ENG 3U0 “The Open Car” Study Questions
Read over the questions below before you start to read Thomas King’s narrative travel essay,
“The Open Car.” Once you have finished reading the text, answer the questions below in the
spaces provided. Save your file as FirstName_Open-Car-Response and submit it to the
assignment folder upon completion and by the deadline.
1. Choose one (1) character in the story and list three (3) personality or character traits
for that character. Use evidence from the text to justify each choice, being sure to
cite page numbers.
Character:
The Mother
Trait 1 and Evidence:
Hardworking - “My mother ran a beauty shop out of our house. She
worked long hours, and what I remember most was that we were the only family in the
neighbourhood who didn't have a television or a car” (pg1). This quote shows how the
mother was hardworking, as she worked long hours to try and make ends meet.
Trait 2 and Evidence:
Openness/Wise/Experienced - “My mother believed that travelling was broadening,
that by visiting other people and other places you became more tolerant and
understanding. And she believed that travel was magic” (pg1). This portrays the
mother’s trait of being open to new experiences, and welcoming growth. Moreover,
she can also be said to be wise since she believes that visiting new places can help a
person become more tolerant and understanding. This idea could only be acquired
with the help of experience.
Trait 3 and Evidence:
Precise - “The Plymouth was a hardtop, she said. The Pontiac was a convertible. And
the Plymouth hadn't run out of gas, it had been a problem with the alternator, John
Varris fixed that, she told me, not Mr. Santucci. If you're going to tell a story, she
insisted, at least get the facts right” (pg3). WIthin this quotation, the mother corrects
the narrator on the story he has been telling, and she actually ends up being right.
This can be confirmed through the statement made by the narrator: “My mother was
right. The Pontiac was the convertible.”
2. Provide two (2) details related to story setting related to time, place, mood, weather
and/or social conditions and explain how you know these setting details are correct.
Detail 1:
“Three weeks ago, I had to go from Toronto to New York, and because I had some
time before and after my meetings, I persuaded Helen that we should travel by train. I
pointed out that a train trip would give us a chance to relax and see the countryside”
(pg1). This short story revolves around the narrator sharing the time when they had to
take a trip from Toronto to New York. As a result, the setting primarily takes place at
these two places.
Detail 2:
“New York was fun. Not as clean as Toronto and a little scarier—and Helen pointed
these differences out to me — but fun. Even Helen had a good time, though she was
not unhappy when we got back on the train to come home” (pg2). This quote is used
to convey the overall mood that was set, while on the trip to New York.
3. List one (1) of the seven (7) types of conflict found in the story, explain who is involved in
this conflict, and explain specifically what that conflict is using proof from the text.
Remember to cite page numbers for your evidence, as applicable.
Person vs. Society - “One of the guards began asking the man a series of
questions—where he was from, where he was going, how long he was going to stay.
And more questions.Did he have any cigarettes. Any liquor. Any drugs. How much
money was he carrying. Did he have a job. The guard asked the man about marijuana
several times, each time hooking his lips around his fingers and sucking on an
imaginary joint with practised ease to demonstrate exactly what they were looking for”
(pg1). This quotation shows the conversation between a guard and a black man. The
guard had asked more and doubtful questions to the black man, when compared to
what was asked by the same guard to the narrator. “That was it. No liquor, no
cigarettes, no drugs, no money, no job. No apples. No open car. As the guard stood
by our seats, just before he moved on to the next person, I had two competing
emotions” (pg2). Therefore, it shows a form of indirect racism that is systematically
taught by society.
4. What do you see as the central conflict in the story – and why?
I see person vs. society as the central conflict in this story because it is between the
people of colour and the racism that is present in the society. Within this short story,
Thomas King writes about two situations where racism was encountered; the first was
with a Black man, and the second was with an East Indian couple.
ENG3U I HUNT The Open Car I Thomas King I Student Worksheet 1 of 2
Name: ___Aryaa Desai___
5. What do you see as the turning point or climax in the story – and why?
I think the turning point in the story was when they arrived at the borders and the
guards started to interrogate the black man. As stated in the story, “The guards
worked their way through the train in twos, coming along the aisles slowly, checking
passports, asking questions. There was a young black man sitting in front of us. He
was, from the sound of his voice, from the Caribbean, and when they got to him, the
guards stopped” (pg1). This is because the guard started to indirectly assume the man
was trouble, because of the colour of his skin, and the false stereotype that society
has attached to it. To specify, he was more particular in asking questions regarding
drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, etc.
6. From what point of view is this story told and how do you know?
The short story “Open Car”, by Thomas King is written from a first person point of
view. I know this because in the story it states, “My brother and I grew up in a small
town in central California” (pg1). The use of the word “I” explicitly shows that it is a first
person point of view.
7. What do you think is the main theme of this story and why do you think so? Consider the
four (4) Essential Questions for our course as you contemplate your answer.
I think the main theme of this story is the idea that, “racism is systematically taught by
society.” To further explain, the guard’s job revolves around protecting the country
from any external threat. These threats include possible terrorists, drug smugglers,
and so on. However, when the colour of a person’s skin influences the “threat” they
hold, it can be considered to be a form of systemic racism.
8. Review the four (4) Essential Questions for our course. Choose one (1) of the Essential
Questions and clearly explain here how “The Open Car” relates to that question. Remember
to cite page numbers, as needed, and do not duplicate the response shared in Question 7
above.
Essential Question:
To what extent does power or the lack of power affect individuals and groups?
Connection:
The amount of power affects individuals and groups to a large extent. Too much
power can cause people to become greedy and chase their desires at the expense of
others, just as too less of power can leave people to be helpless and unable to protect
themselves. To begin with, too much power can be misused and lead to a huge
disaster. An ideal example of this would be the government, who trains border guards
on their jobs. The guard’s ultimate goal should be to protect the country from any
external threats, but not belittle anyone. “The guards worked their way through the
train in twos, coming along the aisles slowly, checking passports, asking questions.
There was a young black man sitting in front of us. He was, from the sound of his
voice, from the Caribbean, and when they got to him, the guards stopped” (pg1). They
have been systematically taught to not only racially outline minorities, but to see them
as a threat to the overall society. On the contrary, too little power can leave people
unprotected and vulnerable. This can moreover lead to injustice around the world, and
cause conflict. In the short story, “Open Car” by Thomas King, the Black man and the
East Indian couple can be seen to have much less power than the guards. As a result,
they were the subjects of systemic racism, and had no choice but to experience that
struggle. Taking everything into account, it can be concluded that power affects
individuals and groups of people greatly, as clearly shown through the short story,
“Open Car”, by Thomas King.
9. This short story is a narrative essay. Look at the essay for basic essay elements: a thesis
statement, an introduction, main points, how those points are ordered, a conclusion, etc.
Is this an unusual essay? Why or why not?
The main points of this short story are ordered unusually. To specify, it is written in the
way someone may have verbally explained the story. For example, the guards are
introduced with, “The guards worked their way through the train in twos, coming along
the aisles slowly, checking passports, asking questions. There was a young black man
sitting in front of us. He was, from the sound of his voice, from the Caribbean, and
when they got to him, the guards stopped” (pg1). However, right after that situation is
described to the reader, instead of continuing with it, the narrator changes the subject
to his mother: “My mother travelled through her music. Every Sunday morning, she
would stack records on the phonograph spindle, and, when they had all dropped onto
the turntable, she would lift them off, turn them over, and begin again. They were
musicals, for the most part, and operas—Carmen, La Traviata, The Desert Song,
South Pacific. There was a globe in the living room, and while the music played and
my mother sang along with each piece, Christopher would find Spain and Italy and
Arabia and Tahiti on the map” (pg1). This type of writing occurs several times during
the story.
10. Overall, what is your own personal reader response to this text – and why?
I enjoyed reading this short story, as I found the plot to be very interesting. Although,
the points of the story were ordered a bit unusually and I did not prefer that writing
style. It was definitely nice to analyze the different characters within this story and their
traits. In short, I would recommend reading this short story to my friends as I think they
would like it just as much as I did.
ENG3U I HUNT The Open Car I Thomas King I Student Worksheet 2 of 2