Name: ____________________________________
Date: _____________________________________
English Period: _____
#:____
Section: UNITS
“Lather and Nothing Else” Questions Packet
Directions:
 Answer the following questions about “Lather and Nothing Else.”
 Please be detailed in your answers, but do not write an essay; as sentence or two is just fine, but you must
include the detail needed to thoroughly answer the questions. You can use bulleted lists when appropriate.
 These questions will be used for a class discussion that will help prepare you for the test on this story and its
literary elements.
Comprehension Questions
1. How does the barber feel when Captain Torres enters the shop?
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2. What had Captain Torres been doing for the past four days?
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3. What role does the barber have in the civil war?
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Critical Thinking
4. Why does the barber decide not to kill Captain Torres?
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Evaluate
5. Do you think the barber made the right choice? Why or why not?
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Literary Analysis Questions
6. What is the mood or atmosphere of “Lather and Nothing Else” throughout most of the story?
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What was the tone that led you to your answer? Cite an example from the text and provide the page #.
Tone
Example from text
Page #
7. What is the mood or atmosphere of “Lather and Nothing Else” at the end of the story?
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7a. What was the tone that led you to your answer? Cite an example from the text and provide the page #.
Tone
Example from text
Page #
8. We have learned that setting can be an integral part of the story. Is the setting important in this story? Why or
why not?
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9. From what point of view is the story told? ___________________________________________________________
9a. What element of plot does the point of view affect the most for the reader?
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9b. How would the story be affected if the story were told from the Captain’s point of view?
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10. How is the barber and Captain Torres alike? How are they different? Use the Venn diagram below to compare
them. Come up with at least TWO similarities and TWO differences for each character.
BARBER
CPT. TORRES
11. What do the following items symbolize?
Item
The barber’s razor
Theme supported by this symbol
Explanation of theme
The barber
12. Who is the protagonist? Is the protagonist static or dynamic? Why?
Who is the protagonist?
Static or dynamic character?
Why is he/she/it this type of character?
 Static
 Dynamic
13. Who or what is the antagonist? __________________________________________________________________
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14. Identify one theme embedded in the story. Explain your reasoning (theme must be different from the ones
identified in question # 11).
Theme
Reasoning behind theme choice
15. Why is the title of the story significant?
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16. Find an example of foreshadowing in the story.
Example of foreshadowing
Page # Explanation/purpose to the plot
17. Find an example of flashback in the story, and it explain its purpose to the plot.
Example of flashback
Page # Explanation/purpose to the plot
18. The barber repeats his job title, barber, many times throughout the story. Why is this significant?
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19. What is the purpose of Captain Torres’ visit?
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20. Pick one adjective to describe Captain Torres and one to describe the barber. Cite on example of indirect
characterization that best supports the character trait for each character.
Example: Scrooge is a vile person. This adjective used to describe Scrooge is supported when the character says,
“If they would rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surpluses population. “
Character
Adjective
Quote from the text
Page Type(s) of indirect
#
characterization
Captain
Torres
 Speech
 Thoughts
 Effect on others
 Actions
 Looks
Barber
 Speech
 Thoughts
 Effect on others
 Actions
 Looks
TURN THE PAGE TO DO #21!!!!
21. Use the blank plot mountain on the next page to plot the events in the story. Make sure you really think about
the central conflict and match it with the correct resolution!
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