Exercises
A. Choose the best answer. Do not refer to the text.
The main idea of the story is that ________.( B )
(a) Elisa, unhappy with her marriage, tries to escape from home
(b) Elisa, strong and good at growing flowers, longs for a free life and feels frustrated
(c) Elisa, good at growing chrysanthemums, shows a traveling salesman her gardening skills
(d) Elisa, good at growing chrysanthemums, is betrayed by a man she has fallen in love with
B. Comprehending the text.
Choose the best answer.
1. The beginning of the story shows Elisa cutting down the old year’s chrysanthemum stalks and appearing ________. ( A )
(a) energetic and handsome
(b) sad and longing
(c) eager and weak
(d) strong and meditative
2. Henry suggested that they two dine outside for a celebration for ________. ( D )
(a) they had had a good harvest
(b) Elisa had grown very good chrysanthemums
(c) Elisa agreed to grow some apples the next year
(d) Henry had sold some three-year-old steers at a good price
3. When the man told Elisa that he had not had any thing to do that day, Elisa showed ________. ( C )
(a) sympathy
(b) understanding
(c) irritation
(d) mercy
4. When the man told Elisa that a lady had a garden and wanted some chrysanthemums, ________. ( C )
(a) Elisa believed his words at once
(b) Elisa asked him to take some seeds and give them to the lady
(c) Elisa offered some sprouts for him to take to the lady
(d) Elisa showed him how to keep the plants growing without cutting them
5. Elisa was curious about the man’s life in the wagon which appeared to her as being __________. ( A )
(a) free and romantic
(b) dull and hard
(c) hard but interesting
(d) lonely and sad
6. After the man told Elisa that the kind of life he led was not proper for a woman, Elisa ________. ( C )
(a) was surprised
(b) remained silent for a time
(c) protested
(d) agreed
7. After the man was gone, Henry found that his wife was ________. ( D )
(a) playing some kind of game
(b) more interested in life
(c) stronger than before
(d) different, strong and happy
8. When Elisa saw the flower sprouts, she felt sorry because ________ . ( C )
(a) the flower pot was thrown on the road
(b) the man kept the pot
(c) she knew she was deceived
(d) she could not see the man with the wagon again
9. At the end of the story Elisa mentioned the prize fights. It implies ________ . ( B )
(a) Elisa now came to love prize fights
(b) Elisa was thinking about how people might hurt each other
(c) Elisa wanted to go to the fights
(d) Elisa wanted something more exciting
C. Understanding vocabulary.
Choose the correct definition according to the context.
1. The cattle on the higher slopes were becoming shaggy and rough-coated. ( A )
(a) unkempt
(b) thin
(c) cold
(d) weary
2. She was cutting down the old year’s chrysanthemum stalks with a pair of short and powerful scissors. ( B )
(a) buds
(b) stems
(c) flowers
(d) hay
3. Underneath the wagon, between the hind wheels, a lean and rangy mongrel dog walked sedately. ( C )
(a) furiously
(b) cautiously
(c) quietly
(d) clamorously
4. He replied with some asperity, "It might surprise you what them beasts can pull through." ( C )
(a) interest
(b) hesitation
(c) bitterness
(d) haste
5. His voice took on a whining undertone. ( A )
(a) complaining
(b) sad
(c) subdued
(d) irritating
6. She tore off the battered hat and shook out her dark pretty hair. ( B )
(a) colorful
(b) worn
(c) dry and rough
(d) well-embroidered
7. Elisa’s voice grew husky. ( A )
(a) hoarse
(b) feeble
(c) tough
(d) bold
8. Then she went to the porch and sat primly and stiffly down. ( A )
(a) prudishly
(b) comfortably
(c) upright
(d) quietly
9. For a second she lost her rigidity. ( D )
(a) confidence
(b) interest
(c) easiness
(d) stiffness
10. I’ve read how the fighting gloves get heavy and soggy with blood. ( B )
(a) stained
(b) soaked
(c) reddened
(d) covered
D. Discussing the following topics.
1. From what motive does the traveling mender take an interest in Elisa’s chrysanthemums? What immediate effect does his interest have on Elisa?
The traveling mender takes an interest in Elisa's chrysanthemums for the purpose of gaining a favor from Elisa. He tries to establish a closer relationship with the farm hostess in the hope of being offered some work to do. By taking an interest in the chrysanthemums, the man succeeds in dissolving Elisa's hostility and resistance. He then gains her sympathy and earns fifty cents from her.
2. The contents of the flower pot are discarded in the road and when her husband's car overtake the covered wagon, Elisa averts her eyes. "In a moment it was over. The thing was done. She did not look back". Explain.
On seeing the discarded chrysanthemum sprouts on the road Elisa realizes she is deceived by the traveling mender. The man takes advantage of her love of chrysanthemums and genuine feeling about human communication only to gain commercial benefits. It hurts Elisa, so she avoids seeing the discarded sprouts and does not look back.
More importantly, the incident with the traveling mender exposes Elisa, the woman leading a repressive life on a secluded farm, to the outside world and presents her the potentiality of a life of freedom. The chrysanthemum sprouts Elisa asks the mender to send out imply her aspiration for the life of freedom and vitality and her tentative effort to establish communication with the outside world. That the sprouts are discarded not far from her house symbolizes the disillusionment of her aspiration. That's why it is for Elisa such a critical moment and she averts her eyes and "did not look back".(Open to discussion.)
3. Why are Elisa Allen’s chrysanthemums so centrally important to this story? What do they mean?
The chrysanthemums in the story take on many meanings. At the beginning of the story when Elisa works in her garden the chrysanthemums help to bring out the strength and strong will in her personality. As she asks the traveling mender to send out the chrysanthemum sprouts they then show her belief in the communication and affection between human beings and symbolize her desire for communication with the outside world and the life of freedom. As she sees the discarded sprouts on the road, the chrysanthemums turn to symbolize the betrayal in human affection and more importantly, the disillusionment of her hope and aspiration.
In the story Steinbeck does not peg the symbol to any single idea or thing. It may symbolize her desire for freedom, for sex, her will, her strength, but it surely means more.
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