Skip to main content

What are 10 important items to Dave Packer?

We know that Dave is a thoughtful boy, someone who's not overly attached to objects or possessions. But if we consider anyway the items that may be of importance to him, we can understand his character better. Here are some suggestions:

1. Dave's library books about India and Gandhi. These open his mind to the new ideas that really get this story going.


2. His own hands. Dave discovers at the end of Chapter 2 that he can communicate very well just by doing a thumbs-up or a high five, or even by sliding his hands into his pockets to show that he doesn't want to talk.


3. Pizza and fruit cups. These are the foods that he chooses out of all the others in the lunch line, so he must like them best.


4. A baseball, a soccer ball, or a football. Dave loves sports, and he loves talking about sports, too.


5. Rocks. We also learn in Chapter 3 that Dave enjoys looking for interesting rocks.


6. His Playstation, Nintendo, or Xbox. Like most American boys his age, Dave loves playing video games.


7. Comic books. Of course Dave loves these! Again, he's an American kid in the fifth grade.


8. An iPod. Although Dave doesn't actually have one, he wishes for one in Chapter 3 so that he could block out the sounds of Lynsey talking on and on.


9. Candy and gum. In Chapter 7, we find out that Dave found it really hard to follow the school rules against chewing gum or eating candy on the school bus or on campus. He must really like this stuff!


10. His voice. By learning to use it more selectively instead of just chattering, Dave understands better how powerful it is.


Finally, just for fun, let's finish up by thinking about the objects Dave definitely doesn't like: Mrs. Escobar's bull horn, memos sent home about how noisy he is in class, and Lynsey's notebook where she records all the mistakes that the boys make!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

What gift did Della buy for Jim and why in "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which... Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair.  Della is still willing to sell her hair so she can b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more