“The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” by Katherine Anne Porter
“The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” Reading Comprehension Sequence
Directions Katherine Anne Porter uses flashbacks, foreshadowings, and shifts back
and forth between the present to the past to give necessary background information
about the meaning and the characters. Below are listed thoughts or events. If the
thought or event happened in the present write P on the line following it. If it happened
in the past and Porter tells about it in one of Granny’s flashbacks, write F on the line.
Then reorder the following events as they would have happened in real life or as they
flashed through Granny’s mind.
1. The letters from George and John. _____
2. Granny rides in a wagon with a man she knows. _____
3. Granny’s first lover, George jilts her at the alter sixty years ago. _____
4. Granny received satisfaction in the raising of her children.
5. Doctor Harry visits Granny. _____
6. Granny blows out the eerie light at the end. ._____
7. Granny has made plans to leave certain possessions to her children. _____
8. Her dead child Hapsey’s ghostly form appears near her bed. _____
9. The priest, Father Connolly visits Granny. ._____
10. Granny raises her children alone. _____
11. Granny marries John who dies young. _____
12. Doctor Harry visits Granny when she delivers her first child. _____
13. Granny has milk-leg, and double pneumonia. _____
14. Granny’s child Hapsey dies. _____
15. When Granny was sixty, she made her will and cane down with a fever._____
Stream-of-Consciousness Writing. Complete the chart below. On the left, list
examples of stream-of-consciousness in the story. On the right, explain what the
examples mean. One example has been done for you.
Stream-of-consciousness writing
Explanation
Granny remembers her dead daughter; in her
"It was Hapsy she really wanted. . . . They
confused mind she is also Hapsy and Hapsy's
leaned forward to kiss. . . ."
baby is Hapsy.
FREE ASSOCIATION
INTERIOR MONOLOGUE:
MULTIPLE POINT OF VIEW:
TIME MONTAGE: similar to free
association
Write an obituary for Granny Weatherall, including details that will communicate to
your readers what was unique or characteristic about her, as well as facts about her
life. Make sure you proofread carefully! An obituary template is available at
http://www.obituaryguide.com/template.php
OBITUARY TEMPLATE

NAME / ANNOUNCEMENT


o
o
o
o
o
o
Full name of the deceased, including nickname, if any
Age at death
Residence (for example, the name of the city) at death
Day and date of death
Place of death
Cause of death
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Date of birth
Place of birth
Names of parents
Childhood: siblings, stories, schools, friends
Marriage(s): date of, place, name of spouse
Education: school, college, university and other
Designations, awards, and other recognition
Employment: jobs, activities, stories, colleagues, satisfactions, promotions, union activities, frustrations,
Places of residence
Hobbies, sports, interests, activities, and other enjoyment
Charitable, religious, fraternal, political, and other affiliations; positions held
Achievements
Disappointments
Unusual attributes, humour, other stories
LIFE
FAMILY
o
o

SERVICE
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Survived by (and place of residence):
 Spouse
 Children (in order of date of birth, and their spouses)
 Grandchildren
 Great-grandchildren
 Great-great-grandchildren
 Parents
 Grandparents
 Siblings (in order of date of birth)
 Others, such as nephews, nieces, cousins, in-laws
 Friends
 Pets (if appropriate)
Predeceased by (and date of death):
 Spouse
 Children (in order of date of birth)
 Grandchildren
 Siblings (in order of date of birth)
 Others, such as nephews, nieces, cousins, in-laws
 Pets (if appropriate)
Day, date, time, place
Name of officiant, pallbearers, honorary pallbearers, other information
Visitation information if applicable: day, date, time, place
Reception information if applicable: day, date, time, place
Other memorial, vigil, or graveside services if applicable: day, date, time, place
Place of interment
Name of funeral home in charge of arrangements

o
Where to call for more information (even if no service planned)
o
o
o
o
o
Memorial funds established
Memorial donation suggestions, including addresses
Thank you to people, groups, or institutions
Quotation or poem
Three words that sum up the life
END