The narrator was a young boy living in a small town in Pennsylvania. One evening, while out to dinner with his grandmother at the fanciest restaurant in town, he ordered a whole plate of peas that he refused to eat. This led to a confrontation between his mother and grandmother when they returned home. The incident came to haunt the narrator for many years and he continues to be troubled by his failure to eat the peas.

1. A Plate of Peas
By Rick Beyer, True Tales of American Life, edited by
Paul Auster (Faber&Faber 2001) pp.120-122
COMPREHENSION
1. Who are the main characters in the story? How are
they related?
2. a. Give the name of the town where the characters
live:
b. Quote one element from the text to justify:
3. How old was the narrator at the time of the incident?
4. What kind of narrative is it?
5. The narrator uses five compound adjectives in lines 4
and 5. Find them and match them with the elements
to say what each of them refers to.
Strong alcohol= ninety proof
A wild animal hunt= __________________________
A shotgun= _________________________________
A boxing match= _____________________________
Something that knocks you out=_________________

2. 6. When referring to the perfume, what’s the effect on
the reader after the narrator’s description?
7. Write a sentence from the text that states the
following: It took quite a time to get rid of the odor:
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
8. In your own words, say what time of the day and
where exactly the central incident takes place. Who is
involved? (20 words aprox).
9. What do these two words reveal about the narrator’s
feelings? (20 words)
Line 13: “the fanciest place”
Line14: “I grandly ordered”
10. What stylistic device is used in lines 17 to 19? What
is the effect produced? (20 words)
11. “Eat your peas” line 20
“Leave him alone” line 21
Name the grammatical form used here: _________
What does it show about the two women’s attitude
towards the kid? (20 words)
12. How does the narrator’s grandmother persuade him to
eat the peas? (10 words)
13. Quote 3 adjectives from the text which illustrate the
narrator’s vision of money:
14. In your own words describe the mother’s and the
grandmother’s reactions and feelings in lines 31 to 39.
15. Look at these words from the text:

3. “fateful” (line 25), “doom” (line 27), “haunt” (line 44),
“despair” (line 46), “devastation” (line 46)
Find the other word that completes the list: ________
What do these words show about the effect of the
incident on the narrator?
16. TRUE/FALSE. Circle T/F and justify by quoting the text:
a. The day after, his mother makes him eat peas at home T/F
b. His grandmother lived for many years after the “infamous
meal” T/F
c. The narrator still has the 5 dollars T/F
d. Everyone has forgotten the pea incident T/F
EXPRESSION
Choose one topic to write your composition (200-250
words aprox.)
1. That same night, the boy’s mother and grandmother have an
argument. Write their conversation.
2. Write about a childhood memory that still haunts you today.
Have a nice weekend and happy writing!
If you want to listen to Paul Auster reading this story, go to NPR
(National Public Radio), here’s the link:
http://www.npr.org/programs/watc/storyproject/2000/001203.story.html