in placement with his
siblings, he was removed and re-assigned, taking him from “Jane, the oldest”
of them “who remembers the most from those days”, fully robbing him of
the last chance of knowledge of their background. The Ravens have a
different view of family than most cultures; everyone is taken care of by
everyone, so it is natural to be left with grandparents to feel that extended
love and be taught about their heritage, but the Ontario Children’s Aid

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 “showed up with a plan.” That plan changed the course of Garnet’s whole
life— he was alone in care with the sadness of being separated from him
tribe, and did not get that chance of finding his true identity until he felt that
“big, warm hug” from his sister Jane over 20 years later.

Evaluation Guidelines Marks

“Keeper’n Me” Questions 15

Total Marks /15

END OF ASSIGNMENT SECTION 2.5

UPLOAD INTO MOODLE WHEN COMPLETED

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