Reading Check

For Fred Chappell’s

Brighten the Corner Where You Are

1. What is the length of time in which this novel takes place? _________________

2. Whose point of view is the novel told from? ______________________

3. What is the Devil-Possum? _______________________________

4. Who is Jubal? _________________ What has he created in the basement of the school that Joe Robert stumbles upon? _______________________________

5. Who is Bacchus? _______________ What mythic allusions are referenced through this character and why? ____________________________________________

6. Why was a special school board meeting held with Joe Robert present? ___________________________________________________________

7. Towards the end of the novel, the governor makes a request of Joe Robert. What did Joe Robert do that caused the governor to make this request? ___________________________________________________________

8. What is the shocking news that Joe Robert receives about his student Janie? ___________________________________________________________

9. At the end of the novel Joe Robert is dreaming. What is he dreaming about? ___________________________________________________________

10.What is the significance of the title, Brighten the Corner Where You Are? ___________________________________________________________