1. What motivates Mrs. Farquar to raise Gideon's wages? Does she really care for Gideon?
2. How does Gideon feel as he watches his son with Teddy?
3. Based on his interactions with Gideon's son, what is Teddy's understanding of race?
4. Locate the passage when Mrs. Farquar learns the Teddy has encountered the snake? Based on her
dialogue indirect characterization) and reaction, what can the reader tell about her?
5. What anecdotes were told by white people on the veld? How do these anecdotes make them feel?
6. What motivates the Farquars to think that Gideon will and should share information about the plant
that saved Teddy's sight? What motivates Gideon to refuse to share the info? Why is Gideon unwilling
to meet the expectations?
7. How does Gideon respond to the scientist's request to locate the root? What happens when they search
for the root?
8. Read the passage about the cattle boy and the root. What motivates him to say the white man's
medicine is better?
9. Who holds the power? What are the markers of power in this story. How and why do the markers
shift?