Reading-Button Button and The Bet
BUTTON BUTTON- what is the rising action?
-Mr. Steward explains the details -Norma and Arthur argue and send it back -Norma calls Mr. Steward
BUTTON BUTTON- what is the falling action?
-hospital calls to tell her that Arthur died -she gets $50,000 in insurance money
BUTTON BUTTON- what is the POV?
3rd person omnicient
THE BET- what is the POV?
3rd person omnicient
BUTTON BUTTON- what was in the package that got delivered?
A button unit- it was a button attached to a wooden box with glass dome cover that locked
what does the bold word mean?- they found it OBSELETE as a means of punishment.
out of date
THE BET- what was the motivation?
prove a point
what does the bold word mean?-who is the more humane executioner one who kills you in seconds or who draws the life out of you INCESSANTLY for years?
constantly
THE BET- what is the setting
dark autumn night, banker's house, November 14, 1870-1884
BUTTON BUTTON- what is the setting?
dark, New York apartment
THE BET- what position did the banker take?
death penalty
BUTTON BUTTON- what is the theme?
don't give into temptation
what does the bold word mean?- the prisoner began ZEALOUSLY to study languages
enthusiastically
THE BET- how is the story told?
flashback- banker is thinking about a party 15 years before
what does the bold word mean?-the confinement was strictly solitary, and it OBLIGED the lawyer to remain for exactly 15 years.
forced
THE BET- why did the banker change his mind?
he saw and read the letter from the lawyer
BUTTON BUTTON- who are the minor characters?
hospital callers
what does the bold word mean?- the banker was beside himself with RAPTURE.
joy
THE BET- what is the theme?
knowledge is more than power money is the root of all evilness
THE BET- what is the internal conflict?
lawyer vs. loneliness banker vs. guilt
THE BET- what position did the lawyer take in this social issue?
life in prison
BUTTON BUTTON- what will they get for pressing the button?
$50,000
THE BET- who is the author?
Anton Checkhov
BUTTON BUTTON- what is the motivation?
Arthur- morality Norma- money
BUTTON BUTTON- what was Norma's reaction and what was Arthur's reaction to Mr. Steward's offer?
At first she thinks it's nonsense then she becomes curious and intrigued Arthur isn't interested at all! He wants it gone.
BUTTON BUTTON- who is the antagonist?
Button, each other, Mr. Steward
THE BET- what was the social issue discussed?
Death penalty/capital punishment vs. life in prison
BUTTON BUTTON- what is the cause of Arthur's death?
He was accidentally pushed from the subway platform and hit by a train.
THE BET- why did the banker revoke his bet? what was he going to do to the lawyer?
He was going to go to the lodge and kill the lawyer.
BUTTON BUTTON- who is the protagonist?
Norma and Arthur Lewis
BUTTON BUTTON- what is the climax?
Norma pushes the button
BUTTON BUTTON- what type of conflict is Norma presented with?
Norma vs pressing the button is external. She is conflicted on what to do because she really wants the money.
BUTTON BUTTON- what is the internal conflict?
Norma vs. temptation Arthur vs. anger towards Norma
BUTTON BUTTON- how would you describe Norma and Arthur?
Norma--unhappy with her life, wants more than what she has and can afford Arthur--seems happy and content and a hard worker. He has a good moral character.
BUTTON BUTTON- what is the resolution?
Mr. Steward calls Norma and says, "Did you really know your husband?"
BUTTON BUTTON- who is Mr. Steward and why does he show up at the Lewis home? What does he offer?
Mr. Steward is the person who delivers the button unit. He shows up to explain the details of pressing the button. He offers them $50,000 for pressing it.
BUTTON BUTTON- what does Mr. Steward promise will happen if the button is pressed?
Mr. Steward promises that she will receive the money and someone in the world that she doesn't know will die.
BUTTON BUTTON- what does Mr. Steward say to Norma at the end of the story?
My dear lady, did you actually think you "knew" your husband?
BUTTON BUTTON- what is the external conflict?
Norma/Arthur vs. Button/Mr. Steward
BUTTON BUTTON- how do we know that Norma is not happy with her current life?
She makes comments about all the things that she wants that she doesn't have. She also wants to press the button
BUTTON BUTTON- how does Norma justify pressing the button?
She says "its for us"
THE BET- what was the final bet?
The bet was for the lawyer to stay in solitary confinement for 15 years for 2 million.
BUTTON BUTTON- what does the button symbolize?
The button symbolizes temptation. She is faced with making a decision that is good vs evil by pressing the button.
THE BET- why did the lawyer break the agreement with the banker?
The lawyer learned to hate the money and realized that there is more to life than materialistic things.
THE BET- during the length of the bet, what did the lawyer do in his cell?
The lawyer studied, read, learned 6 languages, wrote, played the piano, and drank wine.
THE BET- who are the protagonists?
banker and lawyer
THE BET- who is the major characters?
banker and lawyer
THE BET- what is the exposition?
banker has a party and the debate begins
THE BET- who is the antagonist?
banker-money, bet, lawyer lawyer-bet
THE BET- what is the external conflict?
banker/lawyer vs. bet
BUTTON BUTTON- what is the exposistion?
anonymous package is delivered to the Lewis's apartment in New York
THE BET- what is the falling action?
the lawyer finds and reads the letter
THE BET- what is the resolution?
the lawyer leaves 5 minutes early calling the bet off
THE BET- what is the climax?
the lawyer stays in confinement for 15 years, the banker decides to end the bet by killing the lawyer
THE BET- what is the rising action?
they make a bet and the lawyer places himself in solitary confinement
what does the bold word mean?-the banker, who at the time had too many millions to count, was spoiled and CAPRICIOUS.
unpredictable
THE BET- who are the minor characters?
watchman, party guests, servants
