Study+guide+Chapter+4

Alvin comes home in a wheel chair with part of his leg gone. He is escorted by a nurse and is dirty has dental work that needs to be done and smells quite rancid. Alvin is very curt with the whole family and chooses not to comunicate with them in the ways he used to before he went off to fight. At night Philip finds himself wrapping Alvins "stump" to prevent swelling and uses this as time to bond with Alvin like his other family members are'nt able to.

1. How does Alvin's behavior at the train station compare to his behavior at the beginning of the book? Why does he react this way?

2. Why is the title of the chapter, "The Stump", significant?

3. How does the cellar (described on page 139-140) serve as a metaphor to turmoil in Philip's life?

4. How does the fact that Phillip stole a football show a change in his character?

5. How does Uncle Monty's statements impact Alvin?

Chapter 4 Answers