A Dark Brown Dog

Worksheet 2

Describe the child, the dog and the child's father. What do you think their lives were like, or what has happened to them, before the story? How would the story have played out differently if it had been set in a different setting and/or time period? What are the dynamics between the characters? How do these dynamics influence their interactions? Who is the narrator? Would the story have been better if the story had been told from the point of view of the child? or dog? the father?

How far do you agree with the following statements? he writer, !tephen "rane, makes the dog seem as human as the child, and the child's family. he story would have worked #ust as well if the dog had been black and white. he story would have worked #ust as well if the child had a loving family. he story would have worked #ust as well if the child's father wasn't such a nasty piece of work. he theme of the story is the friendship between dogs and their masters. he dog represents "hrist.

What are the significance, or meaning, of the following moments in the story? '$ child was standing on a street%corner.' '$ short rope was dragging from his neck. &ccasionally he trod upon the end of it and stumbled.' '...until with his gleeful caperings he threatened to overturn the child. Whereupon the child lifted his hand and struck the dog a blow upon the head.' 'He dragged his captive into a hall and up many long stairways in a dark tenement '$ family council was held. &n this depended the dog's fate, but he in no way heeded,...'

A Dark Brown Dog

'the father 'uelled a fierce rebellion of his wife.' '(ver after, the family were careful how they threw things at the dog.' '&n these occasions his friend usually #ogged aimfully along behind. )erhaps, though, he went ahead. his necessitated his turning around every 'uarter%minute to make sure the child was coming.'

'$ woman watering plants in an opposite window gave an involuntary shout and dropped a flower%pot. $ man in another window leaned perilously out to watch the flight of the dog. $ woman, who had been hanging out clothes in a yard, began to caper wildly. Her mouth was filled with clothes%pins, but her arms gave vent to a sort of e*clamation. +n appearance she was like a gagged prisoner. "hildren ran whooping.'