Split Cherry Tree Discussion Questions
1. What sparked Dave to climb up the cherry tree in the first
place?
2. In what way is Dave different from the other boys in the
story?
3. How would you evaluate Dave’s father? Which adjective do
you think best describes him and why? (impulsive, patient,
simple, wise, honest, foolish)
4. Why does Dave’s father go to the high school?
5. Identify the speaker of each quote and explain its
significance.
a. “I’ll show ‘im it ain’t right to keep one boy in and
let the rest go scot-free. My boy is good as th’
rest, ain’t he?”
b. “He looked lost among us. He looked like a leaf
turned brown on the tree among the tree top filled
with growing leaves.”
6. Why does Dave’s father insist that they pay off the debt?
7. What does Dave learn from his father?
8. How does Dave demonstrate growth by the end of the story?