Out of the Dust comprehension answers?

Answer 1

1) The story takes place during the Great Depression in Oklahoma, a dust bowl area. The setting affects the whole story because the book talks about how Billy Jo's family and what other families undergo because of the failing crops, and constantly blowing dust. The statesof the crops is so bad that even the County Agent says, "Soon there won't be enough wheat for seed to plant next fall." Overall, the story would be totally different if it wasn't for the setting.

2) This story is different from the stories that I usually read. One reason is that Billie Joe, the narrator, doesn't specifically tell the story, but rather discloses (word wisdom word) it as her journal entries. This book is also different from the conventional stories I've read. Billie Jo tells about the notable (another word wisdom word =) things in her life but she doesn't really put them together thematically. For example, one poem is called "Hope in a Drizzle" while the next one is called "Dionne Quintuplets".

3) The dust comes between Billie Jo's parents. Her parents get into fights about what they should do about the dust. Billie Jo's mom thinks that instead of wheat they should, "Plant some other things then, try cotton, and sorghum. If we plant the fields in different crops, maybe some will do better." However, Billie Jo's father is stubborn he says, "No. It has to be wheat. I've grown it before, I'll grow it again." The dust is like fire as it is just as destructive.

4) Billie Jo enjoys being with and playing piano with the Black Mesa Boys. She describes playing piano as "heaven". However, her mother won't let Billie Jo play piano for the show, "Sunny of Sunnyside." Her mom feels that school is very important and she won't let Billie Jo be in the show because Billie Jo might have to miss some classes for rehearsals.

5) Billie Jo loves to play piano. However, when she burnt her hands she was not able to play piano anymore. The burn also prevented Billie Jo from hanging out with the Black Mesa Boys. Billy Jo says that when she plays piano it's like she's in heaven. Billie Jo says that when she's with the Black Mesa Boys she forgets all about the dust. Overall, the loss of her hands is like experiencing another kind of death for Billie Jo.

6) The mood of Billie Jo's poems expresses a feeling of hopelessness. Billie Jo is describing a harsh time full of struggle. She talks about her mother and brother dying, the drought, the loss of her hands, and so on. This obviously points to Billie Jo's poems being sad and depressing. The emotions of the poem then pass onto the reader.

7) I believe that it is impossible to know if you would be someone's friend or not without actually meeting them. For example, one of my really good friends is Michelle Cheng (moved last year.) She is very quiet and shy. I would have never though I would be good friends with her. Overall, I believe that it is impossible to predict who your friends are going to be.