Feathers

In this short story by an anonymous writer, a woman spreads a rumor, unaware of the consequences of her actions. As you read, pay attention to how the woman’s understanding of rumors changes throughout the story. As you read, what must you pay attention to?

Connotation is a person's emotional attachment to a word. House and home share the same denotation (diction definition) but differ in how they make is feel. We feel more emotionally connected to the word home, because it reminds us of family and comfort. It has a positive connection, because family and comfort are good things. We don't feel emotionally connected to the word house, because it doesn't make us think of family and comfort as much. It makes us think of where we live, a structure with a roof. No emotional connection. This makes house a neutral connotation. What connotation does the word gossip have?

rabbi: a Jewish scholar or teacher soiled: to make dirty A sharp-tongued woman was accused of starting a rumor. When she was brought before the village rabbi,1 she said, “I was only joking. My words were spread by others, and so I am not to blame.” But the victim demanded justice, saying, “Your words soiled2 my good name!” “I’ll take back what I said,” replied the sharp-tongued woman, “and that will take away my guilt.” When the rabbi heard this, he knew that this woman truly did not understand her crime. And so he said to the woman, “Your words will not be excused until you have done the following. Bring my feather pillow to the market square. Cut it and let the feathers fly through the air. Then collect every one of the feathers from the pillow and bring them all back to me. When you have done this, you will be absolved3 of your crime. How does the woman feel about the situation?

“I’ll take back what I said,” replied the sharp-tongued woman, “and that will take away my guilt.” When the rabbi heard this, he knew that this woman truly did not understand her crime. And so he said to the woman, “Your words will not be excused until you have done the following. Bring my feather pillow to the market square. Cut it and let the feathers fly through the air. Then collect every one of the feathers from the pillow and bring them all back to me. When you have done this, you will be absolved3 of your crime. When the rabbi heard the sharp-tongued woman's response, what did he know?

“I’ll take back what I said,” replied the sharp-tongued woman, “and that will take away my guilt.” When the rabbi heard this, he knew that this woman truly did not understand her crime. And so he said to the woman, “Your words will not be excused until you have done the following. Bring my feather pillow to the market square. Cut it and let the feathers fly through the air. Then collect every one of the feathers from the pillow and bring them all back to me. When you have done this, you will be absolved3 of your crime. What does absolved mean as used in the text?

The woman agreed, but thought to herself, The old rabbi has finally gone mad! She did as he asked, and cut the pillow. Feathers blew far and wide over the square and beyond. The wind carried them here and there, up into trees and under merchants’ carts. She tried to catch them, but after much effort it was clear to her that she would never find them all. She returned to the rabbi with only a few feathers in her hand. Facing the rabbi, she said, “I could not take back the feathers any more than I could take back my words. From now on I will be careful not to say anything that would harm another, for there is no way to control the flight of words, any more than I could control the flight of these feathers.” From that day, the woman spoke kindly of all she had met. What does the word mad mean as used in the text?

The woman agreed, but thought to herself, The old rabbi has finally gone mad! She did as he asked, and cut the pillow. Feathers blew far and wide over the square and beyond. The wind carried them here and there, up into trees and under merchants’ carts. She tried to catch them, but after much effort it was clear to her that she would never find them all. She returned to the rabbi with only a few feathers in her hand. Facing the rabbi, she said, “I could not take back the feathers any more than I could take back my words. From now on I will be careful not to say anything that would harm another, for there is no way to control the flight of words, any more than I could control the flight of these feathers.” From that day, the woman spoke kindly of all she had met. The woman successfully collected all the feathers from the cut pillow.

The woman agreed, but thought to herself, The old rabbi has finally gone mad! She did as he asked, and cut the pillow. Feathers blew far and wide over the square and beyond. The wind carried them here and there, up into trees and under merchants’ carts. She tried to catch them, but after much effort it was clear to her that she would never find them all. She returned to the rabbi with only a few feathers in her hand. Facing the rabbi, she said, “I could not take back the feathers any more than I could take back my words. From now on I will be careful not to say anything that would harm another, for there is no way to control the flight of words, any more than I could control the flight of these feathers.” From that day, the woman spoke kindly of all she had met. The woman realizes that…

rabbi: a Jewish scholar or teacher soiled: to make dirty absolved: to be free from blame or guilt A sharp-tongued woman was accused of starting a rumor. When she was brought before the village rabbi, she said, “I was only joking. My words were spread by others, and so I am not to blame.” But the victim demanded justice, saying, “Your words soiled my good name!” “I’ll take back what I said,” replied the sharp-tongued woman, “and that will take away my guilt.” When the rabbi heard this, he knew that this woman truly did not understand her crime. And so he said to the woman, “Your words will not be excused until you have done the following. Bring my feather pillow to the market square. Cut it and let the feathers fly through the air. Then collect every one of the feathers from the pillow and bring them all back to me. When you have done this, you will be absolved of your crime.” The woman agreed, but thought to herself, The old rabbi has finally gone mad! She did as he asked, and cut the pillow. Feathers blew far and wide over the square and beyond. The wind carried them here and there, up into trees and under merchants’ carts. She tried to catch them, but after much effort it was clear to her that she would never find them all. She returned to the rabbi with only a few feathers in her hand. Facing the rabbi, she said, “I could not take back the feathers any more than I could take back my words. From now on I will be careful not to say anything that would harm another, for there is no way to control the flight of words, any more than I could control the flight of these feathers.” From that day, the woman spoke kindly of all she had met. What is the meaning of “soiled” as it is used in paragraph 2?

rabbi: a Jewish scholar or teacher soiled: to make dirty absolved: to be free from blame or guilt A sharp-tongued woman was accused of starting a rumor. When she was brought before the village rabbi, she said, “I was only joking. My words were spread by others, and so I am not to blame.” But the victim demanded justice, saying, “Your words soiled my good name!” “I’ll take back what I said,” replied the sharp-tongued woman, “and that will take away my guilt.” When the rabbi heard this, he knew that this woman truly did not understand her crime. And so he said to the woman, “Your words will not be excused until you have done the following. Bring my feather pillow to the market square. Cut it and let the feathers fly through the air. Then collect every one of the feathers from the pillow and bring them all back to me. When you have done this, you will be absolved of your crime.” The woman agreed, but thought to herself, The old rabbi has finally gone mad! She did as he asked, and cut the pillow. Feathers blew far and wide over the square and beyond. The wind carried them here and there, up into trees and under merchants’ carts. She tried to catch them, but after much effort it was clear to her that she would never find them all. She returned to the rabbi with only a few feathers in her hand. Facing the rabbi, she said, “I could not take back the feathers any more than I could take back my words. From now on I will be careful not to say anything that would harm another, for there is no way to control the flight of words, any more than I could control the flight of these feathers.” From that day, the woman spoke kindly of all she had met. Which TWO phrases help the reader understand the meaning of “soiled”?

rabbi: a Jewish scholar or teacher soiled: to make dirty absolved: to be free from blame or guilt A sharp-tongued woman was accused of starting a rumor. When she was brought before the village rabbi, she said, “I was only joking. My words were spread by others, and so I am not to blame.” But the victim demanded justice, saying, “Your words soiled my good name!” “I’ll take back what I said,” replied the sharp-tongued woman, “and that will take away my guilt.” When the rabbi heard this, he knew that this woman truly did not understand her crime. And so he said to the woman, “Your words will not be excused until you have done the following. Bring my feather pillow to the market square. Cut it and let the feathers fly through the air. Then collect every one of the feathers from the pillow and bring them all back to me. When you have done this, you will be absolved of your crime.” The woman agreed, but thought to herself, The old rabbi has finally gone mad! She did as he asked, and cut the pillow. Feathers blew far and wide over the square and beyond. The wind carried them here and there, up into trees and under merchants’ carts. She tried to catch them, but after much effort it was clear to her that she would never find them all. She returned to the rabbi with only a few feathers in her hand. Facing the rabbi, she said, “I could not take back the feathers any more than I could take back my words. From now on I will be careful not to say anything that would harm another, for there is no way to control the flight of words, any more than I could control the flight of these feathers.” From that day, the woman spoke kindly of all she had met. Based on the story, which statement explains how starting a rumor and cutting a feather pillow are alike?

rabbi: a Jewish scholar or teacher soiled: to make dirty absolved: to be free from blame or guilt A sharp-tongued woman was accused of starting a rumor. When she was brought before the village rabbi, she said, “I was only joking. My words were spread by others, and so I am not to blame.” But the victim demanded justice, saying, “Your words soiled my good name!” “I’ll take back what I said,” replied the sharp-tongued woman, “and that will take away my guilt.” When the rabbi heard this, he knew that this woman truly did not understand her crime. And so he said to the woman, “Your words will not be excused until you have done the following. Bring my feather pillow to the market square. Cut it and let the feathers fly through the air. Then collect every one of the feathers from the pillow and bring them all back to me. When you have done this, you will be absolved of your crime.” The woman agreed, but thought to herself, The old rabbi has finally gone mad! She did as he asked, and cut the pillow. Feathers blew far and wide over the square and beyond. The wind carried them here and there, up into trees and under merchants’ carts. She tried to catch them, but after much effort it was clear to her that she would never find them all. She returned to the rabbi with only a few feathers in her hand. Facing the rabbi, she said, “I could not take back the feathers any more than I could take back my words. From now on I will be careful not to say anything that would harm another, for there is no way to control the flight of words, any more than I could control the flight of these feathers.” From that day, the woman spoke kindly of all she had met. Which quotation proves that starting a rumor and cutting a feather pillow scatter things that could no longer be retrieved?

rabbi: a Jewish scholar or teacher soiled: to make dirty absolved: to be free from blame or guilt A sharp-tongued woman was accused of starting a rumor. When she was brought before the village rabbi, she said, “I was only joking. My words were spread by others, and so I am not to blame.” But the victim demanded justice, saying, “Your words soiled my good name!” “I’ll take back what I said,” replied the sharp-tongued woman, “and that will take away my guilt.” When the rabbi heard this, he knew that this woman truly did not understand her crime. And so he said to the woman, “Your words will not be excused until you have done the following. Bring my feather pillow to the market square. Cut it and let the feathers fly through the air. Then collect every one of the feathers from the pillow and bring them all back to me. When you have done this, you will be absolved of your crime.” The woman agreed, but thought to herself, The old rabbi has finally gone mad! She did as he asked, and cut the pillow. Feathers blew far and wide over the square and beyond. The wind carried them here and there, up into trees and under merchants’ carts. She tried to catch them, but after much effort it was clear to her that she would never find them all. She returned to the rabbi with only a few feathers in her hand. Facing the rabbi, she said, “I could not take back the feathers any more than I could take back my words. From now on I will be careful not to say anything that would harm another, for there is no way to control the flight of words, any more than I could control the flight of these feathers.” From that day, the woman spoke kindly of all she had met. Which statement expresses a theme of the story?

rabbi: a Jewish scholar or teacher soiled: to make dirty absolved: to be free from blame or guilt A sharp-tongued woman was accused of starting a rumor. When she was brought before the village rabbi, she said, “I was only joking. My words were spread by others, and so I am not to blame.” But the victim demanded justice, saying, “Your words soiled my good name!” “I’ll take back what I said,” replied the sharp-tongued woman, “and that will take away my guilt.” When the rabbi heard this, he knew that this woman truly did not understand her crime. And so he said to the woman, “Your words will not be excused until you have done the following. Bring my feather pillow to the market square. Cut it and let the feathers fly through the air. Then collect every one of the feathers from the pillow and bring them all back to me. When you have done this, you will be absolved of your crime.” The woman agreed, but thought to herself, The old rabbi has finally gone mad! She did as he asked, and cut the pillow. Feathers blew far and wide over the square and beyond. The wind carried them here and there, up into trees and under merchants’ carts. She tried to catch them, but after much effort it was clear to her that she would never find them all. She returned to the rabbi with only a few feathers in her hand. Facing the rabbi, she said, “I could not take back the feathers any more than I could take back my words. From now on I will be careful not to say anything that would harm another, for there is no way to control the flight of words, any more than I could control the flight of these feathers.” From that day, the woman spoke kindly of all she had met. Which quotation demonstrates the theme to think before you speak?