In lines 8-9, Collier writes that an abstract painting "does not present things as they are, but rather as they feel." What can you infer about the narrator's childhood experiences based on her description of her home town?
What part do the "chaotic emotions of adolescence" (lines 17-18) play in motivating Lizabeth to taunt Miss Lottie?
Reread lines 162-185. What might explain the children's reactions to the marigolds?
Review lines 257-293. How does the conversation between Lizabeth's parents motivate Lizabeth's later actions?
How does the narrator's understanding of Miss Lottie at the end of the story compare to her feelings about her at the beginning of the story?
What is the story's theme?
What do the marigolds symbolize in this story? How do they contribute to the story's theme?
What conclusions can you draw about the narrator's present life from the last paragraph in the story?