Billie Jo's Journey
Winter 1934
What is Billie Jo's main interpersonal problem? Give at least three examples of this.
Billie Jo does not have the privilege of playing piano during school days, she has her best friend migrate to California, and Billie Jo is really recognized by her father.
What is Billie Jo's main problem with her everyday, non-family related, life?
Billie Jo's main problem with her everyday, non-family related, life is the dust.
Billie Jo does not have the privilege of playing piano during school days, she has her best friend migrate to California, and Billie Jo is really recognized by her father.
What is Billie Jo's main problem with her everyday, non-family related, life?
Billie Jo's main problem with her everyday, non-family related, life is the dust.
Spring 1934
What main problem does Billie Jo write about now?
The main problem Billie Jo writes about now is how much more time it will take to take care of the baby. Billie Jo and her family already have their hands full. Billie Jo hopes that this dust will end.
What are Billie Jo's two sources of comfort and for what reasons?
Billie Jo's two sources of comfort are her mother's apples and the piano. The apples and the piano distract her from the problems that she has now with the dust and with the family. They both take her to another place mentally. The apples and the piano take her "out of the dust."
The main problem Billie Jo writes about now is how much more time it will take to take care of the baby. Billie Jo and her family already have their hands full. Billie Jo hopes that this dust will end.
What are Billie Jo's two sources of comfort and for what reasons?
Billie Jo's two sources of comfort are her mother's apples and the piano. The apples and the piano distract her from the problems that she has now with the dust and with the family. They both take her to another place mentally. The apples and the piano take her "out of the dust."
Word Cloud
Summer 1934
What catastrophic events happen now?
Billie Jo's mother, Polly, dies. Also, Billie Jo's baby brother dies too.
What personal problems does Billie Jo struggle with? Quote passages that express these problems.
The personal problem Billie Jo struggles with is her hands. Her hands are burned. For example, "I had swollen lumps for hands, they dripped a sickly pus, they swung stupidly from my wrists, they stung with pain." (Page 65)
What interpersonal problem now develops for Billie Jo? Give several examples of this problem in action.
The interpersonal problem that develops for Billie Jo is her relationship with her father. She feels awkward when she is around him. Billie Jo thinks that her father blames her for Ma's death. For example, "I don't know my father anymore. He sits across from me, he looks like my father, he chews food like my father, her brushes his dusty hair back like my father, but he is a stranger." (Page 76)
Billie Jo's mother, Polly, dies. Also, Billie Jo's baby brother dies too.
What personal problems does Billie Jo struggle with? Quote passages that express these problems.
The personal problem Billie Jo struggles with is her hands. Her hands are burned. For example, "I had swollen lumps for hands, they dripped a sickly pus, they swung stupidly from my wrists, they stung with pain." (Page 65)
What interpersonal problem now develops for Billie Jo? Give several examples of this problem in action.
The interpersonal problem that develops for Billie Jo is her relationship with her father. She feels awkward when she is around him. Billie Jo thinks that her father blames her for Ma's death. For example, "I don't know my father anymore. He sits across from me, he looks like my father, he chews food like my father, her brushes his dusty hair back like my father, but he is a stranger." (Page 76)
Autumn 1934
What is Billie Jo's main focus now?
Billie Jo's main focus now is to adjust to life without her hands.
Billie Jo's main focus now is to adjust to life without her hands.
Winter and Spring 1935
How are Billie Jo's feelings about her mother changing? Give examples of this.
Instead about grieving about Ma, she to move on, but also thinks sometimes about what Ma would do if she was in Billie Jo's situation. For example, "If Ma could put her arm across my shoulder sometimes, or stroke back my hair, or sing me to sleep, making the soft sounds." (Page 148)
What is Billie Jo's main ongoing interpersonal problem now? Give examples of this problem in action.
Billie Jo's main ongoing interpersonal problem now is trying to move on with Ma's death. For example, "If Ma could put her arm across my shoulder sometimes, or stroke back my hair, or sing me to sleep, making soft sounds." (Page 148)
What main feeling does Billie Jo express about where she lives? Quote passages in which Billie Jo expressed this feeling.
Billie Jo's main feeling about where she lives is hopelessness. For example, "Pete Guymon took ill with dust pneumonia.....Because a couple of hours ago, Pete Guymon died." (Page 140)
What progress does Billie Jo make in coping with her burned hands? Quote passages that express this.
Billie Jo tries to play the piano in the graduation party. But, she fails to do so. For example, "My hands wouldn't work. I just sat on the piano bench." (Page 174)
Instead about grieving about Ma, she to move on, but also thinks sometimes about what Ma would do if she was in Billie Jo's situation. For example, "If Ma could put her arm across my shoulder sometimes, or stroke back my hair, or sing me to sleep, making the soft sounds." (Page 148)
What is Billie Jo's main ongoing interpersonal problem now? Give examples of this problem in action.
Billie Jo's main ongoing interpersonal problem now is trying to move on with Ma's death. For example, "If Ma could put her arm across my shoulder sometimes, or stroke back my hair, or sing me to sleep, making soft sounds." (Page 148)
What main feeling does Billie Jo express about where she lives? Quote passages in which Billie Jo expressed this feeling.
Billie Jo's main feeling about where she lives is hopelessness. For example, "Pete Guymon took ill with dust pneumonia.....Because a couple of hours ago, Pete Guymon died." (Page 140)
What progress does Billie Jo make in coping with her burned hands? Quote passages that express this.
Billie Jo tries to play the piano in the graduation party. But, she fails to do so. For example, "My hands wouldn't work. I just sat on the piano bench." (Page 174)
Summer 1935
What feelings allow BIllie Jo to make the choice to leave home? Quote lines that express this.
The feeling that allows Billie Jo to make the choice to leave home is the feeling of her relationship with her father and the death of her mother. She feels helpless. She wants to be "out of the dust." For example, "I am so filled with bitterness, it comes from the dust, it comes from the silence of my father, it comes from the absence of Ma." (Page 195)
Why does Billie Jo decide to return home?
Billie Jo decides to return home because she is worried about her father. Also, she can't be by herself. She recognizes that she needs her father. In addition, she is worried about her father.
The feeling that allows Billie Jo to make the choice to leave home is the feeling of her relationship with her father and the death of her mother. She feels helpless. She wants to be "out of the dust." For example, "I am so filled with bitterness, it comes from the dust, it comes from the silence of my father, it comes from the absence of Ma." (Page 195)
Why does Billie Jo decide to return home?
Billie Jo decides to return home because she is worried about her father. Also, she can't be by herself. She recognizes that she needs her father. In addition, she is worried about her father.
Autumn 1935
What steps does Billie Jo's father take to help him and Billie Jo reconcile?
The steps that Billie Jo's father take to help him and Billie Jo reconcile is by seeing the doctor about his spots on his face and having the doctor take a look at Billie Jo's hands. Then, Billie Jo's father introduces Louise to Billie Jo. Louise makes Billie Jo feel better.
What characterisitics and actions of Louise allow Billie to accept this new woman?
Louise makes Billie Jo and Billie Jo's father laugh. Also, Louise listens to Billie Jo when Billie Jo talks to her.
In what ways does hope return to the Kelby's farm?
The relationship between Louise, Billie Jo, and Billie Jo's father is healthy and brings hope to the farm.
What do the role of the piano and her hands now reveal about Billie Jo's recovery?
The piano and her hands now reveal that she can start to play piano again. Also, she thinks that her hands are not useless after all.
The steps that Billie Jo's father take to help him and Billie Jo reconcile is by seeing the doctor about his spots on his face and having the doctor take a look at Billie Jo's hands. Then, Billie Jo's father introduces Louise to Billie Jo. Louise makes Billie Jo feel better.
What characterisitics and actions of Louise allow Billie to accept this new woman?
Louise makes Billie Jo and Billie Jo's father laugh. Also, Louise listens to Billie Jo when Billie Jo talks to her.
In what ways does hope return to the Kelby's farm?
The relationship between Louise, Billie Jo, and Billie Jo's father is healthy and brings hope to the farm.
What do the role of the piano and her hands now reveal about Billie Jo's recovery?
The piano and her hands now reveal that she can start to play piano again. Also, she thinks that her hands are not useless after all.