The Girl Who Can Study Guide

what point of view is this story written in?

1st person narrative

Who is the main character of the story?

Adjoa

Who is the author?

Ama Ata Aidoo

Compare and contrast "Checkouts" with "The Girl Who Can"

Checkouts: 1) do not act on their feeling 2) 3rd person narrative The Girl Who Can : 1) she acts on her feelings 2) 1st person narrative Both: keep feeling to them selves

True of False? Nana and mother believed that she was one of the schools runners.

False, Nana had to investigate it her self and then found that it was true.

Who is very critical of the main character?

Nana (her grandmother)

What are Nana's and Mother's thoughts on school.

Nana thinks it's a waste of time, and mother says that her daughter needs to learn to read and write because she never got the chance.

How did Adjoa get involved with running?

She ran with classmates on small sports fields and kept winning first place. teachers took notice and let her run for the junior section of the school in the district games.

What does nana realize at the end of the story?

She realizes that thin legs can be useful because they can run

What does Nana start to do after she hears the news of Adjoa running?

She sometimes stares at her legs and starts washing her uniforms for her, and ironed them too.

How does Adjoa do in the races?

She wins every race she ran for her school, and wins the cup for best all-round junior athlete

What does Adjoa think to herself at the end of the story?

That it is much better to act it out and show them then to just say something.

What was Adjoa thinking about all day?

That surely one should be able to use their legs other than to support babies. But she was afraid of saying this out loud

How did they bathe?

They used the small bathhouse behind their hut

Where does this story take place?

a big village in the central region of Ghana, Africa

How far is the school from the village?

about five kilometers

definition: the ability to understand something

comprehension

definition: rich in nutrients that promote growth

fertile

definition: modest; having humility

humble

How old is the main character?

seven

why is she critical of the main character?

she is critical of Adjoa's legs because they are too skinny and too long. Nana says that a women must have meat on them, with good calves, and solid hips to be able to support a child.

what do the older women in the village wear

wraps