Transcript The Stranger

The Stranger
Compiled by:
Terry Sams PES
Text and Art
by Chris Van Allsburg
Summary
In late summer, a farmer hits a man
in the road with his truck. The
speechless stranger then spends
several weeks on the farm. The
weather stays warm into autumn and
the leaves around the farm remain
green. The stranger realizes something
is wrong. He leaves the farm and the
weather returns to normal.
Genre: Fantasy

A fantasy is a story
that could never really
happen. As you read,
decide which events in
this story could never
happen in real life.
Question #1
What changes in
nature take
place in the fall?
Question #2
What is mysterious
about the man Mr.
Bailey strikes with
his truck?
Question #3
Since the stranger’s
visit, how is fall on
the Bailey farm
different from
nearby farms?
Question #4
How would you describe
the fall season to
someone who lives in a
climate that is always
warm?
Review Questions
1. Name at least one event that could
not really happen?
2. How is the stranger different from
most people?
3. Give a clue that the weather
should have started to change?
4. How can you tell the stranger was
not a hermit?
Review Questions
5. What are some effects the stranger’s
visit had on the Bailey farm? What is
the most important?
6. Why did the pumpkins grow larger
than ever?
7. How can you tell the stranger
continued to care about the Baileys?
8. What might have happened if he had
stayed with the Baileys?
Vocabulary - Say It
draft
fascinated
etched terror
frost
parlor
timid
More Words to Know
drab
hermit
hypnotized
barren
crops
sprout
wilt
barren
 not
able to produce
crops
plants
grown
or gathered by
people for their use
sprout
to
produce new
leaves, shoots, or
buds
wilt
to
become limp and bend
down; to wither
draft
current
of air
timid
easily
shy
frightened;
terror
great
fear
fascinated
interested
greatly;
attracted very strongly;
charmed
etched
engraved;
a design or
drawing on a metal plate
or glass
frost
moisture
frozen on or
in a surface
parlor
formerly,
a room for
receiving or entertaining
guests; sitting room
drab
not
attractive; dull;
monotonous
hypnotized
put
into a
condition
resembling
deep sleep
hermit
person
who goes
away from others
and lives alone
It was so hot that
the crops began
to wilt and die.
It was so hot that
the crops began
to wilt and die.
When Persephone
returns to her
mother, the barren
fields will sprout
with new flowers.
When Persephone
returns to her
mother, the
barren fields
will sprout
with new flowers.
The steam that
rose from the hot
food fascinated
him.
The steam that
rose from the hot
food fascinated
him.
He looked up
with terror and
jumped to his
feet.
He looked up
with terror and
jumped to
his feet.
Mrs. Bailey sat
the stranger on
the parlor sofa.
Mrs. Bailey sat
the stranger on
the parlor
sofa.
Mrs. Bailey
shivered and said,
“There’s a draft in
here tonight.
Mrs. Bailey
shivered and said,
“There’s a draft in
here tonight.
He became one of
the family as he
became less timid
each day.
He became one of
the family as he
became less
timid each day.
The stranger had
etched a message
in the frost of the
windows.
The stranger had
etched a message
in the frost of the
windows.
Mr. Bailey thought
the stranger might
be a hermit
because he was
alone.
Mr. Bailey thought
the stranger might
be a hermit
because he was
alone.
The stranger
stared at the birds
like he had been
hypnotized.
The stranger
stared at the birds
like he had been
hypnotized.
The trees around
the Baileys’
seemed so drab
and ugly to the
stranger.
The trees around
the Baileys’
seemed so drab
and ugly to the
stranger.
Spelling Words
adding -ed and -ing
hurrying
hurried
robbing
noticed
slipped
slipping
noticing
happening
robbed
happened
Spelling Words
Adding -ed and -ing
drying
dried
studied
dancing
stopping danced
stopped watched
studying watching
CHALLENGE
answered
answering
magnified
magnifying
interfered
interfering
watched
watching
danced
dancing
studied
studying
stopped
stopping
dried
drying
happened
happening
noticed
noticing
robbed
robbing
hurried
hurrying
slipped
slipping