We expect birthdays to be happy; however, Rachel’s 11^th birthday was filled with anger and embarrassment. Find three quotes/passages which show these emotions.

Then copy the quotation from the story. The quotation does not have to be dialogue—it can be any line or lines from the story. Put the page number in parentheses ( ) on which this quote can be found.

Writers use figurative language to help the reader to visualize a scene better or understand the scene better. One type of figurative language is a simile. A simile is when you compare two seemingly unlike things using the words like or

as.

Find five similes in the short story. Write the complete sentence. Use quotation marks and put the page number in ( ). Choose three of these similes. After the simile, explain what point the writer is trying to make (what image the writer is trying to create) by using this simile.

It is said in the short story that Marget was the narrator’s "first love and first hurt." Write a two paragraph essay in which you discuss how this is true. In the first paragraph discuss how Marget was the narrator’s first "love". Use details from the story which show how close their relationship was. In the second paragraph show how Marget was the narrator’s first "hurt" and how she was probably affected by this treatment. Again be sure to use specific details from the story to support what you say.

The short story "Adjo Means Goodby" uses images from chess. Find the passages and copy them. Use quotation marks and put the page # in ( ).

Think about the game of chess and the pieces used to play—especially the queen and the pawn. If you don’t know anything about chess, ask someone who does.

Write a paragraph which explains how the narrator and Marget could be considered pawns in the story. Then explain who was the queen in the story and why. Use specific details from the story to explain. Finally discuss who are the queens and the pawns in life itself and what message the writer might be trying to give the reader.