Abel’s Island

Abel’s Island

By William Steig

Characters:
• Abelard (Abel) Hassam di Chirico Flint
• Amanda (his wife)
• Gower Glackens (a frog)
• The Owl
• The Cat

Questions:
1. What year does the story take place? 1907
2. What are Abel and Amanda doing when it starts raining? They are on a
picnic
3. What does Abel give Amanda at the picnic? A daisy for a parasol
4. Where do Abel and Amanda go to get out of the storm? A cave
5. What does Abel chase out into the storm for and try to retrieve?
Amanda’s scarf
6. Does Abel save Amanda’s scarf? Yes
7. What does Abel ride to the island? A board with a nail in it
8. Where on the island does Abel find himself when he wakes up after
the storm? In a cherry birch tree
9. What does Abel see from the birch tree that comforts him? His own
star his nanny had given him when he was a child.
10. What does Abel use to make his first boat? The board and nail he
rode to the island.
11. What tools does Abel when he arrives on the island. Pearl-handled
penknife
12. What is the second boat Abel makes? A sailboat
13. What does Abel use for his sail? His suitcoat.
14. What is the last type of boat Abel makes? A catamaran
15. How did Abel know what to plants he could eat? He had read about
them in books and in the encyclopedia.
16. What other ways does Abel try to get off the island? Rope bridge or
stone bridge
17. After Abel fell out of his birch tree while sleeping, where did he live?
In a hallow log.
18. Where did Abel leave Amanda’s scarf when he lived on the island?
Around his neck.

Abel’s Island

By William Steig

19. How did Abel write notes? He had a note pad and pencil with him
when he landed on the island.

20. How did Abel communicate with Amanda while he was on the island?
He felt he could talk to her in dreams and by telepathy.

21. What was the last unsuccessful way Abel tried to get off the island?
He built a glider

22. What art did Abel make? He made sculptures of Amanda and his
family from clay.

23. What did Abel use to keep warm as the fall turned to winter?
Milkweed fluff

24. What did Abel use to make wine? Elderberries
25. What items did Abel find from the bears? A book and a watch
26. When did Abel meet the Owl? In November while he was laying on

the ground watching the stars.
27. How did Abel get away from the Owl when he took him into the air

the first time? He used his penknife to cut the Owl’s toes
28. What weapon did he carry thereafter to fight the Owl? His penknife

tied to a long pole
29. What does Abel put in his house to try to keep the Owl away? An owl

feather that he says incantations over to ward off the Owl
30. What clothes does Abel make to keep himself warm in the winter? A

cape with a hood made from grass and milkweed
31. How does Abel get around in the snow? He makes snow shoes
32. What is the name of the book about that Abel visits to read? Sons

and Daughters
33. What is the book about? A bear war
34. What happens when Abel battles the Owl at the book? He stabs the

Owl with his knife on a stick, gets the weapon stuck in a tree and then
chases the Owl around the tree until the Owl flies into the tree and
then flies away
35. What does Abel do on the one winter day he is able to get out of his
log? Visit his book to find out if the Captain Burin (the bear in the
book) survives his wounds
36. How does Abel survive the long winter? By sleeping most of the time
37. Who comes to the island in May? Gower the frog
38. How did the frog get to the island? He fell over the waterfall like
Abel

Abel’s Island

By William Steig

39. What instrument does Gower play at home in his family band? Bass
fiddle

40. What does Gower tell Abel about the statute he makes of him? He
tells Abel he has found his vocation-he is an artist and the sculptures
art.

41. When does Gower leave? In the middle of June when the river goes
down enough for him to swim to the other side.

42. What promise does Gower make? To bring help for Abel
43. How does Abel get off the island? He swims after the river dries up

over the summer
44. How long does Abel live on the island? About one year
45. What happens when Abel reaches the other side of the river? He

gets caught by a cat
46. What village does Abel live in? Mossville
47. Where does Abel put Amanda’s scarf when he gets home? On the

taboret in the entrance door

Where is Amanda when Abel first sees her after he gets home?
a. his house
b. Grower park on a bench
c. his parent’s house
d. in the street

What does Abel NOT use his fire for?
a. to smoke signals
b. to make pots
c. to cook food
d. for heat

What does Abel say to Amanda when he is finally with her at home?
a. I’m home
b. I’ve missed you
c. I’ve brought back your scarf.
d. I love you