Acadec 2026-2027 LITERATURE - Section 4 (Short Stories)

TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY

TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY

What was Steinback's desires when he was young?

To be somewhere else

What did mature people assure Steinback his desire to be somewhere else would be cured by?

Maturity

What does Steinback consider to be mature (age wise)?

Middle age

How old is Steinback?

58

Has Steinback been cured of his urge to be somewhere else?

No

Has anything cured Steinback of his urge to be somewhere else?

No

What causes Steinback to jump?

Sound of jet, engine warming up, clopping of hooves

What does Steinback describe as him jumping?

Ancient shudder, dry mouth vacant eye, hot palms, churn of stomach

What does Steinback say about himself to summarize his urge to be somehwere else?

Once a bum always a bum, this disease is incurable

Why does Steinback discuss his urge?

To inform himself, rather than instruct other

What does Steinback say a bum needs to travel?

A good and sufficient reason for going

What does the bum also need to travel?

Planning his trip in time and space, direction and destination, impoementing the journey (how to go, what to take, how long to stay)

What does Steinback say about planning the trip?

That part of the process is invariable and immortal

What is the new factor once a journey is designed, equipped and put in process?

A journey has personality, temperament

What does Steinback say about a journey?

Is a person, no two are alike

What does Steinback say about planning for a journey?

They are fruitless

Do we take a trip or does the trip they us?

The trip takes us

What do plans fall short to on a trip?

The personality of the trip

What must the bum do to feel better?

Recognize that the trip takes us

What does Steinback describe the journey as?

Marriage, since you think you can control it but you cannot

Has Steinback traveled a lot?

Yes

Where has Steinback lived in America?

New York, Chicago, San Francisco

What does Steinback say about New York?

No more America than Paris is France or London is England

What does Steinback say about knowing his own country?

Did not know his own country

Why is it bad Steinback didn't know his own country?

He is an American writer writing about America

What does Steinback describe his memory as?

Faulty, warpy reservoir

What did Steinback use initially to try to imagine America?

Books, newspaper

How long has Steinback not felt the country?

25 years

What was the problem Steinback first found for traveling>?

He is very well known

What does Steinback say happens when someone knows you well?

They treat you differently

What did Steinback say he had to do?

Leave his name and identity at home, be peripatetic eyes and ears, gelatin plate

What did Steinback say he couldn't do?

Sign hotel registers, meet people he knew, interview others, ask searching questions

What does Steinback say he has to be in order to be self-contained?

Casual turtle carrying his house on his back

What kind of truck did Steinnback want?

3 quarter ton pick up truck with a little house built like the cabin of a boat

Why does Steinback not want a trailer?

Difficult to manuever, impossible and often illegal to park, many restrictions

What was inside the vehicle?

Double bed, four-burner stove, heater, refrigerator, lights on butane, chemical toilet, closet space, storage space, screened insects

Where was the truck delivered to?

Fishing place at Sag Harbor near Log Island

What was the name of the truck?

Rocinante

What is the significance of the name Rocinante?

Name of Don Quixote's house, got a lot of satirical remarks from friends

What did Steinback's friends say about his face?

it was well known since his photograph was everywhere

How many miles did Steinback travel?

Over 10k miles

How many states did Steinback travel?

34 states

What did people say painting Rocinante in 16th century Spanish script would cause?

People to question it

Did people question the Rocinante painted on the truck?

no

What did Steinback pack to make people think he was hunting and fishing?

Shotgun, 2 rifles, couple of fishing rods

Can Steinback hunt anymore?

No, too old

What aroused questions from locals?

His New York license plate

What was the interaction Steinback describes about someone questioning his license plate?

Asks about New York license plate, local man says they were in NY in 1938-1939, asks his wife Alice who says it was 36 because Alfred died that year

What was genuine worry of some people when Steinback traveled?

That he was traveling alone so he would be open to attack, robbery, assault

What does Steinback say about the feeling of not travelingw ith anyone?

Lonely, helpless feeling that idesolate

What companion did Steinback take on his trip?

Charley

What is Charley's real name?

Carles le Chien

What is Charley?

French gentleman poodle

Where was Charley born?

Bercy, outskirts of Paris

What languages does Charley know?

Mainly french, but a bit of poodle-English

Descirbe Charley's apperance

Big poodle, color bleu (blue when he is clean)

What is Charley's personality?

Diplomat, prefers negotiation to fighting, very bad at fighting

When was the time Charley got in trouble?

met a dog 10 years ago who refused to negotiate, lost a piece of his right ear

What are Charley's strengths?

Good watch dog, roar like a liion, good friend and traveling companion

What do strangers ask about Charley?

What degree of a dog is that

What does Steinback say is the best way to attrac attention?

To be lost

What does Steinback say about people regarding attracting attention?

Man seeing his mother starving to death kicks her in the stomach to clear the way, but will devote hours of his time giving wrong directions to a total stranger who is lost

How does Steinback feel leading up to the trip?

Does not want to go

What has become incredibly desirable to Steinback?

Warm bed, comfortable house

What does Steiback say must happen to forbid him from going?

Something that had to happen

What happened to Steinback last winter?

Became very very ill

What does the lecture Steinback hears end with?

Slow down, you're not as young as you once were

What has Steinback observed old men doing?

Retiring from manhood into invalidism, describes it as "second childhood"

What does Steinback say old men trade their violence for?

Small increase of lifespan

Why does Steinback think that trading violence for lifespan is ba?

He has lived a very impulsive life

What does Steinback mention about his wife?

HIs wife married a man, he should not inherit a baby

What does Steinback say about the trip relative to old men becoming soft?

The trip would be the antidote for the poison of professional sick man

What does Steinback say about what his wife likes?

Says his wife likes men, not elderly babies

Does Steinback prefer quantity or quality?

Quality

What was the morning like on the day of the trip start?

Bright morning, tawny look of autumn in sunlight

Why did Steinback and his wife part quickly?

They both hated god-bys and neither one wanted to be left when the other had gone

Where did Steinback's wife go?

New York

Where did Steinback go at first?

Shelter Island Ferry

Where did Steinback go next?

Greenport Farry

Where did Steinback go third?

Orient Point ot eh coast of Conneticut across Long Island Sound

Why did Steinback choose to go on the route of the ferries?

Avoiding NY traffic

What does Steinback see on the coast?

Submarines

What does Steinback say about the submarines?

He wishes he could see them as beautiful, but they are designed for destruction

What may submarines do that aren't destructive?

Explore and chart sea bottom, draw new trade lines

What does Steinback remember when he sees submarines?

Burned men pulled from oil-slicked sea

What does Steinback say submarines are armed with?

Mass murder, the only way of deterring mass murderat

Where does Steinback meet the first person?

Top deck of iron ferry boat

Describe the appearance of the first person?

Trench coat, cornsilk hair, delphinium eyes red-edged by wind

Describe the interaction between Steinback and the man

Man talks about the newest submarines and says he's in on them, Steinback questions how he knows so much since he isn't in uniform but hes ays he just had a leave, the man says the submarines are cool and that you'll get used to them unless you have claustrophobia

Where is the man from?

New London

Who is the man related to that's in on the submarines?

Uncle and two cousins

What does the man offer Steinback?

Coffee

What does Steinback say about the man's opinions?

Could be that he's right and Steinback is wrong, since it is his world, not his own

Is there anger in the man's eyes?

No

What does the man say about the submarine when they are drinking coffee?

If there is a storm the submarine can submerge and be quiet

What does Steinback say the man made Steinback feel?

Better and surer

What does Steinback say maps are?

Tyrants

What kind of people does Steinback know?

People who are so immersed in road maps they never see the countryside + people who have hung to routes so surely

Where does Steinback pull Rocinante into?

Small picnic area