Summer Reading Assignment: Honors Composition and Literature 9
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
Complete the following assignment and bring it with you to class on the first day of school. You need not answer
in complete sentences, but please write legibly with correct spelling and observing the conventions of Standard
English.
Chapter 1: Clay
1. What is the first miracle?
2. Why does the narrator believe he survived his “dangerous” birth?
Chapter 2: His Separate Shadow
3. What is the second miracle?
4. Davy calls Reuben “Natty Bumppo.” This is an example of an allusion. To what work of fiction by which
author is Enger referring? (This may require some research!)
5. During your research, find a description of Natty Bumppo. Using a few sentences, compare the “real”
Natty Bumppo to Reuben. How are they similar? How are they different?
6. How does Reuben feel about his sister, Swede? Describe their relationship.
7. What happened in the locker room? Who was involved?
8. What miracle does Reuben witness?
9. For whom does Reuben expect his father is praying? Why? Whose name does he actually hear as his
father prays?
Chapter 3: Beauteous Are My Cakes Indeed
10. From what medical condition does Reuben Land suffer?
11. What happened in the locker room that could be described as fantastic (outside the bounds of reality),
and therefore, a miracle?
12. On the bottom of page 28, after hearing Reuben describe Reverend Johnny as a “Bible-thumper,”
Jeremiah Land answers, “Everybody thumps something, Reuben.” What do you think he means by this
response?
13. What miracle takes place at the end of this chapter?
Chapter 4: Your Toughened Heart
14. What happens with Swede while Reuben and his father are at the revival?
15. What miracle accompanies Lurvy’s appearance on Swede’s birthday?
16. What other miracle takes place in this chapter?
Chapter 5: Peeking at Eternity
17. What miracle takes place before Reuben is born?
18. What happened to Reuben’s mother?
19. At the bottom of page 57, Jeremiah Land tells Reuben and Swede to “Persevere.” What do you think he
means?
20. Why does Reuben compare his father to Job?
21. What kind of employee is Jeremiah Land? What kind of boss is Superintendent Holgren?
22. Describe the defense attorney, Thomas DeCuellar.
Chapter 6: When Sorrows Like Sea Billows Roll
23. How does the press change the public opinion of the events surrounding Davy’s trial?
24. What miracle takes place involving Superintendent Holgren? How does Reuben feel about this miracle
and why?
Chapter 7: Late in the Night When the Fires Are Out
25. Describe Mrs. DeCuellar. Why do Swede and Reuben like her?
26. What new pieces of information are revealed to Reuben during the trial?
27. Why does Reuben envy Peter Emerson’s “mental potency”?
28. What happens when Reuben is put on the witness stand?
Chapter 8: A Boy on a Horse
29. How does Sunny Sundown’s situation on page 100 mirror Swede’s experiences?
Chapter 9: By the Grace of Lurvy
30. What kind of Christmas do Swede and Reuben fear?
31. What does the strange smell Reuben senses foreshadow?
32. How does Raymond characterize a typical “little kid”?
33. How much money does Reuben earn? What are his dreams for the money, and how is it actually spent?
34. Who is Andreeson? How would you describe him? What does he want? How does Jeremiah respond?
35. What does the Land family receive as a Christmas gift of sorts and how can it be viewed as a miracle?
Chapter 10: The Substance of Things Hoped For
36. What is the destination of the Land family in this chapter?
Chapter 11: The Last Thing He Would Do
37. What information does August and Birdie share with the Lands?
38. Where does August take Reuben on horseback? What significance does this trip have to Reuben?
Chapter 12: At War With This Whole World
39. Who is the unexpected guest? Why does he make an appearance?
40. Why does Jeremiah refuse to stop for gas?
Chapter 13: Something Warm
41. What does Swede reveal to Reuben regarding her whereabouts during Mr. Andreeson’s visit?
42. What miracle occurs in this chapter?
Chapter 14: The Skin Bag
43. How does Swede accurately describe Reuben’s moodiness following the blizzard?
44. Describe how Roxanna Cawley could be the answer to the Lands’ prayers? How could finding her be a
miracle?
45. What is a “transfiguration”? What does this reveal about Roxanna at this moment? How have the
children’s opinions of her changed?
Chapter 15: Under the Gibbon Moon
46. Why is Jeremiah Land appalled at Andreeson’s description of his faith?
Chapter 16: The Throbbing Heart of News
47. How does Reuben blackmail his brother? Why does he do it? How does he feel about it later?
48. Where has Jeremiah Land gone?
Chapter 17: The Little Man’s Country
49. Describe Jape Waltzer and his relationship with Sara and Davy.
Chapter 18: Winning Her Hand
50. What does Swede understand about the relationship between Roxanna and Jeremiah that Reuben does
not immediately pick up?
51. What does Davy reveal about Jape Waltzer’s intentions toward Sara?
Chapter 19: Boy Ready
52. What realization does Reuben make about miracles?
53. How have Reuben’s feelings toward Andreeson changed? To what can this be attributed? Consider
Jeremiah’s advice to Reuben in the previous chapter.
54. Why is Reuben surprised that Jape Waltzer is not more interested in news of Andreeson?
Chapter 20: The Ledger of Our Decisions
55. Why is Reuben taken along on the ride to the cabin? Describe how he handles his feelings of betrayal.
56. What do they find in the cabin?
Chapter 21: The Red Farm
57. What explanation does Reuben give for the location of Andreeson?
58. Why does Davy arrive with Sara? What are the repercussions of their escape?
Chapter 22: Be Jubilant, My Feet
59. Describe your perception of this chapter.
Chapter 23: The Curious Music That I Hear
60. What is the final miracle?
Vocabulary List
(in the order they appear in the novel)
Become familiar with the definitions for the following words over the summer; you will be tested on these vocab
words as part of the summer reading test.
1. commence
26. susceptible
2. unorthodox
27. flourish
3. defile
28. ruse
4. surmise
29. edifice
5. innocuous
30. imperative
6. admonition
31. adept
7. feign
32. malice
8. imminent
33. procure
9. desiccate
34. fiscal
10. proficient
35. retrospect
11. impertinent
36. clandestine
12. vindictive
37. temporal
13. ludicrous
38. benediction
14. discern
39. atrophy
15. contrition
40. glean
16. fester
41. fathom
17. austere
42. conspicuous
18. articulate
43. conjecture
19. obscure
44. vindication
20. patronize
45. chronic
21. transpire
46. stagnant
22. belligerent
47. ambivalence
23. unruly
48. impetus
24. archaic
49. nominal
25. fortuitous
50. maxim