Question

"I used to like going to have my hair cut. I liked the mirrors in the room and all the smells of lotions and shampoos. I liked to sit there-young and fresh and pretty-and see what the women were having done, to make themselves look younger and prettier. I liked the way my mother's hairdresser teased me about boyfriends and dances. Not anymore, though. Somebody held the door open so my mother could wheel me in, and a few people who had met me came around to say how sorry they were."

1. Which details support the attitude that the narrator used to like having her hair cut? Write out those details and discuss their effectiveness.

2. Which detail changes the direction of the passage? Note that the narrator's reason for not liking haircuts anymore is not explained. Nevertheless, you know what has happened. What effect does that have on you, the reader?

Answer 1

Hey There,

- Question One Answer -

A quote from the passage that lets's us know the narrator used to like her hair cut is "I liked to sit there-young and fresh and pretty-and see what the women were having done, to make themselves look younger and prettier."

- Question 1A Answer -

The sentence above from the passage has an effect on us because while we are reading this, we are wondering why did this stop? Why does she no longer want her hair done? It makes us wonder what changed.

___________________________________________

- Question 2 Answer -

The detail that changes the direction of the passage is "Not anymore, though. Somebody held the door open so my mother could wheel me in, and a few people who had met me came around to say how sorry they were."

- Question 2A Answer -

The sentence from the passage above has an effect on us because the story just took a major turn. She's now in a wheelchair, and everyone is telling her how sorry they are. We continue reading because we want to know what just happened. It's a cliff hanger.

Best Of Luck,

- Kai -