Approximations
by: Mona Simpson
Interpretive Questions:
1.) Why does Melinda cooperate with her mother’s plan to get her father to buy the television?
Melinda cooperates with her mother's plan because her mom is there for her more than her dad and she also she wants to use this time to see her father and talk to him.
2.) Why does Melinda’s mother make getting the television the goal of their second visit with Melinda’s father?
Melinda's mother makes getting the television the goal of their second visit because her mother never gets anything from Melinda's father and thinks she deserves it because she pays for everything and is Melinda's main support.
3.) Why is Melinda nervous before she goes down to talk to her father, while her mother is having fun getting her ready?
Melinda is nervous because she doesn't want to ruin the relationship that her and her father already have by demanding something or asking him for something big.
4.) Why does Melinda think for a “wild moment” of asking for a candy bar, but then tell her father she is saving for the television? (p. 102)
Melinda's mother will get mad at her for not asking for the television because Melinda already knows she will get the candy bar if she asks for it.
5.) Why does Melinda’s mother yell at her and call her “ordinary” after they get back from Disneyland? (p. 103)
Melinda's mother yells at her for this because she is disappointed she didn't get the television and she was not acting like her normal self. Melinda's mother said she was looking at the ground, she was slumped, and she didn't use any big words.
6.) Why does Melinda go to Jerry after the fight with her mother?
Melinda goes to Jerry father her mother scolded her because he is really a paternal figure and the only person she could talk to at the moment since he doesn't want anything from her and actually shows her affection.
7.) Why does Melinda stop skating after the ice show?
Melinda stops skating after the ice show because her mom pays more attention to Jerry even when she gets hurt.
8.) Why does Melinda decide not to go to the Girl Scout breakfast with Jerry?
Melinda decides not to go to the Girl Scout breakfast with Jerry because she wanted to play instead and felt she didn't need to go because Jerry is not her real dad and she is still trying to figure out the different relationships between her and everyone else.
9.) When her mother yells at her after their return from Disneyland, why does Melinda remain silent?
Melinda remains silent because she knows better than to talk back and she just lets her vent just to let it all out.
10.) At the end of the story, why does Melinda skate with Jerry even though she thinks of him as “just another man in the world, who had nothing to do with me”? (p. 104)
Melinda skates with Jerry because he was the only person actually caring for her and showing her affection and the only person who pays attention to her.
Melinda cooperates with her mother's plan because her mom is there for her more than her dad and she also she wants to use this time to see her father and talk to him.
2.) Why does Melinda’s mother make getting the television the goal of their second visit with Melinda’s father?
Melinda's mother makes getting the television the goal of their second visit because her mother never gets anything from Melinda's father and thinks she deserves it because she pays for everything and is Melinda's main support.
3.) Why is Melinda nervous before she goes down to talk to her father, while her mother is having fun getting her ready?
Melinda is nervous because she doesn't want to ruin the relationship that her and her father already have by demanding something or asking him for something big.
4.) Why does Melinda think for a “wild moment” of asking for a candy bar, but then tell her father she is saving for the television? (p. 102)
Melinda's mother will get mad at her for not asking for the television because Melinda already knows she will get the candy bar if she asks for it.
5.) Why does Melinda’s mother yell at her and call her “ordinary” after they get back from Disneyland? (p. 103)
Melinda's mother yells at her for this because she is disappointed she didn't get the television and she was not acting like her normal self. Melinda's mother said she was looking at the ground, she was slumped, and she didn't use any big words.
6.) Why does Melinda go to Jerry after the fight with her mother?
Melinda goes to Jerry father her mother scolded her because he is really a paternal figure and the only person she could talk to at the moment since he doesn't want anything from her and actually shows her affection.
7.) Why does Melinda stop skating after the ice show?
Melinda stops skating after the ice show because her mom pays more attention to Jerry even when she gets hurt.
8.) Why does Melinda decide not to go to the Girl Scout breakfast with Jerry?
Melinda decides not to go to the Girl Scout breakfast with Jerry because she wanted to play instead and felt she didn't need to go because Jerry is not her real dad and she is still trying to figure out the different relationships between her and everyone else.
9.) When her mother yells at her after their return from Disneyland, why does Melinda remain silent?
Melinda remains silent because she knows better than to talk back and she just lets her vent just to let it all out.
10.) At the end of the story, why does Melinda skate with Jerry even though she thinks of him as “just another man in the world, who had nothing to do with me”? (p. 104)
Melinda skates with Jerry because he was the only person actually caring for her and showing her affection and the only person who pays attention to her.
Vocabulary:
1.) Maternal
Quote: "Other mothers got maternal, pulling me close to their soft, aproned bellies." (pg. 92)
Definition: having the qualities of a mother
Synonym: motherly
Sentence: Even though she was not her mother, she still acted as a maternal figure.
2.) Luxuriously
Quote: "He crossed one leg over the other, smoking luxuriously." (pg. 95)
Definition: present or occurring in great abundance
Synonym: fancy, gorgeous
Sentence: The woman flipped her hair luxuriously while thanking the waiter.
3.) Glamorous
Quote: "He had short bristly hair and a glamorous smile." (pg. 97)
Definition: charming, attractive
Synonym: alluring, captivating
Sentence: The girl showed up to prom with a long, glamorous black dress.
4.) Glinted
Quote: "She glinted along the ice, shifting her weight from leg to bent leg." (pg. 98)
Definition: gleaming brightness
Synonym: flash, gleam
Sentence: She glinted across the stage as the gracefully danced.
5.) Approximated
Quote: "She had already stopped telling Jerry the things she wanted because he tried to get them for her and he made mistakes. He approximated." (pg. 100)
Definition: near or approaching a certain state, nearly exact
Synonym: almost, close, near
Sentence: The boy approximated as he tried guessing where their family lived.
Quote: "Other mothers got maternal, pulling me close to their soft, aproned bellies." (pg. 92)
Definition: having the qualities of a mother
Synonym: motherly
Sentence: Even though she was not her mother, she still acted as a maternal figure.
2.) Luxuriously
Quote: "He crossed one leg over the other, smoking luxuriously." (pg. 95)
Definition: present or occurring in great abundance
Synonym: fancy, gorgeous
Sentence: The woman flipped her hair luxuriously while thanking the waiter.
3.) Glamorous
Quote: "He had short bristly hair and a glamorous smile." (pg. 97)
Definition: charming, attractive
Synonym: alluring, captivating
Sentence: The girl showed up to prom with a long, glamorous black dress.
4.) Glinted
Quote: "She glinted along the ice, shifting her weight from leg to bent leg." (pg. 98)
Definition: gleaming brightness
Synonym: flash, gleam
Sentence: She glinted across the stage as the gracefully danced.
5.) Approximated
Quote: "She had already stopped telling Jerry the things she wanted because he tried to get them for her and he made mistakes. He approximated." (pg. 100)
Definition: near or approaching a certain state, nearly exact
Synonym: almost, close, near
Sentence: The boy approximated as he tried guessing where their family lived.
Thinking Map:
Mom is Helpful1.) Mom provides financial support for Melinda
2.) Coaches her through skating and is supportive 3.) Allows Melinda to see her father 4.) Doesn't talk negatively about dad 5.) Encourages Melinda not just to be pretty but to have skills and talent |
Mom is Hurtful1.) Mom calls her dumb and yells at her
2.) Encourages her to lie to her dad 3.) Mom doesn't pay attention to Melinda especially when she gets hurt on the ice 4.) Tries to make her feel bad about taking gift from her dad |