Socratic Discussion on The Chase by Annie Dillard

The Chase: Annie Dillard


How is the girl (narrator) different from other girls in her community?

In the first section of the text, it states she plays with boys who are a few years older than her. They tell her that she has a "boy's arm".   Her persona is that of a tomboy.


What did the man gain from catching the kids?

The man might have been just as bored as the kids--he had nothing better to do. He took the time out of his day; wherever he was going may not have been important.  The narrator notes that most adults would have just stopped.  The setting was in the early morning, during a weekday (pg. 73). He might have been groggy or irritated.  He was dressed very professionally; he could have been a businessman not prepared for rowdy kids.

Why didn't the writer put more of what the guy lectured them about?

We only get one set of dialogue, on page seventy-five, when the guy says "You stupid kids." The text implies that he may have said more. He used a "Pittsburgh" accent.  Maybe just one solid example of dialogue is what the narrative needs; anything else would be pointless or superfluous.  The amount of dialogue needed varies depending on the purpose of the story.

How is the author's use of the narrator's thoughts impacting the writing?

On page 73 it says, "the boys and I considered it unfair to throw an ice ball, but it had been known to happen."  Knowing what the characters are thinking helps the audience-- us as readers-- make a connection between the character's experiences and our own.  This is also called a "inner monologue", and it is a useful strategy in narrative essay writing and journal writing.

Why did the narrator feel that the ending of the chase was dramatic and glorious?

The chase resonated because of its sheer length.  On page 75, the author uses hyperbolic language (hyperbole), or exaggeration to prove her point by saying that the chase could have taken place over many countries--even though it took place just in Pittsburgh.  (Mr. Ogden's note.  The opposite of hyperbole is called "litotes".  This is understatement.  Imagine someone got in a screaming match, and we just say "they had a disagreement").



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