A Man Who Had No Eyes (MacKinlay Kantor)
Half-furtive: almost stealthily (not confident)
Asphalt: a mixture of such substances with gravel, crushed rock, or the like, used
for paving
Immaculate: free from spot or stain; spotlessly clean
Malacca Stick: a cane or walking stick prized for its efficient construction (made
of rattan)
Wheedled: to try to influence (a person) by smooth, flattering, or persuasive
words or acts
Boorish: unmannered; crude; insensitive
Inquisitive: asking questions; eager for knowledge; intellectually curious
Peddler: a person who sells from door to door or in the street.
Smudge: a dirty mark or smear
Reminiscence: the act or process of recalling past experiences, events
Vats: A large vessel, such as a tub, cistern, or barrel, used to hold or store liquids
Unamiably: repulsively
Fiendishly: diabolically cruel and wicked
A Man Who Had No Eyes (MacKinlay Kantor)
Vocabulary:
Half-furtive:
Asphalt:
Immaculate:
Malacca Stick:
Wheedled:
Boorish:
Inquisitive:
Peddler:
Smudge:
Reminiscence:
Vats:
Unamiably:
Fiendishly:
Row:
A Man Who Had No Eyes
Comprehension Questions
1. How does Mr. Parsons know a blind person is coming down the avenue at
the beginning of the story?
2. In your own words, give a summary of the beggar’s story. What lie does
the beggar tell?
3. The beggar is described as having “…swallowed – a studied sob.” What
does this mean? Why does the beggar do this?
4. Why did the beggar think Parsons had been laughing at hime while he told
his story? What does Parsons explain to the beggar?
Paragraph Response
To be submitted on Tuesday, September 8
1. Compare the beggar’s attitude toward life with Mr. Parsons’. Why do you
think their attitudes are so different?
2. In this story, two men have different sets of values. How do Markwardt’s
values affect the way he lives? What are Parsons’ values? How have they
affected his outlook on life?
Write a paragraph about how you think our values affect our lives.