The House Call / 27 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS/WRITING PRACTICE
A Answer the following questions.
(In small groups, if possible.)
1. If the doctor was too tired to eat or write, why was he
not too tired to go to see the sick woman?
2. Why do you think the little girl walked ahead of the
doctor instead of walking with him?
3. The story says that the doctor was trying to catch up
with the little girl so he could ask her a few
questions.
a. What do you think he wanted to ask her?
b. Do you think the girl wanted to answer the
questions? Explain.
4. Dr. Braun interrupted the sick woman when she
said, “I came back to Berlin three months ago, right
after my little girl. ..." What do you think she was
trying to say?
5. Why did the doctor have a look of surprise on his face
when Elda told him that her little daughter died in
September?
6. Elda said, "When I see Heide's shoes and shawl, it
almost seems like she's still here with me.” What do
you think the doctor was thinking when he heard her
say that?
7. Do you think it's a good idea to keep reminders of lost
loved ones as Elda did? Explain.
8. What do you think the doctor thought when he found
out that the shoes were wet and the shawl damp?
9. Elda fell asleep while she was saying, “It's strange. I
was thinking about you earlier tonight, hoping ...
praying ... that ... that. . . ." What do you think she
was trying to say?
10. Do you think Elda's hoping and praying had
anything to do with the doctor's coming to see her?
Explain.
11. Why do you suppose the doctor did not tell Elda that
night what happened?
12. Do you think he told her later? Explain.

1. in creon’s first words to the chorus, what are the “storms” that threatened to destroy the ship of state?   polynices’ invation of the city with foreign armies was the “storms” eteocles and polynices decided to switch the crown every year, but after eteocles’ first year decided not to share it with polynices. polynices joined forces with foreign armies to invade the city and tried to take the crown from his brother, where he and eteocles killed each other   2. examine creon’s opening speech. what are his concerns? how does he feel about the city and its citizens? what are his motivations for banning the burial of polyneices? what would drive creon to place the concerns of the collective citizens over those of his family?   in creon’s opening speech, his concerns are to count on his citizens to rule. in addition, he wanted to give a clear message by not giving a proper burial to polyneices, if creon gave a proper burial to polyneices his people would think that he was an allied to the foreign forces that invaded the city and threatened the peace of his people.   creon placed the concerns of the collective citizens because he has no use for those who put individual concerns over the needs of his people 3. pay attention to creon’s speech at the beginning of the scene. what does creon think someone’s first loyalty should be and what comes second? do you think he is correct under some conditions? do you think he is wrong in some conditions? explain those conditions. creon thinks someone’s first loyalty should be with the concerns of the collective citizens and second comes our individual wants. i think he is correct because true loyalty takes place in the benefits of many not of a few.   4. what news is the sentry reluctant to deliver?   the sentry is reluctant to say that polyneices had a burial. 5. who does the chorus suggest might have done this?   the chorus suggests that the gods have done that 6. what is creon’s reaction and who does creon think is responsible? creon reacted abruptly and thinks it was a man who bribed his guard to bury polyneices

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