The Friday Everything Changed Q/A
- Why are the boys so upset at the idea of the girls carrying the water bucket?
The boys are upset since Miss Ralston has been giving them permission to carry the water bucket for the longest time, not the girls.
- What strategies do the boys use to pressure the girls to give in? How do the girls react?
The boys use strategies such as bullying Alma, the girls fought back and didn’t allow this to happen.
- Who is telling the story? What does she think of Ms. Ralston and the conflict over the water? From what point of view is the story told?
The point of view comes from a first-person perspective, most likely the girls are the narrators. They think of the conflict that the girls should have a chance to carry the water bucket too.
- What is the setting (provide evidence). How does the setting intensify the conflict? What kind of conflict is it? (Person vs. person – person vs. self – person vs. society) Provide evidence for each conflict.
The setting is in a rural town basing that the school they would attend was a one schoolroom house which was popular back in the 1950s. The setting intensifies the conflict since it was so long ago many women weren’t allowed to do the things they wanted to. The type of conflict that is introduced into the story is Person vs. Society. An example of this is Alma asking Miss Ralston something society wouldn’t accept.
- Who is the protagonist? How do you know?
The protagonist is Alma and I know this since she’s the one who started the conflict (which is positive) between Miss Ralston and the boys for allowing the girls to carry the water.
- In what way has everything changed on that Friday? What is the significance of Ms. Ralston’s action in the last paragraph? What is the message (theme) the author is exploring?
Things changed on that Friday since it’s a representation of women’s rights and allowing women to do the same things that men can do. It’s all about equality, and Ms. Ralston made the right choice.
Tarek Diabmarzouk
September 30th, 2021