ELA Summer Reading Assignment

Mr. Cinturati 8th Grade

Over the summer, you will be asked to read Lyddie by Katherine Paterson and answer a host of

chapter reading comprehension questions and complete a final assessment. Make sure to answer all of

the questions below on loose leaf or typed and printed out. Below is background information of Lyddie

and its connection to Social Studies and certain topics we learned this past school year. Have a great

summer and make sure to enjoy time off! This story will give you a sense of what youngsters similar in

age to you had to go through on a daily basis during the 1840s in Massachusetts. I am confident you will

enjoy the book!

BACKGROUND INFORMATION of Lyddie by Katherine Paterson

Lowell, Massachusetts

From 1823 to 1845, the mill town of Lowell had the reputation of being a model factory community in

which mostly female factory workers lived respectably and safely in company-owned boarding houses.

Compared to textile mills in England, its buildings were much cleaner and lighter in order to attract

young farm women eager for the rare chance to earn money of their own. Mill work, however, was

grueling. The operatives worked from eleven to thirteen hours a day, six days a week, averaging about

$3.50 per week in wages, of which about $1.25 went for room and board. Even so, many of the young

women found time to attend educational public lectures and produce their own magazine.

Child Labor Laws

Until the twentieth century, impoverished or orphaned children under ten and some as young as five

or six were commonly put to work in unsafe and unhealthy factories and mines. Although Dickens’ book

Oliver Twist, exposing the evils of child labor, helped fuel a reform movement in both England and the

United States, it wasn’t until 1916 that the United States government first attempted to establish the

lowest age for child workers and a maximum work day and work week for them. Because employers

successfully fought these laws in court, it wasn’t until 1938 that effective child labor laws were finally

passed.

Poor House

The poor house or poor farm was an institution operated by the local town or rural government or by

the people of the community. These places were subsidized by community tithes and/or the sale of farm

produce. When community members were, for any reason, unable to maintain a home and provide for

their own needs, they went to the poor house voluntarily or were moved there by their neighbors. Being

sent to the poor farm was a fate to be dreaded because usually the inhabitants lived there on the edge

of poverty with just enough to eat and barely any comforts. No one’s special needs were taken into

account, and orphaned children might share their quarters with unwed mothers, petty criminals, and

people who were infirm, dying, or mentally ill.

Irish Immigration

Irish immigration to the United States peaked between 1845 and 1848 as a result of the Great Potato

Famine, when a fungus destroyed Ireland’s staple crop. This disaster caused one quarter of the Irish

population to emigrate or starve to death. Between 1840 and 1860, as many as two million Irish

immigrants came to the United States, desperate for work. Most of these immigrants were illiterate, and

sought jobs as manual laborers. Some went to the cities where they found work as house servants and

factory hands; many worked as unskilled laborers on canals, railroads, in mines, and in quarries. Because

many Irish were Catholics, they were sometimes disparagingly called “papists,” partisans of the pope.

LYDDIE PRE-READING ACTIVITIES

1. Social Studies Connection: Lyddie is set in Vermont and Massachusetts in 1843. Do some research to

find out what it was like to live in New England at that time. To better understand this book, look for

answers to these questions:

• How did most people make their living?

• What was it like to live on a small New England farm?

• What were the working conditions in New England factories? How were they different from today’s

factories?

• What were the laws about slavery?

• Who were the Quakers? What was their attitude toward slavery?

2. Lyddie is about a teenage girl in 1843 who must survive on her own after her family separates.

Suppose a family left a young girl on her own today. What organizations and institutions might provide

help? Which if any of these resources do you think might have been available more than a century ago?

3. Think about young people who leave home to survive on their own today. What skills and qualities do

you think they need to survive? Which of these skills and qualities do you think are ones that have

helped people survive throughout time?

4. What is the hardest work you have ever done? For how long did you do it? Why did you do it? What

were the positive and negative aspects of this work?

5. Have you ever been in a situation in which your best interests were different from those of your

friends? What happened? How did you feel?

6. What do you think people did for entertainment in an age when there were no televisions, radios,

movies, or computers? What part do you think reading might have played in the lives of these people?

What are your own feelings about reading? How do some of your classmates and friends feel about

reading?

7. Have you read any other books of fiction set in the United States in the 1800s? If so, when and where

were these stories set? Did the books give you the impression that life was easier or harder for young

people than it is today? Would you prefer to live then or now? Why?

Chapters 1,2,3 Reading Comprehension Questions:

1- Who is the most religious character? Explain your answer using actual quotes from the book. Please include page numbers.

2- How does Lyddie's mother feel about the lifestyles of the Stevens's?

3- Why does Lyddie's family leave the farm?

4- How is life different after the mother leaves?

5- Describe Lyddie's life in the tavern.

6- How does Lyddie react to seeing a factory girl for the first time?

7- How does Lyddie's appearance differ from that of the factory girl?

- Quote at least three similes from the first three chapters. Be sure to include page numbers. (Similes are comparisons of two different things using like or as.)

Chapters 4,5,6,7 Reading Comprehension Questions: 1- Describe Lyddie's relationship with Triphena.

2- Describe how Lyddie feels about her father.

3- What was happening to the wealth of Vermont during this time period?

4- Describe the issue of slavery in the state of Vermont during this time.

5- When Lyddie is allowed to return to home for a short time, what does she discover and why is this a problem?

6- What is ironic about Ezekial's feeling toward Lyddie?

7- What does Ezekial mean when he says to Lyddie, "A little reading can be a dangerous thing"?

8- What happens when Lyddie returns to the tavern?

9- Describe the coachman's entertainment. Why does he do this?

Chapters 8,9,10,11 Reading Comprehension Questions:

1-List at least four of the regulations the Concord Corporation requires of the girls they employ.

2- What is an agent and what do they do?

3- What surprises Lyddie when she first enters the factory?

4- Describe the quality of health care Lyddie was given after speaking to the agent.

5- Who is Mr. Marsden and what is his role?

6- Theorize why Diana calls threading the bobbin, "The kiss of death."

7- Explain what is a flying shuttle.

8- Who is considered a "radical" at the factory and why?

9- What is the average length of the workday? What time does Lyddie go to work?

10- What does Lyddie realize she hadn't done since she moved to the city?

11- What is Betsy reading to Lyddie?

12- Describe the summer working conditions. Pay particular attention to the changes.

Chapters 12,13,14 Reading Comprehension Questions:

1-What news does Lyddie receive from her mother?

2- Even though the Concord Corporation has sped-up the machinery, what would happen if the factory girls complained or quit?

3- How and why was Lyddie educating herself?

4- Describe the state of health care for the factory girls.

5- Why is health care important to Lyddie in Chapter 13?

6- What was the Concord Corporation's view about Brigid's ethnic background and why is it the least of her problems?

7- Why is Betsy leaving the factory? Why did she come there in the first place?

8- Why did Lyddie see Luke Stevens?

Chapters 15,16,17,18 Reading Comprehension Questions:

1-Who is Rachel and why is she with Lyddie?

2- Why is Brigid slowing down at work?

3- In Chapter 16, how does Mr. Marsden feel about Lyddie?

4- Why is Lyddie afraid to return to work after her illness? How does Diana reassure her?

5- During Lyddie's absence, what happens down in the acre?

6- Why does Charlie come to Lowell? What dilemma does Lyddie now face?

7- Why does Luke Stevens write to Lyddie and how does she react?

Chapters 19,20,21 Reading Comprehension Questions:

1-What are some of the reasons Diana is leaving Lowell?

2- Why did Brigid sweat so much?

3- What did Lyddie feel about Charles Dickens' account of American factory life?

4- What does Lyddie post on Brigid's loom? How does this relate to Ezekial's words about reading from chapter six?

5- Which ethnic group is receiving more employment at the Concord Corporation? Why?

6- What dreadful news does Lyddie receive in chapter 20?

7- Why does the relationship between Lyddie, Brigid, and Mr. Marsden change? Explain in full.

8- What happens at the agent's office? Explain in full.

Chapter 22,23 Reading Comprehension Questions:

1-What does Lyddie decide to do with her life savings?

2- What does Lyddie say to Mr. Marsden regarding Brigid?

3- Why does Lyddie go to Boston and what is the meaning of moral turpitude?

4- Why does Lyddie return to the tavern and what does he discover about her old job?

5- Why does Lyddie go back to the farm and what effect will it have on her future?

-Explain in detail the Setting, Protagonist, Conflicts, Resolution, Themes.

- Writing Prompt: After reading this novel, you will have a better understanding of how life was like for

young kids working in factories during the Industrial Revolution in the 1840s. Your assignment is to write

an argumentative essay answering the following question: Should Lyddie sign the petition that Diana

circulates? Make sure you provide a claim backed up with evidence from the story as well as your

personal opinion. Also, make sure to include the title and author, page numbers of referenced evidence,

and it must be at least 5 paragraphs in length. 12 font Times New Roman Double Spaced.

Name: ________________________Date: _________

Final Test for Lyddie

Directions: Choose the best answer and bubble in the correct answer on your answer sheet.

_____ 1. How did Lyddie react w Comprehension Questions

______1. How did Lyddie react when the bear entered the cabin?

A. Lyddie was able to take charge, think clearly, and save her family.

B. Lyddie was frightened and froze, not knowing what to do.

C. Lyddie took charge, but the bear injured Agnes.

D. Lyddie depended on Charlie to tell the family what to do.

_____ 2. Why was the bear such a significant event in the book, Lyddie?

A. The bear’s entrance into the cabin made Lyddie realize they were not safe on the farm anymore.

B. The event of the bear was the start of Lyddie’s long journey to caring for her family and finding personal

freedom.

C. When the bear entered the cabin, Mama suddenly went crazy.

D. The bear’s intrusion is what made Lyddie’s father leave.

_____ 3. How did Lyddie and Charlie survive on the farm alone?

A. Lyddie and Charlie had enough money saved up to help them get through the tough times of winter.

B. Lyddie and Charlie worked hard on their cash crop, cotton, to make money for the farm.

C. Lyddie and Charlie find food from hunting rabbits and making syrup and sugar.

D. Lyddie and Charlie make butter and cream from their cow’s milk to sell for money.

_____ 4. Why did Mama send Lyddie to work at Cutler’s Tavern and Charlie to work at Baker’s Mill?

A. Clarissa and Judah did not have room for Lyddie and Charlie to live with them, so Mama had to find

another place for them to live.

B. Mama needs money to pay off the family’s debts.

C. Since Lyddie and Charlie hated attending school, Mama thought it was best for them to go ahead and begin

work.

D. Judah and Clarissa owned the tavern and mill, so it was easy for Mama to arrange their jobs.

_____ 5. When Lyddie worked at Cutler’s Tavern, what was her point of view of factory life?

A. Lyddie dreaded factory life because of the rumors she heard while working in the tavern.

B. Lyddie knew some girls who worked at the factory and loved the life.

C. Lyddie read in school that factory life was very tedious and tiresome.

D. Lyddie aspired to work at the factory life because it seemed like a very easy way to earn a large amount of

money.

_____ 6. Which answer does not describe how Triphena felt about Lyddie?

A. Triphena valued Lyddie because she was such a hard worker.

B. Triphena was jealous of Lyddie because she knew Lyddie was smart.

C. Triphena cared very much for Lyddie because she gave her boots and some money.

D. Triphena respects Lyddie for working to pay off her family’s debts.

______ 7. What surprising event happens when Lyddie meets Ezekial?

A. Lyddie willingly gives Ezekial the money she earned from selling the calf.

B. Ezekial tricks Lyddie into giving him the money she earned from selling the calf.

C. Lyddie turns Ezekial in for money.

D. Lyddie invites Ezekial to travel with her to Lowell.

______ 8. How did the stagecoach ride benefit Lyddie?

A. Lyddie learned about how to obtain a job in Lowell from another passenger.

B. One of the passengers knew an owner of a factory and arranged a job for Lyddie.

C. The coachmen arranged for Lyddie to live with his sister.

D. Lyddie learned about what kind of clothes to wear to her job interview from a lady in the stagecoach.

______ 9. Why was Lyddie lucky to meet Mrs. Bedlow?

A. Mrs. Bedlow helped Lyddie get a job at the factory.

B. Mrs. Bedlow helped Lyddie enroll in school in Lowell.

C. Mrs. Bedlow introduced Lyddie to Diana so she would have a friend.

D. Mrs. Bedlow knew Lyddie’s father and was able to give her information about him.

______ 10. What was Lyddie’s first impression of her new factory job?

A. Lyddie instantly loved her new job and was pleased with her decision to move to Lowell.

B. Lyddie was shocked by the noise level of the machines and could not understand the instructions from the

man.

C. Lyddie was excited to make friends with all of the girls working in the factory.

D. Lyddie was terrified of getting her hair caught in one of the machines and asked to change floors.

______ 11. How did Diana help Lyddie in the factory?

A. Diana read Oliver Twist to Lyddie to help comfort her.

B. Diana sat with Lyddie during all meals so that Lyddie would have a friend.

C. Diana trained Lyddie and looked over her looms since Lyddie was so obviously confused and overwhelmed.

D. Diana suggested that Lyddie room with Amelia, Betsy, and Prudence so that she would make friends.

______ 12. For what cause was the Female Labor Reform Association petitioning?

A. The girls were asking for higher wages.

B. The girls were asking for a 10 hour work day.

C. The girls were asking to operate only 2 looms at a time.

D. The girls were asking for the factories to hire more people to help with the workload.

______ 13. Why were Lyddie’s roommates weary of Lyddie associating herself with Diana?

A. Lyddie’s roommates worried that Lyddie would be classified as a troublemaker if she was friends with

Diana.

B. Lyddie’s roommates worried that Diana would persuade Lyddie to come live with her.

C. Lyddie’s roommates feared that Lyddie would skip work to study with Diana.

D. Lyddie’s roommates were jealous of Diana because she made the most money of any factory worker.

______ 14. How did the news of Agnes dying affect Lyddie?

A. Lyddie was devastated over the news and could not work for several days.

B. Lyddie instantly left Lowell to go home to comfort Mama and the rest of her family.

C. This news made Lyddie realize that she had to earn more money to get her family back together to protect

them.

D. Lyddie became very angry and confronted Mama, Judah, and Clarissa for allowing this to happen.

______ 15. Why did Lyddie avoid Diana in the mill?

A. Lyddie was disgusted by Diana since she knew the doctor was her boyfriend.

B. Lyddie could not risk being blacklisted or labeled a troublemaker.

C. Lyddie was mad at Diana for becoming friends with Brigid.

D. Diana was jealous of Lyddie’s work habits and teased Lyddie.

______ 16. How did the mills change over the summer?

A. The mills are hiring more people to help with the workload.

B. The machines have been sped up so the owners can make more money from the finished products.

C. The mills are hiring more men to help with the physical demands of the looms.

D. The mills are giving the workers shorter breakfast and lunch breaks.

______ 17. When Lyddie was struck in the head by the shuttle, what does Diana’s actions reveal about her

character?

A. Diana is very considerate towards the other girls, even if they are not good friends.

B. Diana is medically talented and secretly wants to be a nurse.

C. Diana only wants to please Mr. Marsden, so she always helps the other girls, but for selfish reasons.

D. Diana is sad and lonely, so she craves attention from other girls.

______ 18. How did Betsy’s illness, hospitalization, and departure from Lowell affect Lyddie?

A. Lyddie finally realized no matter how much money the girls could earn, their health and wellbeing was

jeopardized by the poor work conditions.

B. Lyddie was excited that Betsy left because she would have more looms to work, so more money to earn.

C. Lyddie realized that she had been in Lowell long enough and it was time to go home.

D. Lyddie realized Betsy’s illness was a family condition that had nothing to do with the factories.

______ 19. When Lyddie received the money from Ezekial, what happened?

A. Lyddie gave Betsy the money to pay the hospital bills.

B. Lyddie hoped the money she had saved, along with this money, was enough for her to pay the debts and go

home.

C. Lyddie went ahead and sent her mother some of the money to put towards the debt.

D. Lyddie called Ezekial to thank him for the money.

______ 20. What shocking news did Lyddie’s uncle not give her?

A. Judah told Lyddie that her mother died.

B. Judah told Lyddie that her mother was sent to an insane asylum

C. Judah brought Rachel to live with Lyddie.

D. Judah told Lyddie he intended to sell the farm.

______ 21. How did Lyddie react when Mr. Marsden tried to keep her from leaving when the bell rang?

A. Lyddie was furious and shoved Mr. Marsden down the stairwell.

B. Lyddie was so embarrassed and threatened to quit her job.

C. Lyddie grabbed a bucket and threw it over his head.

D. Lyddie defended herself by stomping on Mr. Marsden’s foot.

______ 22. How did having Rachel live with her change Lyddie?

A. Lyddie becomes compassionate once again since she has to care for her sister.

B. Lyddie becomes even more stressed and ignores Rachel in an attempt to earn money.

C. Lyddie begins to skip work to spend more time with Rachel.

D. Lyddie decides to quit her job to teach Rachel to read.

______23. What was a positive outcome from Lyddie becoming so ill?

A. Lyddie caught up on her reading in Oliver Twist.

B. Lyddie became better friends with her roommates.

C. Rachel finally began talking when Lyddie woke up.

D. Mrs. Bedlow asked Lyddie to help her cook dinner for money instead of going to the factory to work.

______ 24. Why is Lyddie heartbroken after Charlie pays Lyddie a visit in Lowell?

A. Lyddie learns that Charlie is able to go to college.

B. Charlie tells Lyddie that their mother has died.

C. Lyddie feels very lonely and abandoned after he tells her that Rachel and he will live with the Phinneys.

D. Lyddie is embarrassed because Charlie found out about Mr. Marsden’s attempt to kiss Lyddie.

______ 25. Why did Lyddie continue to work at the mill after Rachel left?

A. Lyddie was such good friends with Brigid, she could not bear to leave her.

B. Work was all Lyddie had left in her life.

C. Lyddie never wanted to go to school.

D. Lyddie wants to please Mr. Marsden.

______ 26. What happened when Lyddie decided to sign the petition?

A. Lyddie was too late to sign the petition because the petition had already been sent in to the legislature.

B. Diana begged Lyddie not to sign the petition because she knew Mr. Marsden would fire her.

C. Lyddie decides she really cannot sign the petition after all.

D. Diana asked Lyddie to give a speech to the ladies at the meeting to describe the horrible work conditions.

______ 27. Why did Lyddie apologize to Diana saying, “I been so blind”?

A. Lyddie realized that she could not read well because she needed glasses.

B. Lyddie realizes she had been so focused on earning money that she had ignored what was important in life

and should have signed the petition earlier.

C. Lyddie realizes she never set any goals for life.

D. Lyddie realizes that she could never really see the loom well.

______ 28. Which is not a way that Lyddie’s relationship with Brigid changed?

A. Lyddie is sympathetic towards Brigid when Brigid’s mother is ill and lends her money.

B. Lyddie becomes more patient with Brigid and teaches her the letters of the alphabet and how to read.

C. Lyddie stands up for Brigid against Mr. Marsden.

D. Lyddie invites Brigid to become her roommate.

______ 29. How did Mr. Marsden get his revenge on Lyddie?

A. Mr. Marsden reports Lyddie’s behavior to the agent, and Lyddie is dismissed from the job.

B. Mr. Marsden embarrasses Lyddie in front of all the factory workers.

C. Mr. Marsden moves Lyddie to another floor that pays less.

D. Mr. Marsden tells everyone that Lyddie was the one who wanted to kiss him.

______ 30. Why did Lyddie not defend herself when the agent and Mr. Marsden dismissed her from the factory?

A. Lyddie was taught to never question an adult.

B. Lyddie did not understand what “moral turpitude” meant.

C. Lyddie knew she was guilty.

D. Lyddie was so mad, she was speechless.

______ 31. Why does Lyddie visit Brigid before she returns home?

A. Brigid invites Lyddie to meet her family.

B. Lyddie wanted to make sure Brigid would not lose her job because of Mr. Marsden, so she explained what

to do if Mr. Marsden threatened her in any way.

C. Lyddie wanted to get Brigid’s address so that they can keep in touch.

D. Lyddie never explained why she treated Brigid badly at first.

______ 32. What does Lyddie realize when she returns to Cutler’s Tavern?

A. Lyddie realizes Triphena is no longer at Cutler’s Tavern.

B. Lyddie realizes that there is no job for her at the tavern.

C. Lyddie realizes that Rachel got a job at the tavern.

D. Lyddie realizes that she misses Lowell.

______ 33. What will Lyddie do with her future?

A. Lyddie decides to go to college and hopes that Luke will wait for her to return so they can marry.

B. Lyddie decides to marry Luke and live on the farm with him.

C. Lyddie decides to go find Charlie and Rachel and have them live at the farm with her.

D. Lyddie decides to go work with Diana.

______ 34. Read the following passage from the book: “I’m off…” she said, and knew as she spoke what it was she was off to. To stare down the bear! The bear that she had thought

all these years was outside herself, but now, truly knew was in her own narrow spirit. She would stare down all the bears!

What does “the bear” refer to in this passage?

A. Mr. Marsden

B. Obstacles in her life

C. Her nightmares

D. Her mother’s death

______ 35. Which of the following best describes the theme for Lyddie?

A. When you are lucky, things always work out for the best.

B. No matter what obstacles you encounter in life, you have the power to overcome them with hard work.

C. Family is always supportive of you in all circumstances.

D. Patience is the main thing that helps your survive.

Post Reading Activities:

Approaches for Post-Reading Activities: The outstanding element of this novel is its historical setting. This focus

makes the novel an excellent adjunct to social studies courses focusing on U.S. history.

1. Investigating the Historical Background One of the first things young readers might want to talk about in regard to

this novel is “Did things like this really happen?” That question could lead to an investigation of several features of the

novel’s historical setting: • Working conditions in New England textile mills • Educational opportunities available to

women in the 1840s • Employment opportunities for women in the 1840s • The impact of women’s activism on the

abolition of slavery.

Key Ideas and Details:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.1

Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences

drawn from the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.2

Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its

relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.3

Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a

character, or provoke a decision.

Craft and Structure:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.4

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative

meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other

texts.

Production and Distribution of Writing:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.4

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task,

purpose, and audience.

Text Types and Purposes:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1

Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.A

Introduce claim(s), acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and

organize the reasons and evidence logically.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.B

Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and

demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.C

Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s),

counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.D

Establish and maintain a formal style.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.E

Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.