Flight of the sparrow Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal
Flight of the sparrow has 37 chapters · 444 pages
A historical novel based on the life of Mary Rowlandson. Even before she was captured by Indians on a winter day of violence and terror, Mary Rowlandson sometimes found herself in conflict with her rigid Puritan community.
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Inside the journal: 37 chapter pages, one question each · 3 example answers · a cover for your reader’s name
Chapter by chapter Each question is about its own chapter.
In Chapter 1, what important things do you learn about Mary, her family, and the place where they live?See all 37 questions ↓
About the book
A historical novel based on the life of Mary Rowlandson. Even before she was captured by Indians on a winter day of violence and terror, Mary Rowlandson sometimes found herself in conflict with her rigid Puritan community. Now, her home destroyed, her children lost to her, she has been sold into the service of a powerful woman tribal leader and made a pawn in the ongoing bloody struggle between English settlers and native people.
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Flight of the sparrow questions by chapter
We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. One question per chapter, across all 37 chapters, and every one is editable before you print. The example answers under 3 of the chapters are the ones printed at the front of the booklet.
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Chapter 1
In Chapter 1, what important things do you learn about Mary, her family, and the place where they live?
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Chapter 2
In Chapter 2, what signs show that the people in the settlement are feeling worried or afraid?
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Chapter 3
In Chapter 3, choose one word or phrase that feels important or old-fashioned. What do you think it means, and how does it help the chapter?
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Chapter 4
In Chapter 4, what do you predict will happen next as the danger around Mary grows? Use clues from the chapter.
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Chapter 5
In Chapter 5, what do Mary's choices show about what matters most to her?
Example answer: I think Mary's choices show that her family matters most to her. Even when she is scared, she thinks about the people she loves and tries to do what will keep them safe. She does not always have control over what happens, but her love still guides her. This makes her seem brave and caring.
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Chapter 6
In Chapter 6, what is the main turning point in this chapter, and how does it change Mary's life?
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Chapter 7
In Chapter 7, which moment surprised you the most? Explain why it stood out to you.
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Chapter 8
In Chapter 8, how does this chapter show the theme of surviving during hard times?
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Chapter 9
In Chapter 9, how does the journey change the way Mary thinks about home?
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Chapter 10
In Chapter 10, compare Mary with one other person in the chapter. How are their actions or feelings alike or different?
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Chapter 11
In Chapter 11, choose an important word from the chapter, such as a word about captivity, travel, fear, or hope. What does it mean in the story?
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Chapter 12
In Chapter 12, what do you think Mary will need most in order to keep going? Explain your prediction with evidence.
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Chapter 13
In Chapter 13, how do hunger, food, or lack of supplies affect the choices people make?
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Chapter 14
In Chapter 14, what do you learn about Mary's relationship with another character? How is that relationship changing?
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Chapter 15
In Chapter 15, describe a decision made by a character. Do you think it was fair or unfair? Why?
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Chapter 16
In Chapter 16, what does freedom seem to mean to Mary in this chapter?
Example answer: In this chapter, freedom seems to mean more than just being able to go home. To Mary, it also means being able to make her own choices and feel safe again. I think she misses her old life, but she is also learning that freedom is something people can feel inside, too. The chapter made me think about how precious freedom is.
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Chapter 17
In Chapter 17, how do the weather, woods, rivers, or other parts of nature affect what happens?
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Chapter 18
In Chapter 18, find a word or description that shows a strong emotion. What feeling does it show, and why is it important?
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Chapter 19
In Chapter 19, what new information, news, or rumors appear in this chapter? How might they affect what happens next?
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Chapter 20
In Chapter 20, how has Mary changed since the beginning of the book? Give one example from this chapter.
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Chapter 21
In Chapter 21, how does the larger conflict between groups affect individual people in the story?
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Chapter 22
In Chapter 22, what difficult choice does a character face? What would you have done, and why?
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Chapter 23
In Chapter 23, where do you see kindness or mercy in an unexpected place?
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Chapter 24
In Chapter 24, what does Mary learn about a way of life that is different from her own?
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Chapter 25
In Chapter 25, choose a strong image or symbol from the chapter. What does it make you picture or feel?
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Chapter 26
In Chapter 26, what do you predict will happen with Mary's hopes for rescue, ransom, or reunion?
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Chapter 27
In Chapter 27, what strength does Mary show? What weakness or struggle does she still have?
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Chapter 28
In Chapter 28, how do Mary's beliefs, prayers, memories, or stories guide her choices?
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Chapter 29
In Chapter 29, do you agree with the way Mary judges another person or situation? Explain your thinking.
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Chapter 30
In Chapter 30, what does this chapter suggest about the meaning of family or home?
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Chapter 31
In Chapter 31, what important conversation or moment changes Mary's understanding?
Example answer: An important moment in Chapter 31 changes the way Mary sees another person. I think she starts to understand that people she once feared can also have feelings, worries, and reasons for what they do. This does not make everything okay, but it makes the story more complicated. It shows that Mary is growing because she can see more than one side.
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Chapter 32
In Chapter 32, choose one new or important word from the chapter. How does knowing this word help you understand the events or feelings?
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Chapter 33
In Chapter 33, how do you think Mary might tell her story after everything she has lived through?
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Chapter 34
In Chapter 34, compare Mary at the beginning of the novel with Mary in this chapter. What is the biggest difference?
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Chapter 35
In Chapter 35, how does this chapter show that truth can look different to different people?
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Chapter 36
In Chapter 36, does this chapter feel satisfying, sad, hopeful, or unfinished to you? Explain your opinion.
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Chapter 37
In Chapter 37, what message do you think the author wants readers to remember from the whole book, and how does the title connect to that message?
More ready-made journals
How to use this Flight of the sparrow reading journal
At home, as a discussion guide
After each chapter your reader writes a few lines on that chapter’s question. Read the answer together at bedtime: it shows what they understood and gives you something real to talk about, without a quiz.
In class, as a novel study
Print a class set (booklets fold from plain letter paper) and use one question per chapter as the reading-response or literature-circle prompt. The example answers at the front show what a full answer looks like.
Homeschool
One booklet covers the whole book, 37 chapters, so it doubles as the reading log for Flight of the sparrow. Reword any question before printing to match your reader.
Printing
The booklet PDF prints on ordinary 8.5 × 11 paper: print double-sided (flip on the short edge) at 100%, fold the stack in half and staple on the fold. There is also a one-page-per-sheet PDF and A5 binder pages.
Where the questions come from
Each question is about its own chapter. We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. The questions were drafted with AI from what is known about the book and checked before publishing; every one is editable before you print.