The pie by Gary Soto 1. Does this piece qualify as a personal narrative? Explain why or why not. 2. Write five descriptive phrases from the second paragraph that are especially effective at helping the reader see, taste, or feel the scene in the German Market. 3. Find and write down two similes from “The Pie.” 4. Symbolically, what’s sig- nificant about young Gary’s sticky face, dirty fingers, and desire to find some water toward the end of the story? 5. The last line of the storycontainsSoto’s meaningful message to the reader. Look at the line and explain what soto means.
1. Yes, "The Pie" by Gary Soto qualifies as a personal narrative. It tells the story of a specific event from the author's childhood, focusing on his experience and feelings.
2. - "I looked at the pies, took a deep breath of cinnamon, and walked over to a rack of chocolate-covered cookies."
- "I watched the wedding-cake couple and listened to their laughter make a hole in the freezing air."
- "With glazed eyes, I looked at the people. Up close they were icing-sugar monsters."
- "The man behind the counter stood in front of the beer and sausages with a vulture’s shadow falling across him."
- "The Saturday smells of laundry and ham dripped through the black oak trees of the square, reminding me of softball games and candy-store robberies."
3. - "I kept my eye on the bread dough. It oozed like soft green cheese from between my fingers."
- "Nervously, I made circles on the counter top with the damp sponge, but the circles changed nothing."
4. Symbolically, young Gary's sticky face and dirty fingers represent his desire for indulgence and his willingness to savor life's pleasures, even if they leave a mess. His desire to find water reflects his need for cleansing and purity after indulging in the stolen pie.
5. The last line of the story, "I tucked my thumbs into my pockets, and after school that day I ran to Aunt Rosa’s house and found her outside watering the red rosebushes." Soto means that despite his momentary lapse in honesty and integrity, he ultimately returns to the arms of his loving aunt and finds comfort and redemption. It highlights the importance of family and the possibility of forgiveness and growth.
1. Yes, "The Pie" by Gary Soto qualifies as a personal narrative. This is because the story is a true account of a specific incident from the author's childhood, written from his own perspective and reflecting his personal experiences and feelings.
2. Five descriptive phrases from the second paragraph that help the reader visualize, taste, or feel the scene in the German Market are:
a) "Balloons hung like balls of lard."
b) "The aroma of freshly baked bread drifted toward us."
c) "I bit into an apple and tasted winter."
d) "Street vendors sliced smiled meats that crackled and popped in hot grease."
e) "Paper cones of roasted almonds and iced gingerbread cookies served as sweet bridges to yesterday."
3. Two similes from "The Pie" are:
a) "A dog the size of a stove retreated under a truck."
b) "I sat between my mom and dad like a stranger."
4. Symbolically, young Gary's sticky face, dirty fingers, and desire to find water represent his indulgence in the stolen pie and his guilt afterward. These physical attributes showcase the consequences of his actions and his longing for purification or absolution.
5. The last line of the story, "I knew enough about hell to stop me from stealing," is Gary Soto's meaningful message to the reader. Here, Soto suggests that the fear of punishment or negative consequences can serve as a deterrent from engaging in unethical or wrongful behavior. This line implies a moral lesson about the potential consequences of our actions and the importance of choosing right over wrong.