The Mudders
by Rachel Leverenz (p. 121)
Teacher’s Page
Plot Summary
In this comic tale, the narrator’s mother forbids him to visit the Mudder family. She disapproves of the
Mudders because Mrs. Mudder plays bingo relentlessly, and Mr. Mudder drinks relentlessly, and the whole family is
uncouth. In spite of his mother’s wishes, the narrator visits the Mudders regularly to play chess with the two Mudder boys,
Oscar and Snoopy. The boys play chess in Mrs. Mudder’s closet, which smells of monkey urine. The climax of the
story comes when the narrator’s mother discovers him playing chess with the Mudders, just as Mr.
Mudder chases bingo players out of his house.
Interpreting the Story: Focus on Characterization
“The Mudders” is really a story about vivid characters, and the author has a fine eye for the telling detail. The exercise on
the Student’s Page invites students to collect details about one character. You could easily assign the students
to work in small groups, or you could ask them to work individually. After five or ten minutes of searching, ask the students
to report on the details they have found. Students might also write the lists of details on newsprint or on the board. As students present the information, ask them to discuss the effect of individual details. Mrs. Mudder’s “cheese and
mustard sandwiches with cold cappuccino,” for example, give the impression of someone eccentric and slightly out of
touch. The fact that Mrs. Mudder not only plays bingo every Saturday night, but also plays 23 boards at once and practices
in her basement during the week, creates the impression of an obsessed individual.
Responding Creatively to the Story
The exercise on the Student’s Page in which students collect details about the characters can serve as a springboard for
the students’ own creative characterization. If the students are currently working on writing stories and have their own
characters in progress, invite them to imagine, for their own characters, details for each category listed on the Student’s Page. Explain that not all, or even most, of the details will actually make it into the story, but that
the details are useful for the author to have as background. If the students are not currently working on their own stories,
invite them to use the categories to create details for three new characters. You could follow up by inviting the students to
create a story with their new characters, or you could simply stop after the students have created characters and ask them
to share their characters with the class.
Connecting with Cultural Values and Students’ Lives
These questions may guide your students to a deeper understanding of how the story relates to their own lives. The discussion of the story may also be used to foster the positive values of tolerance and friendship.
1. Why does Ramona forbid the narrator to visit the Mudders? Is she justified?
2. Instead of sneaking out to see the Mudders behind his mother’s back, what could the narrator do to ease his mother’s
fears ?
3. Sometimes when characters use slang, such as “catch any behind,” or “sure as sugar,” and use natural imagery, such
as “sneaky as the water snake,” readers doubt the intelligence of the speaker. Is this doubt justified in this case? What
is the danger of judging people by the way they talk?
Guide to Freshmen
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The Mudders
The Mudders
(p. 121)
Name _____________________________ Date _____________
After You Read: Part I
The author of “The Mudders” uses lots of creative and entertaining details to bring her characters to life. Your teacher will
assign you one character to review in detail. For your character, collect as much information as is available from
the story for each of the listed categories. When you are done, your teacher will ask you to share your findings with
your classmates.
Circle the name of the character you have been assigned:
Ramona
Mrs. Mudder
The Narrator
Oscar
Snoopy
Physical description __________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Clothing ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Favorite food _______________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Habits _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hobbies____________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Favorite expressions _________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Description of house, significant room, etc.______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
After You Read: Part II
On your own paper, use these categories to create information about three characters of your own.
Create vivid, unique details for each category. You may use this exercise to elaborate on characters in a story you are
already working on, or you may create characters for a new story.
Guide to Freshmen
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The Mudders
The Mudders
(p. 121)
Name _____________________________ Date _____________
Connecting with Other Stories
“The Boarder,” also in Freshmen, presents another family situation with interesting, complex characters.
Reading Check for “The Mudders”
Circle the letters of all the correct answers. Some questions may have more than one correct answer.
1. Ramona is the name of
a. the narrator’s girlfriend
b. the narrator’s mother
c. the narrator’s pet snake
d. the narrator’s sister
4. The boys play chess
a. at the kitchen table
b. in the park
c. in Mrs. Mudder’s closet
d. in the back of the bingo hall
2. Mrs. Mudder plays
a. bingo
b. bridge
c. polo
d. shuffleboard
5. The narrator’s mother forbids him to
a. visit the Mudders
b. dress nicely
c. go to school
d. play baseball
3. The Mudder boys are named
a. Bert and Ernie
b. Oscar and Snoopy
c. Tom and Jerry
d. Don and Mike
Language Skills in Context: Informal Voice
Authors sometimes use more formal language in writing stories than people do when they tell stories orally. Rachel
Leverenz in “The Mudders,” however, has created a strong, informal voice for her narrator. Identify five informal
phrases she uses to create this informal voice. For example, “she had an awful quick eye and was sure to catch any
behind that was fixing to be out of hand.” Identify several individual words that add to the informality of
the narrator’s voice. One example is the repeated use of the word “see,” at the beginning of sentences. How else does the
author create an informal, conversational voice for the narrator?
1. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Guide to Freshmen
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The Mudders
The Mudders
(p. 121)
Name _____________________________ Date _____________
Brainteasers for Critical Thinking
1. There are enough references to objects, styles, and products—even attitudes!—for you to make an informed guess as
to the approximate year this story takes place. Jot down as many of these references as you can (Snoopy, bobbed hair,
etc.) and try to identify a decade (’40s, ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s) for each. See if you and your classmates can reach a
consensus as to the time of these zany events.
2. Notice how, in the third paragraph, long phrases and sentences are strung together with an “and” connector. You have
no doubt learned that such monotonous constructions do not make for “good writing.” And yet, this is considered to
be good writing—a fine showpiece under the bright banner of “authentic voice.” Having listened to this voice
throughout “The Mudders,” do you now have a better idea as to what authentic voice is, and why it is so important to
this and many other pieces?
3. The narrator relies a lot on exaggeration and hyperbole to engage and amuse us. Find a few instances of very obvious
hyperbole. Does it amuse you? Does it strike you as being a bit “much”? Would you like to have seen more or less of
it in this story? Explain.
4. Do you like Mama? Why/why not? Is her character fully developed? Developed as much as it needs to be? Does this
kind of story usually lend itself to deep characterization, or is superficiality the order of the day when it comes to light,
frothy tales like this one? Might a close (or closer) look into the psyche of the narrator, Mama, Snoopy, or Oscar have
muddied the clear, bubbling Mudder waters? How so, or not so?
Guide to Freshmen
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The Mudders