Split Cherry Tree Questions and Answers
Split Cherry Tree
What is the message of "Split Cherry Tree"?
The message of "Split Cherry Tree" is about bridging the gap between different generations and social backgrounds. It highlights the importance of understanding and accepting change, as seen in...
Split Cherry Tree
Characters in "Split Cherry Tree"
The main characters in "Split Cherry Tree" are Dave Sexton, a high school student; Professor Herbert, Dave's progressive teacher; and Luster Sexton, Dave's traditional father. The story explores the...
Split Cherry Tree
Dave's internal conflict and emotions when his worlds collide in "The Split Cherry Tree"
In "The Split Cherry Tree," Dave experiences internal conflict and emotions when his rural upbringing clashes with the modern education he receives. He feels torn between his father's traditional...
Split Cherry Tree
Dave's relationships with Professor Herbert and his father in "Split Cherry Tree"
In "Split Cherry Tree," Dave's relationship with Professor Herbert is initially strained but evolves into mutual respect as he learns the value of education. His relationship with his father, Pa, is...
Split Cherry Tree
What is the time and place of the story "Split Cherry Tree" by Jesse Stuart?
The story "Split Cherry Tree" by Jesse Stuart is set somewhere in Kentucky during the late winter of the 1930s. The narrative follows young Dave Sexton, who attends a county high school and helps...
Split Cherry Tree
Does Pa undergo a deep transformation in Jesse Stuart's "Split Cherry Tree"?
In "Split Cherry Tree," Pa undergoes a significant transformation. Initially, he is angry and distrustful of Professor Herbert, viewing him with hostility. However, after visiting the school and...
Split Cherry Tree
In "Split Cherry Tree", how do Luster's and Professor Herbert's ideas of responsibility compare and contrast?
Luster and Professor Herbert in "Split Cherry Tree" both value responsibility but differ in their approaches. Luster believes in physical punishment to enforce responsibility, reflecting an older...
Split Cherry Tree
Pa's growth and potential change in behavior after his school day in "Split Cherry Tree"
In "Split Cherry Tree," Pa's growth and potential change in behavior are evident after his school day. Initially skeptical of modern education, Pa's experience at school helps him understand its...
Split Cherry Tree
Explain the following quotation from Split Cherry Tree: "Make a gentleman out'n one boy in th' family and this is...
In "Split Cherry Tree," the narrator's father criticizes his son for attending high school, implying it has made him arrogant and neglectful of his farm duties. The father believes education has led...
Split Cherry Tree
Pa and Professor Herbert's relationship and dialogues in "Split Cherry Tree."
In "Split Cherry Tree," Pa and Professor Herbert initially clash due to their differing perspectives on education and discipline. However, through their dialogues, Pa comes to understand Professor...
Split Cherry Tree
How does Dave show growth at the end of "Split Cherry Tree"?
Dave shows growth by developing a mature understanding of his father's values after Pa visits his school. Initially fearing his father's reaction to staying late at school, Dave witnesses Pa's...
Split Cherry Tree
Contrast the two settings in "Split Cherry Tree."
The two settings in "Split Cherry Tree" are the school and the farm. The school is a high-tech place with microscopes and well-dressed students, while Dave's family's farm is poor and humble, lacking...
Split Cherry Tree
Describe Pa's character in "Split Cherry Tree."
In "Split Cherry Tree", the main character, Davey, is a young boy who is struggling to find his identity. He is being pressured by his father to be just like him. His father wants him to grow up and...
Split Cherry Tree
Professor Herbert's reasons for letting Dave go without paying his debt in "Split Cherry Tree"
Professor Herbert lets Dave go without paying his debt because he recognizes Dave's hard work and commitment. He sees that Dave has already learned his lesson and values his education. By showing...
Split Cherry Tree
Luster's guidance and demands on Dave's future and responsibility in "Split Cherry Tree"
Luster, Dave's father, emphasizes the importance of education and responsibility. He insists that Dave must balance school and farm work, understanding that both are crucial for his future. Luster's...
Split Cherry Tree
Understanding the idiom "shaking like a leaf in the wind" in "The Split Cherry Tree" and its context
The idiom "shaking like a leaf in the wind" in "The Split Cherry Tree" conveys intense fear or nervousness. In the story, it describes a character's physical reaction to a stressful situation,...
Split Cherry Tree
In "Split Cherry Tree," what does Pa mean when he describes himself as "a dead leaf"?
When Pa describes himself as "a dead leaf," he acknowledges feeling out of place in the modern educational environment. After initially opposing his son Dave's punishment, Pa experiences an epiphany...
Split Cherry Tree
How are Luster Sexton and Professor Herbert compared in Split Cherry Tree?
The different attitudes of the characters are the main difference between them. The similarities are that both embody a father figure to Dave, and both help him further his education in a way that...
Split Cherry Tree
What is the irony in Jesse Stuart's short story, "The Split Cherry Tree"?
The irony in "The Split Cherry Tree" lies in the character of Luster. Despite his rough demeanor and willingness to use a gun to defend his son, Luster reveals a tender side by refusing to harm...
Split Cherry Tree
How does Pa's attitude towards Professor Herbert change in "Split Cherry Tree"? Why does the professor invite him to...
Professor Herbert invites Luster to spend the day at the school to show him new education methods and to help defuse his frustration at Dave being required to stay after school to pay for his part...
Split Cherry Tree
Why is Dave late returning home in the short story "Split Cherry Tree"?
Dave is late returning home because he is detained by Professor Herbert, the school principal, after a field trip incident where he and other boys broke a cherry tree. Unable to pay the $1 fine, Dave...
Split Cherry Tree
What is the rising action in "Split Cherry Tree"?
The rising action in Jesse Stuart's story “Split Cherry Tree” begins as Dave hurries home after being kept late at school, explains to his Pa what happened, listens to his Pa's rant, and worries...
Split Cherry Tree
What self-realization does Dave have in "Split Cherry Tree"?
Dave realizes he is proud of his rural, farming background and appreciates the educational opportunities that open new possibilities for his future. Initially concerned about his father's reaction to...
Split Cherry Tree
The relationship between the societal context of 1920s-1930s Kentucky farmers and the characters in "Split Cherry Tree."
The characters in "Split Cherry Tree" reflect the societal context of 1920s-1930s Kentucky farmers, highlighting the tension between traditional rural values and modern education. This period saw a...
Split Cherry Tree
Pa's Evolving Perspective on Dave's Education in "Split Cherry Tree"
In "Split Cherry Tree," Pa's perspective on Dave's education changes after meeting Professor Herbert and witnessing modern teaching methods firsthand. Initially skeptical and armed with a pistol, Pa...
Split Cherry Tree
Why isn't Dave ashamed of Pa entering the classroom in "Split Cherry Tree"?
Despite Dave knowing that Pa doesn't fit into the academic setting in "Split Cherry Tree," he isn't ashamed of his father, mainly because he is focused on being nervous about what his father is going...
Split Cherry Tree
In "The Split Cherry Tree", is Pa a good or bad father? Why?
Dave's father is a good father, one who shows compassion and generosity toward his son, animals and others. He models being hard-working and honest. He wants his son to do better than he has done. In...
Split Cherry Tree
How does Professor Herbert defend his field trip decision and Dave's punishment in "Split Cherry Tree"?
Professor Herbert defends the field trip by explaining it was part of a science project to gather specimens. He justifies Dave's punishment of sweeping floors as a way to pay for the broken cherry...
Split Cherry Tree
How does Jesse Stuart's background and support for "new education" reflect in "Split Cherry Tree"?
Jesse Stuart's background as a rural Kentuckian and advocate for "new education" is evident in "Split Cherry Tree." The story reflects Appalachian life through dialect and daily chores on the Sexton...
Split Cherry Tree
What lesson is Pa teaching Dave in "Split Cherry Tree" with his advice about honesty and kindness?
Pa teaches Dave important lessons about honesty and kindness by emphasizing the value of hard work, truthfulness, and compassion. He acknowledges the benefits of modern education but insists that...
Split Cherry Tree
In "Split Cherry Tree," how does a typical day in Dave's home begin?
In the short story "Split Cherry Tree" by Jesse Stuart, a boy from the hills named Dave is the first of his family to attend high school. After he and some classmates break a cherry tree by...
Split Cherry Tree
What does Professor Herbert show Pa in the laboratory in "Split Cherry Tree"?
Pa is amazed to see the germ upon his own tooth. He asks if it is a fake, but Professor Herbert assures him that it is there and not a fake.
Split Cherry Tree
What offended Luster Sexton about Dave's punishment in "Split Cherry Tree"?
Luster Sexton was offended by Dave's punishment because it singled out Dave for being unable to pay a dollar to cover the cost of a broken cherry tree. He was upset that Professor Herbert allowed...
Split Cherry Tree
What are two key sentences from "Split Cherry Tree" for understanding the story?
In "Split Cherry Tree," two key sentences highlight the themes of cultural struggle and generational differences. First, "A bullet will make a hole in a schoolteacher same as it will anybody else"...
Split Cherry Tree
Why was Dave required to stay after school in "Split Cherry Tree"?
Dave was required to stay after school to work off the damage caused to a cherry tree during a school field trip. He and other boys climbed the tree, which cracked, and the owner demanded...
Split Cherry Tree
How does Jesse Stuart's belief about education enhance your understanding of "The Split Cherry Tree"?
Jesse Stuart's belief that "good teaching is forever" is exemplified in "The Split Cherry Tree" through Professor Herbert's impactful teaching methods. Herbert's calm, respectful approach and...