Chancellor's Reading Club
"Sis Becky's Pickaninny": Study Questions
Compiled by John Brooks and the students of UNIV 101, Freshman Seminar I
The Text
- "Sis Becky's Pickaninny" at Documenting the American South.
- "Sis Becky's Pickaninny," read by Diane Hill, University College.
The Story
- Why does Julius believe a rabbit's foot brings good luck? What does the narrator think of Julius's reasons?
- How was Becky separated from her husband?
- What was Becky's relationship with her son Mose like?
- How was Becky separated from Mose?
- Why did Aunt Nancy take Mose to the conjure woman Aunt Peggy?
- What was Aunt Peggy's diagnosis of Mose's condition, and how did she try to cure him?
- How did Aunt Peggy use conjure to reunite Becky with Mose?
- How does the story of Sis' Becky prove that rabbit's feet bring good luck, according to Julius?
- Does John believe Julius's reasoning?
- Does his wife?
Characters
How would you describe the following characters in the story?
- The narrator
- The narrator's wife
- Julius
- Becky
- Colonel Pendleton (Kunnel Pen'leton)
- Aunt Nancy
- Aunt Peggy