Because of Winn-Dixie

CHAPTERS 1-4

Reading Check

1. India (Chapter 1)

2. Her mama (Chapter 3)

Short Answer

1. Opal believes Winn-Dixie is ugly and unkempt, but she thinks he has a good sense of humor and good manners. For example, Winn-Dixie sits when Opal asks him to wait outside for her to tell her father about her new pet. (Chapter 2)

2. Opal compares the preacher to a turtle because he rarely sticks his head out—referring to his introverted nature. She describes the preacher as someone who does not often interact with the outside world because he is busy praying, thinking about God, and writing sermons. It is difficult for Opal to think about her father as a father because he is emotionally distant from her. (Chapter 2)

3. Opal compares herself to Winn-Dixie by telling him they are both orphans. Opal feels as though she is missing a family because her mother left her when she was young, and her father interacts with her infrequently. (Chapter 3)

CHAPTERS 5-8

Reading Check

1. A mouse (Chapter 5)

2. A bear (Chapter 6)

3. War and Peace (Chapter 7)

Short Answer

1. Opal often projects her own feelings onto Winn-Dixie. She describes his feeling of being left behind as having a hole in his heart. She likely experiences this feeling because her mother left her when she was young. (Chapter 5)

2. Miss Fanny and Opal both feel lonely because they do not have friends. Opal’s loneliness stems from her move to a new location while Miss Fanny’s loneliness comes from the realization that those who lived in the community with her have all passed away. (Chapter 7)

CHAPTERS 9-12

Reading Check

1. Peanut butter (Chapter 9)

2. A green thumb (Chapter 10)

Short Answer

1. The Dewberry brothers harass Opal by talking about her in hushed voices, though Opal is unaware of what they are saying. When Winn-Dixie runs into the garden of an unknown woman, the Dewberrys claim Winn-Dixie will be eaten by the witch in the garden. Whether the Dewberrys are teasing or antagonizing Opal, their habit of calling out to her causes friction in their relationship. (Chapter 9)

2. Gloria Dump does not see well and cannot read the faces of those who interact with her. Because of this, she must understand a person by listening to their stories and how they describe themselves. (Chapter 9)

3. Winn-Dixie’s fears thunderstorms. Opal is worried about Winn-Dixie’s behavior and is concerned the preacher won’t like Winn-Dixie because of it. The preacher, much to Opal’s surprise, forgives Winn-Dixie and tells her they must be careful to protect him in the event of a storm. Opal’s heart fills with love for the preacher for protecting Winn-Dixie. (Chapter 11)

CHAPTERS 13-17

Reading Check

1. The Fan (Chapter 15)

2. The Civil War (Chapter 17)

Short Answer

1. Gloria believes Otis should be judged by what Opal knows about him and not by what he has done in the past. In explaining this, Gloria shows Opal a tree in her backyard with beer and whiskey bottles that represent her unhealthy addiction from her own past. (Chapter 14)

2. Gloria describes the ghosts as representing all the mistakes she has made. The tree, with its thousands of bottles, also represents the mistakes associated with her addiction. It serves as a reminder for her to forgive and to do what is right to keep the ghosts away. (Chapter 14)

3. The litmus lozenge tastes like strawberry, root beer, and the secret ingredient tastes like sadness. Miss Franny indicates that only certain people can taste it, mostly adults. The taste arouses memories in those who have experienced sorrow causing each of them to associate the lozenge with their pasts. For example, Opal thinks of her mother and Amanda thinks of a boy named Carson. (Chapter 17)

CHAPTERS 18-21

Reading Check

1. Opal’s mother (Chapter 18)

2. The Dewberry boys (Chapter 20)

3. Pickles and his guitar (Chapter 21)

Short Answer

1. Opal assumes that Amanda does not suffer from sorrows. As she provides people with the lozenge, she begins to realize that many individuals have different sorrows and hardships they encounter. For example, Otis believes the candy tastes like jail while Sweetie Pie believes it tastes like “not having a dog.” (Chapters 18-21)

2. Opal continually experiences the loss of her mother because she has developed a habit of thinking about her and feeling the pain of her loss, in the same way someone would a lost tooth. (Chapter 19)

CHAPTERS 22-26

Reading Check

1. Winn-Dixie (Chapter 23)

2. Opal (Chapter 24)

Short Answer

1. Winn-Dixie has disappeared because of his fear of thunder, but Gloria Dump’s statement also refers to Opal’s mother. She is attempting to teach Opal that no matter how much she wants to hold onto her mother and Winn-Dixie, she cannot make them stay. (Chapter 23)

2. Opal makes a list of 10 things to describe Winn-Dixie for the missing poster she intends to make for him. It is similar to the list of 10 things the preacher told Opal about her mother. Opal, while she is making the list, realizes that no matter how many items are on the list, it cannot fully describe who the individual is—referring to both her mother and Winn-Dixie. (Chapters 22-26)

3. Opal confronts her father when Winn-Dixie is missing, claiming he did not search for her mother when she left, but the preacher, crying, tells her he misses her mother too. Having healed and reconciled with the preacher, Opal speaks to her mother at the mistake tree telling her that her heart is full, and she will not think about her as often as she did this summer. (Chapter 26)