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Kashindi 3- How does the author convey the theme of appearance vs. reality when illustrating the characters of Connie and Arnold.

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What do you think the title refers to? Where might you have heard these questions before as a teenager? Or, how do they relate to Connie's situation in the story? (reply: Looking at it from a religious perspective, the first question would be where will Connie be in her afterlife. Like Haven mentioned, the story is written in past tense and maybe she is already dead at the time. The second question remind me of the demon code. If Ellie has some kind of relationship with the demon and he hunts for Connie afterward, maybe Connie have some hidden connections with him. In short, Connie went from hell to... a ghost. Yueqi)

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Can the mother's attitude towards Connie affect their relationship in the future ? (reply: Yes. Although typical teenagers will most likely to do the opposite of what their parents want, Connie's mom might have some effects on Connie. Yueqi)

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What language overall added and created the mood ?-Chloe Merta

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Kashindi 2- Is the author's portrayal of Connie's character sympathetic? How and why?  (reply: Yes it is because the author emphasizes how these situations can happen to anyone. The author also brings light upon the fact that predators such as arnold exist in the real world as well)

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Why do Connie and Arnold have certain similarities in their character? ( Reply: I think it was because Arnold was observing Connie to see what she like. Ex he played the same radio station as Connie to get her attention. Tayvia)

The similarities between Connie and Arnold may have been used to make Connie feel safe and like she could trust him due to how alike they were (Makenzie)

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Do you think Connie was targeted because of how her family treated her? If so why or not so why? (Reply: It played a role in her being targeted because they were unaware of what she had been doing and what was happening to her because of a detachment within their family.) (Reply: It definitely had an impact. Her mothers indifference to Connie staying home had an impact, but also her mothers constant criticisms. Throughout the story we see Connie's insecurity as a result of her mother, which led her to want to be accepted in society. Arnold Friend could have seen this and targeted her based on her insecurities. Kaylin)

She craved positive attention so badly (which she didn't receive at home) that she went behind her parents' backs to find the attentive she thought she deserved due to her physical appearance (Makenzie)                                                          RE: Connie uses her intentionally sensuous appearance to lure attention because she lacks involvement within her home.

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Kashindi- As the story is set in 1950s and 60s suburban America, how does the author portray the life of women in a world transforming with the sexual revolution yet was still fundamentally conservative? (Reply: It is apparent in Connie and her mothers relationship. Her mother is still very conservative, but Connie is more like the young women at the time. Connie makes any effort to hid the men she goes on "dates" with from her mother. She tops deemed acceptable in public are scandalous at home. Connie changed with the world, while her mother was still stuck in the ways she grew up in. Kaylin)

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What were your thoughts on how the mother treated Connie?

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What role does Connie's unique relationship to her family add to the story?  In what ways does Connie's relationship with her mother reveal more about herself? What was Ellie's purpose to the story? -Maddy MacBlane

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Why is music made so apparent in the story?

perhaps it is drawing from the idea of music as a form of magic or seduction

Why was it important for the author to contrast Connie's home life and outside life? (Reply: Her relationship with her family played a role in her being victimized. Her family was unaware of what she was doing in her outside life, leaving her vulnerable to predators.)

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What are the numbers on the car, do they have a deeper meaning? (Reply: the first number, 33, may represent Arnold's real age since Connie described him as being in his 30s.)

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What does Connie's appearance have to do with Arnold Friend's intentions? Is he looking for girls that fit a certain character in his twisted fantasy?( Reply He is looking for a beautiful girl with a certain eye color and  Connie's appearance fits what his looking for. I think he is looking for specific girls ,he might be looking for girls that resemble his mother or a past girlfriend .Janelle)

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3. How does the use of various similes and metaphors provide a deeper insight into the story?

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3. How does imagery play a role in the reader's understanding of the text? (reply: Imagery guide visual learners, like me, to flow through the text, especially when it comes to action scenes with words. It also helps to resolve concentration issues. If the text is boring, it is much harder to understand it. Yueqi)

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Why does Connie's mother display the critical behavior she does? Is it to try and protect her? Do you think the mother may have known of Arnold Friend in some capacity? (Response: Connie's mother likely was trying to protect her. The mother may not have necessarily known who Arnold Friend was, but she was aware that people like him exist and did not want Connie to be endangered.-Rayven) (Response: Why not protect her sister then? Why be only critical of Connie? It seems like a she was trying to protect her from people like Friend, but it also seems like she was jealous of a life she may have never had the chance to live. Kaylin)

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How does Connie's relationship with her mom affect the story?  (Reply: it can be inferred later on in the story that her mother treated her this way because she knew that her looks could attract predators, like Arnold Friend)

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How is tension seen as slowly being built?         (Tension is built as Connie starts to notice different things that are strange about Arnold and Ellie - Declan)

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Why does Connie go into deep description of Arnold, and Ellie but not others

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How does all of the figurative language develop the text and reveal a deeper meaning?

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If Connie was so self centered why did she risk her own life to save her family's?                                                -I think as readers, we don't learn so much about Connie from the beginning of the story as we do from the ending. She could be perceived as self-centered by comparison to her family. I don't think this is accurate to what qualities she actually has because when it mattered most she chose her family over herself when she could have chosen not to. I don't think Connie is self-centered at all.

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At what point does the author reveal something is off in this story ?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Once the author looks beyond Arnold Friend's exterior persona I definitely felt like something was "off". The makeup he wears reveals that he is older than he's letting on,  there is something in him that he tries to restrain, and we catch a glimpse of this when his behavior becomes inconsistent. What could Arnold Friend be hiding in shoes that are stuffed? What might this be hiding about his identity?

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What is the moral of the story?

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What role did Ellie play, despite not really talking at all?    -I think Ellie served as a literal reinforcement. He is always ready to "make the call" if Connie does not cooperate with Arnold. Perhaps Ellie is an additional layer to the psychological torture of Connie because she knows she is vulnerable and outnumbered 2 to 1.

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Why was the author so inspired by Bob Dylan's song, has she put triggering twists on different texts such as this before?

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2. What elements of other stories does the author use?

There are elements of cinderella, little red riding hood, the three little pigs, the bible as well as real world influences.         What are some clear examples from the story of of an element from any one of the above listed texts?

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3. Why does the author use shifts in the story?

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Why would Connie sacrifice her own safety for the safety of her family which at the beginning of the story she resented and the family that made her feel miserable?( Reply I think deep down she loves them and would  do anything for them even though they hardly acknowledge her worth.Janelle)

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"In what ways might Arnold Friend seem more like a creepy stalker than a friend (4-9)? (Reply: When he lies about his age, and when he's wording and tone become more aggressive. Tayvia)

He kept telling her that he was going to make her love him and that she was "his date" (Makenzie)                                       (Reply- When his telling her where her family is , describe how they look and be very demanding . Janelle)

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2. Does the story present a healthy relationship? Why would an author tell a story like that?

The author does not portray a "healthy" relationship, at least not between Connie and Arnold as evidence by the use of mental and emotional manipulation. The author might have told a story like this as a warning of sorts.                                         RE: The author does not present a healthy relationship. In fact, the story is one that presents the dangers of being stuck in a abuser vs survivor situation. The author tells this story to give a universal relevance and to bring awareness to the issues faced in societies everywhere. (KM)

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What is the overall message/ meaning of the story?

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What conclusions can readers draw about Connie's home life?

Connie felt trapped at home and like she wasn't able to be her true self. The author explained how she had one side of  her she showed at home and another she showed anywhere she wasn't at home (Makenzie)                                                                                                                                                                                                                             There is some friction between Connie and the people in her life because Connie feels superior to both her mother and sister due to her appealing physical appearance. (KM)

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3. What was the author's purpose of having such an open ended conclusion? (Response: She wanted to keep readers guessing as to what could have happened to Connie and possibly set up a sequel to the story where more of the situation is explained clearly.-Rayven)

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Does this story fit the pattern of love stories? Why or why not? ( Reply: I believe so. Many love stories follow the format of staker love where one person will constantly observe or follow the love interest, but its usually seen as justified because of love. Tayvia)

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Why do Connie and Arnold have certain similarities in their character? ( Reply: I think it was because Arnold was observing Connie to see what she like. Ex he played the same radio station as Connie to get her attention. Tayvia)

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1.How does the author foreshadow that something is not right about Arnold Friend's character? (Response: The author makes Arnold Friend appear to know way too much for not being a local of the town (ex: "Listen: Betty Schultz and Tony Fitch and Jimmy Pettinger and Nancy Pettinger..." (Oates 4)) and knowing her name is Connie without her telling him.-Rayven)

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There is a deeper meaning behind Arnold Friend, what details of the story lead to his true identity?

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How is foreshadowing used in the beginning to predict what the outcome is going to be?  (Reply: In the first sentence in the story it say "Her name was Connie." Tayvia)

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2. Why have a third person narrator, what purpose does it serve to the story?

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1) How does music in the story correlate with Connie

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Why might Connie's decision to go outside have not been the best choice (Oates 9)? (Reply: because she was clearly in danger and risking her life.)
(Reply: because it's going to change the outcome of her life , and her family is going to miss her. Janelle)

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1. What is the significance of Ellie's character and why was so much detail put into describing him if he barely speaks? (Response: Ellie seemed like he wanted to help Connie in some form because he kept asking questions like "You want that telephone pulled out?" as if he wanted to call the police and explain the situation for her. Ellie could have been almost like a tragic hero sort of figure whose efforts are stopped by the villain, Arnold Friend.-Rayven)

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1. What or who does Arnold Friend represent in the story?

There is the argument that Arnold represents the devil in some form
(Reply: He represents a stalker who has a controlling personality .Janelle)

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The title of the story poses two questions, what might they be referring to, and/or who might be the one asking them?

How does music tie into the themes of the story?

The story is written with Connie in the past tense, is it reasonable to assume that she is no longer alive, due to the events of the story?

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What do you think the title refers to?                                                                                                                                              (RE: The the title's significance is ambivalent. I think it has been clarified as questions parents might ask their child to emphasize the irony of the absence of Connie's parental guidance and lack of involvement. Also it foreshadows Connie's attempt to creating a fully formed identity (KM)