Consider how the narrative point of view affects the story. Why is it important that the author gives us Jerry’s and his mother’s thoughts? How would the story be different if Jerry were the narrator?

Identify four places in the story where figurative language reflects something about how Jerry experiences the world, then choose two of these instances and explore their significance in depth. What does the language say about his character, and how does it contribute to the story’s themes?

Why does the geographical setting go unnamed? What might change about the story if readers knew exactly where it was taking place?