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Answers to the Questions on "The Father" (Both Classes)
1. Outline the social concerns and attitude of Thord that are revealed
through his actions and remarks on his first three visits to the priest.
 | Thord is concerned about his son’s future and marriage. He is
concerned about his position and status in the community. For example,
Thord wishes his son to be baptized on Saturday and without anyone
else. This is special treatment. Thord seems to think that if he pays
enough money, he will get everything he wants. |
| Thord is conceited and thinks that he can control everything. He
seems selfish. |
| He gives quite a lot of money each time to the priest. He visits the
priest on special, rare occasions and only when he wants something
from him. He wants special treatment for his son. He is quite “status
conscious”. He never says thank you. |
2. The priest’s character is revealed through his questions and
comments to Thord. Give three examples and explain what each reveals.
| He seemed very interested in money. For example when he heard whom
Thord’s son would marry, he mentioned she was the richest. |
| He keeps asking, “Is there anything else?” Could it be he wants
a thank you? It could mean he is thoughtful (Jack) or he could be
asking for thanks. He wants to do his job better. |
| Neither is he obsequious nor is he supercilious. |
| He is philosophical and is concerned with questions of faith, God,
and religion. |
| He is not judgmental. |
3. Thord’s son has become a “blessing” to him at the end of this
story. Explain what this means.
| In the story “blessing” means that Thord finally realized that
money and power could not bring him happiness. He sold half of his
farm and he decided to do “some better thing” in his life. It
means to do something for himself and for his soul. |
| In the story “blessing” is a kind of hope found by the father.
Later the father realized that money wasn’t as valuable as he
thought, so he learned what was valuable: life itself; his son. |
| I think the meaning for the “blessing” is he should be glad of
what he has right now because he is a powerful man and he has a good
reputation and privilege. He needs to focus on these good things and
forget the rest. |
| Anything you have (such as a healthy son) is a blessing; to know
that it is a blessing is also a blessing. His son has transformed his
life completely. |
| Life is not only power and money after he loses son. |
Remember to be "good" to your teacher, Jacquie! Hand in your
paragraph assignment as soon as possible. I hope you like the story from
China, too. |
Pearson Adult Learning
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English
10: Class Notes
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