“A Mountain Journey” by Howard O’Hagan

A. Vocabulary: Look the following words up in a dictionary and copy down the
definitions in your notes.
• Alplands • Bannock • Crescendo • Downgrade • Exulted

• Hoodoo • Opaque • Reverberated • Siwashing • Telemark

B. Read the story.

Part One: Questions:

1. Write down the metaphor in the first paragraph of the story that describes the
cold. Put this in quotation marks

2. Write down the line containing the simile in the third paragraph on page 91-92 that
describes the tree passed on Conroy’s journey.

3. The line “still, the worst was over”, suggests optimism (92). Why does the
protagonist feel optimistic at this point in his journey?

4. What poetic device is displayed in the following line: “he saw the snow melt
around his wrists and flow into the top of his mittens, searing the flesh of his
wrists like a flame.” (93). If you’ve ever experienced a time when you have felt this
cold, describe it. How did you deal with it?

5. What decisions did Conroy have to make when he discovered that both his
hands and feet were wet?

6. Locate two examples of personification in the story. (Ask a teacher or a friend if you
don’t know what personification is).

7. What new challenge did Conroy face once he reached the cabin destination on page
95? Choose one descriptive word that you believe would best characterize
Conroy’s emotional state at this point in his journey.

8. On page 95 Conroy attempts to light a fire to warm his hands and feet. What
prevents him from accomplishing this usually simple task?

9. What is “hypothermia”? Use a dictionary if you need to in order to give a good

definition of this condition.

10. What do you think is happening to Conroy on page 98 when he hears horse
bells and sees a white cottage?

11. List a minimum of 5 challenges (point form) that Conroy faced during his
journey.

12. At what point in the story did you feel that Conroy was not going to make it to
 MacMoran’s cabin? Justify your answer with examples from the story. When
providing these quotations, incorporate them into a sentence.

13. In a short, 5-sentence descriptive paragraph, describe the setting of the story.
Part Two: Setting Assignment: A good writer has the ability to describe the
setting of a story in such a way as to evoke a vivid picture in the reader’s mind.
Evoking such an image is, in fact, the very purpose of setting.

Your assignment will be to:

a) Choose a particular scene from A Mountain Journey and either draw it on a

sheet of 8.5”x11” sized paper or print photos (Remember to draw a very detailed
picture; one that is a very accurate representation of the story’s setting). If you
choose to print images from the computer, they need to be printed and put
together in poster format – I will not be accepting PowerPoints, etc.

b) Choose five quotes from the story that reinforce in writing the images you have
drawn in your picture, and display these quotes prominently at the edge of your
drawing.

c) Presentation: Present your “scene” to your teacher: explain your choice of

quotations, the images you’ve chosen, and how the scene portrays the setting of
the story. Sign-up to present during Y block or Great Hall.

Important Criteria:

• ONE of your quotes should describe Dave Conroy's situation depicted in

your picture.
• The other FOUR quotes should describe the setting of the story as it
appears in the background of your picture.
• The title "A Mountain Journey" should appear at the top of your drawing. •
You should include the number of the PAGE and where you found each of
your quotes.

Marking Rubric

Visual elements of setting are present: 10 marks

Five appropriate quotes: 10 marks

Neatness: 5 marks

Presentation to Teacher: 5 marks

________
Total marks 30