Question

part two
shsat english language arts

excerpt from the story of dr. dolittle
by hugh lofting

identify the characters

1 all the folks, young and old, knew him well by sight. and whenever he walked down the street in his high hat everyone would say, \there goes the doctor!—hes a clever man.\ and the dogs and the children would all run up and follow behind him; and even the crows that lived in the church-tower would caw and nod their heads. the house he lived in, on the edge of the town, was quite small; but his garden was very large and had a wide lawn and stone seats and weeping willows hanging over. his sister, sarah dolittle, was housekeeper for him; but the doctor looked after the garden himself.

a. who are the characters?
b. what are the characters doing?
c. what adjectives describe each character?
d. write your summary note for the paragraph.

assess the characters opinions

2 he was very fond of animals and kept many kinds of pets. besides the goldfish in the pond at the bottom of his garden, he had rabbits in the pantry, white mice in his piano, a squirrel in the linen closet and a hedgehog in the cellar. his sister used to grumble about all these animals and said they made the house untidy. and one day when an old lady with rheumatism came to see the doctor, she sat on the hedgehog who was sleeping on the sofa and never came to see him anymore, but drove every saturday all the way to oxenthorpe, another town ten miles off, to see a different doctor. then his sister, sarah dolittle, came to him and said, \john, how can you expect sick people to come and see you when you keep all these animals in the house? thats the fourth personage these animals have driven away. we are getting poorer every day. if you go on like this, none of the best people will have you for a doctor.\

e. do they like or dislike each other?
f. why does each character make a particular decision or take a particular course of action?
g. write your summary note for the paragraph.

identify the tone and themes

3 but he kept on getting still more pets; and of course it cost a lot to feed them. and the money he had saved up grew littler and littler. and now, when he walked down the street in his high hat, people would say to one another, \there goes john dolittle, m.d.! there was a time when he was the best known doctor in the west country—look at him now—he hasnt any money and his stockings are full of holes!\ but the dogs and the cats and the children still ran up and followed him through the town—the same as they had done when he was rich.

h. what is the overall tone of the passage?
i. what are the themes (morals, lessons, or messages) the author conveys?
j. write your summary note for the paragraph.

summarize

k. what happens in the passage?
l. what are the \turning points\ in the passage?

Explanation:

Identify the Characters (Paragraph 1)

Using the Textual Analysis knowledge point, we identify the characters introduced in the first paragraph. The text mentions "the Doctor" (John Dolittle) and his sister, "Sarah Dolittle, was housekeeper for him." The townspeople, children, dogs, and crows are also mentioned as background figures. The main characters are Doctor John Dolittle and Sarah Dolittle. The townspeople are praising the Doctor as he walks down the street, while the Doctor tends to his garden. Sarah Dolittle keeps house for him.

• Doctor Dolittle is described as "clever" and respected, wearing a "high hat."
• Sarah Dolittle is described as his "housekeeper."

Assess the Characters' Opinions (Paragraph 2)

Using the Textual Analysis knowledge point, we analyze the conflict in the second paragraph. Sarah Dolittle dislikes the animals because they make the house "untidy" and drive away paying patients (like the old lady with rheumatism who sat on a hedgehog). Doctor Dolittle loves his animal pets deeply, keeping rabbits, mice, a squirrel, and a hedgehog inside. This difference in opinion causes tension; Sarah is worried they are "getting poorer every day" and that "none of the best people will have you for a doctor."

Identify the Tone and Themes (Paragraph 3)

Using the Theme and Message knowledge point, we analyze the third paragraph. The tone shifts to a mixture of sympathy, gentle humor, and irony. The Doctor continues to buy pets despite losing his wealth, resulting in stockings "full of holes." The theme focuses on the conflict between material wealth and compassion. While the wealthy townspeople look down on his poverty, the children and animals love him unconditionally, suggesting that true worth is found in kindness rather than money.

Summarize the entire passage

Using the Textual Analysis knowledge point, we synthesize the narrative arc. The passage depicts Doctor Dolittle's transition from a highly respected, wealthy town doctor to a poor man because of his overwhelming love for animals. The turning point occurs when his sister confronts him about his pets driving away wealthy patients, yet he chooses to keep getting more pets, prioritizing his love for animals over financial success.

Answer:

Question A

The main characters are Doctor John Dolittle and his sister, Sarah Dolittle.

Question B

Doctor Dolittle is walking down the street, tending his large garden, and caring for his many pets. Sarah Dolittle is keeping house as his housekeeper and grumbling about the animals making the house untidy. The townspeople and children are following and praising the Doctor.

Question C

• Doctor Dolittle: Clever, respected, kind, and extremely fond of animals.
• Sarah Dolittle: Practical, critical, housekeeping, and concerned with social status and money.

Question D

Doctor Dolittle is a highly respected and clever man in town who lives with his sister, Sarah, and keeps a very large garden and house.

Question E

They have a tense relationship due to their conflicting values. Sarah is frustrated by the Doctor's lifestyle, while the Doctor prioritizes his animals over her complaints.

Question F

Sarah wants to maintain a clean house and financial stability, which is why she confronts John. Doctor Dolittle chooses to keep his pets because of his deep affection for animals, despite the financial consequences.

Question G

Sarah Dolittle confronts her brother because his collection of household pets is driving away wealthy patients and causing them to lose their income.

Question H

The tone is gently humorous, sympathetic, and slightly ironic, highlighting the contrast between the Doctor's outward poverty and his inner kindness.

Question I

The central theme is that compassion, love, and kindness (especially toward animals) are more valuable than material wealth and social status.

Question J

Despite losing his wealth and being ridiculed by the wealthy townspeople for his poor appearance, Doctor Dolittle continues to care for his animals, remaining loved by the children and pets.

Question K

Doctor Dolittle's love for keeping animals in his house drives away his human patients and leads him into poverty, but he remains happy and loved by animals and children.

Question L

The turning point is when his sister Sarah warns him that they are getting poorer and that he must choose between his animals and his wealthy patients, and he chooses to keep getting more pets.