The Chrysanthemums

Multiple Choice

1. B (Paragraph 108)

2. A (Various paragraphs)

3. A (Paragraph 13)

4. A (Various paragraphs)

5. D (Various paragraphs)

6. A (Paragraph 1)

7. B (Various paragraphs)

8. C (Paragraph 20)

9. D (Paragraph 6)

10. A (Paragraph 34)

Long Answer

1. Elisa starts crying because she feels foolish for sharing so much of herself with the Tinker. She perceived his behavior as a genuine interest in her and her passions, but when she sees the “dark speck” in the road, she realizes that he has dumped the chrysanthemums, an extension of herself and that he was only feigning interest in hopes of manipulating her into giving him work to do. (Various paragraphs)

2. After Elisa’s encounter with the Tinker, she begins to behave in a more empowered way. After the Tinker and Elisa engage in a bit of flirting, she leaves to shower and “[tears] off the battered hat and [shakes] out her dark pretty hair.” This is a clear departure from the persona she portrayed in the beginning of the story. The Tinker’s interest in her expertise made her feel acknowledged and admired, as the chrysanthemums represent an extension of Elisa. Though the Tinker’s behavior turns out to be manipulative, their interaction seems to remind her of her inherent beauty and strength, which she then brings into her interactions with Henry.