Cold Sassy Tree Group

Question:

myrinator
myrinator
Student
High School - 9th Grade

What does it mean to "talk outside of the family" in Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns?

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Posted by myrinator on Sunday August 30, 2009 at 9:38 PM and tagged with cold sassy tree, grandpa blakeslee, quotations, will.

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  1. readinator Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    There are two ways to look at your quotation.  One is to take the word "talk" as a verb.  Understand that in southern families, as in most families, there are things that are kept inside the family circle, usually secrets or habits, or goings-on that the world outside the family might frown upon.  When the granddad marries so soon after the granny dies, it is something that the town would certainly be talking about "outside of the family."  They might be scandalized inside the family about the marriage, but they would put up a front about it outside of the home to make the talk die down sooner.

    Another way to look at the quotation is to think of "talk" as a noun . . . as if you're saying, "talk of the town."  Will's grandfather is certainly that.

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    Posted by readinator on Sunday September 6, 2009 at 3:19 PM