Montana 1948 by Larry Watson

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Montana 1948 by Larry Watson
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Section one pages 15-19

• What the name of the town is and what it might
  symbolise.

• The name of the town is Bentrock. This could
  symbolise that some people might be crooked or
  might have some problems with their brains.

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• Impressions of Montana, the land, surroundings,
  etc.

• Montana harsh landscape dry and sparse, the
  wind never stops blowing. Farm and ranch country
  with extreme temperatures eg 106 degrees in July
  and -40 in January.

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• Davids portrayal of his father, the town sheriff
• He wanted his father to look like a western
  sheriff and as far as I was concerned it was the
  wrong kind of gun for a sheriff. pg 17
• He didnt match his sons ideal of how a sheriff
  should be.

• He wanted his father to be stronger and braver
  And that disappointed me at the time. As long as
  my father was going to be a sheriff, a position
  with so much potential for excitement, danger,
  and bravery, why couldnt some of that promise be
  fulfilled? pg 17

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Section two pages 19-31

• David Haydens character and personality traits.

• He wanted to grow up wild. Wildness meant to
  me, getting out of town and into the country
• He never knew how to behave in town he loved to
  ride, swim, hunt, fish. He liked that being out
  of twn allowed him to Be.

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• Gail Hayden Julian Haydens expectations of
  Wesley. Why?

• Expected him to do what he was told. In order to
  retain his power in the county he turned the
  post (of sheriff) over to my father.
• It would never have occurred to my father to
  refuse.

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Section three pages 24-31

• Davids relationship with Marie little Soldier.
  Effect on him compared to that of other adults.

• On pgs 24-25 David goes into detail about Maries
  looks and background,
• He then states and I loved her. Because she
  talked to me, cared for mebecause she was older
  but not too oldbecause she was not as quiet and
  conventional as every other adult I knewbecause
  she was sexy, though my love for her was, as a 12
  year olds love often is, chaste. Pgs 25/26

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• Elements of racism being introduced.

• Ronnie Tall Bears story-great sportsman finest
  athlete the region ever produced
• I realise now how much I was part of that eras
  thinking I never wondered then as I do now, why
  a college didnt snap up RonnieI knewthat
  college was not for Indians.

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• Davids recurring role/function in the novel

• His is the narrator he describes what is
  occurring although because of his age, he does
  not fully understand what is going on.

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• Foreshadowing what the prologue foreshadowed
  about this event and what this event might be
  foreshadowing about the rest of the story.

• The prologue told of the events that would happen
  in the novel
• a young Sioux woman lies on a bed in our
  house. She is feverish, delirious, and coughing
  so hard I am afraid she will die.

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Section four pages 31-35

• Why David might wonder about whether the sweat
  (was) hers or mine?

• David has a crush on her and he is beginning to
  be aware of his feelings for her.

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• How Maries anxiety about seeing the doctor,
  Frank, is explained.

• My guess she has never been to anyone but the
  tribal medicine man.
• Wesley thinks she is scared of modern medicine.

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• Awareness of racism and prejudice (via Frank
  Wes)

• my father did not like IndiansHe simply held
  them in low regard. He believed Indians, with
  only a few exceptions were ignorant, lazy,
  superstitious and irresponsible.
• Not racist more prejudiced-moccasin incident.

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Section Five pages 35-38

• Impressions of each of the Hayden men Wesley,
  Frank Julian. Consider appearance, presence,
  actions, relations between the three of them.
• How might you sum each of them up?

• Wesley
• Davids father, married to Gail, brother of Frank
• Mercer County sheriff
• Mentally/emotionally crippled-how?
• Honest
• Scared of his father, Julian
• Has a bad leg
• Was a lawyer
• Summary
• Controlled life
• Honest being
• dependable

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• Frank
• Davids uncle, married to Gloria, brother to
  Wesley
• War hero
• Julians favourite
• Town/count doctor
• Leading member of community
• Has no children
• First impression a likeable character
• Murderer and rapist
• Dark, wavy hair, well built, athletic, charming
• Summary
• Outside- brilliant, likeable
• Inside- disgusting vermin

• Julian
• Davids grandfather, Wesley and Franks father
• Powerful, cruel and aggressive
• A large landowner
• Sheriff before Wesley
• Prone to corruption
• Drinks and smokes
• Racist
• Summary
• Overpowering control freak
• Lives for power and dominance

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Section Six pages 38-49

• Why might David say, After what had just.Uncle
  Frank. (p.41)
• How we know that Frank is lying. Theyre used to
  being treatedevil spirits or something. (p.42)
• Irony Explain what is ironic in Franks
  statement, Theyre not going to make itold
  ways. (p.42)
• Davids transition from childhood innocence to
  adult awareness.

• He no longer trusts his uncle
• ?
• Marie doesnt make it as a result of Frank, the
  doctor
• If I had gone back into the house-to the
  kitchen, to my room, out the back door, if I had
  left the porch and followed Franks steps down
  the front walk-I would never have heard the
  conversation between my mother and father, and
  perhaps I would have lived my life with an
  illusion about my family and perhaps even the
  human community.

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Section Seven pages 50-54

• How much substance is given to Maries
  allegations against Frank?
• Davids regard for his father awareness of
  adult relationships.

• They begin investigating her claims discreetly.
  Initially they talk to Daisy and Len and begin to
  see that people know about Franks behaviour
  The word is he doesnt do everything on the up
  and up.
• David begins to understand that adult
  relationships are complex She saw him now as
  she hadnt before. He was not only her husband,
  he was a brother, and brother to a man who used
  his profession to take advantage of women,
  brother to a pervert! And how did I know these
  were my mothers thoughts? I knew because they
  were mine.

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• Wesley Haydens moral dilemma

• Caught between being the sheriff and his family
  especially his father.