1. education
2. english as a second language

An Acquaintance with Darkness
By Ann Rinaldi
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Create a timeline of civil war events in novel
Vocabulary on final exam:
- Confidante: A trusted friend
- Morbid: Grotesque, disgusting
- Conspiracy: A secret plan to commit an act
- Mayhem: Chaos
- Reprieve: A delay in punishment
Chapter 1:
- Do Now: Copy down the vocabulary words for Chapters 1-2
- Ella May’s view of her new freedom from slavery. How does that contrast our modern view of
slavery?
- Who is Johnny Surratt? What does he tell Emily to do after her mother dies? Why? What does he
give her?
- Describe the conflict between Emily’s mother and Mary Surratt. What caused the tension between
friends? What are Emily’s views about friendship? What are your views?
- Who pops into the president’s box #10 at the Ford’s Theatre? What do people think about him?
How does this differ from your views of this person? Why?
- What happened to Emily’s father?
- Vocabulary:
 Interloper – (Noun) a person who is not wanted or welcome by the other people in a situation or
place
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Outlander- (Noun) a foreigner; a stranger
Moire- (Noun) a interwoven pattern
Secesh- (Noun) Confederate soldiers and sympathizers.
Contentious- (Adjective) likely to cause people to argue or disagree
Abashed- (Adjective) embarrassed or ashamed
Chapter 2:
- What are the two types of black people in Washington according to Mrs. Keckley?
- Who is Mrs. Keckley?
- What problems are introduced with the freeing of the slaves?
- Emily’s father gives her advice about life. His first lesson is “Don’t ever act on your thoughts if
you’re confused…wait until your mind clears.” Do you agree or disagree with this advice?
Thoroughly explain your position.
- What does Emily’s mother do for a living?
- Explain the significance of the chapter’s title. What does it mean? Who is it referencing?
- What does Mrs. Keckley mean when she says “We are all people of contradictions…we all at some
time in our lives, have an acquaintance with darkness. It will pass.” Explain your thoughts.
- Vocabulary:
 Rallied- (Verb) to improve suddenly after a period of weakness, failure, etc.
 Barouche -(Noun) A four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage with a collapsible hood over the rear half,
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a seat in front for the driver, and seats facing each other for the passengers, used esp. in the 19th
century.
Inauguration -(Verb) to introduce (someone, such as a newly elected official) into a job or position
with a formal ceremony
Confidante- (Noun) a woman who is a trusted friend : a female confidant
Lavish –(Adjective) giving or using a large amount of something
Flounces- (Noun) a strip of cloth that is attached to a piece of clothing by one edge
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Contrabands- (Noun) things that are brought into or out of a country illegally
Fortifications- (Noun) the act of building military defenses to protect a place against attack : the
act of fortifying something
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Chapter 3
- Who is Uncle Valentine? What does he do for a living? What does he study?
- How did Uncle Valentine help Emily?
- What is the relationship like between Uncle Valentine and Mary Louise (Emily’s Mother)?
- Does Emily want to live with Uncle Valentine after her mother dies?
- Vocabulary:
 Contempt- (Noun) a lack of respect for or fear of something that is usually respected or feared
 Morbid- (Adjective) relating to unpleasant subjects (such as death) ; Grotesque, disgusting
 Invalid- (Noun) a person who needs to be cared for because of injury or illness
 Debonair- (Adjective) dressing and acting in an appealing and sophisticated way : fashionable,
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Presumptuous –(Adjective) too confident especially in a way that is rude
Domicile –(Noun) the place where you live : your home [noncount]
attractive, and confident
Altruistic- (Noun) feelings and behavior that show a desire to help other people and a lack of
selfishness
Mince- (Verb) to cut (food) into very small pieces
Chapter 4:
- What is John Wilkes Booth discussing when Emily arrives at the Surratt house?
- What and who does Uncle Valentine send to Emily to help her mother?
- Explain what Emily means when she says “I wonder what we’ll do when the war is over…I wonder
what we’ll blame our misfortune on…People make lots of problems. Then they blame them on the
war.”
- Who is Robert de Graaf? How did Uncle Valentine help him?
- What happens once the war is over?
- Who does Robert remind Emily of?
- What is Emily’s full name?
- What new characterization does Robert reveal about Uncle Valentine?
- Vocabulary:
 Astute- (Adjective) having or showing an ability to notice and understand things clearly : mentally
sharp or clever
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Hawking- (Verb) to offer (something) for sale especially by calling out or by going from one person
to another : peddle
Revelers- (Noun) a person who is celebrating with other people in usually a wild and noisy way : a
person who is taking part in revelry
Mull- (Verb) to think about (something) slowly and carefully : ponder
Ravenously- (Adjective) very hungry
Amiably- (Adjective) friendly and pleasant
Effigies- (Noun) an image of a person ◊An effigy is often a large doll made to look like someone
who is disliked or hated.
Indulgent- (Adjective) willing to allow someone to have or enjoy something even though it may
not be proper, healthy, appropriate, etc.
Chapter 5:
- Characterize Annie Surratt.
- Who is Annie in love with? Does her mother approve?
- What is illumination night? How is Annie preparing for it?
- What is Annie’s advice to Emily?
- What does Uncle Valentine send to Emily’s mother’s funeral?
- What does Emily think Maude did to her tea?
- Who is Merry? Describe what he looks like.
- What is the story of Rumpelstiltskin?
- Explain Emily’s Father’s advice: “Don’t ever enter into a difficult arrangement to save the
moment”?
- What happens when Emily tries to sneak out and meet Annie?
- Vocabulary:
 Ironclad- (Noun) an armored naval vessel especially of the mid to late 19th century
 Discourse- (Noun) the use of words to exchange thoughts and ideas
 Astride- (Adverb) with one leg on each side : astride a hors
 Unsavory- (Adjective) unpleasant to taste or smell
 Disdainful- (Adjective) felling strong dislike or disapproval for something or someone you think
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does not deserve respect
Gaped- (Verb) to open the mouth wide
Outlandish- (Adjective) strikingly out of the ordinary : bizarre
Hypocrites- (Noun) a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings
Smitten- (Verb) Captivated
Hack- (Noun) a horse let out for common hire (taxicab)
Chides- (Verb) to voice disapproval to : reproach in a usually mild and constructive manner : scold
Awash- (Adjective) filled, covered, or completely overrun as if by a flood
Condolences- (Noun) sympathy with another in sorrow
Emissary- (Noun) one designated as the agent of another : representative
Contentious- (Adjective) likely to cause disagreement or argumen
Chapter 6:
- What happens in the cemetery that night?
- What are the dwarves’ names?
- Explain a possible parallel between the death of Emily’s mother and slavery. How are they similar?
- Vocabulary:
 Denouncing- (Verb) to pronounce especially publicly to be blameworthy or evil
 Devious- (Adjective) not straightforward : cunning <a devious politician>; also : deceptive <a
devious trick>
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Astuteness- (Adjective) having or showing an ability to notice and understand things clearly :
mentally sharp or clever
Outflanked- (Verb) to move around the side of (something, such as an opposing force) to attack
from behind
Varlets- (Noun) a dishonest or tricky person
Enamored- (Verb) to cause to feel a strong or excessive interest or fascination
Vigilant- (Adjective) alertly watchful especially to avoid danger
Errant- (Adjective) behaving wrongly
Accosted- (Verb) to approach and speak to often in a challenging or aggressive way
Beholden- (Adjective) being under obligation for a favor or gift : indebted
Chapter 7:
- Who does Emily go and visit?
- Who meets her at the door? Explain her story.
- Describe the room that could be hers.
- What does Marietta do at the house? Explain her story.
- What is forbidden at the house?
- Agree or disagree and then explain your reasoning:
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“It has its own beauty. Everything does. Don’t you think there is a reason for everything
that exists in this world? And everything that happens? Even the bad? ...I do. Or I wouldn’t
be standing here talking to you like this now. So much bad has happened to me. I look at it
like fertilizer in a garden. It has helped my soul grow.”
Henry Thoreau said “that moonlight is a light we have had all day but not appreciated, and proves
how remarkable a lesser light can be when a greater light has departed.” What does this mean in
real life and relate it to the novel.
Why is Washington becoming more prejudice?
If the war is making instant millionaires, where did wealthy people get their money before the war?
Why did Uncle Valentine speak to Emily’s teacher Mrs. McQuade?
Describe Mrs. McQuade’s family.
Uncle Valentine says “We all have powers, if we choose to recognize them… Then the next time
you go for ice cream, think of who made it. We never know who people really are, Emily.
Remember that, always.” Do you agree or disagree? How is this true of Uncle Valentine himself?
Explain how the last paragraph of the chapter is an example of foreshadowing. Predict what will
happen.
Vocabulary:
 Grandiose- (Adjective) seeming to be impressive or intended to be impressive but not really
possible or practical.
 Bombazine- (Noun) a silk fabric in twill weave dyed black.
 Impeccable- (Adjective) free from fault or blame: flawless.
 Dauphin- (Noun) the eldest son of a king of France.
Chapter 8:
- How does the conflict between Emily’s mother and father parallel the conflict of the country/ Civil
War?
- Why did Emily and her mother have to move to Washington?
- What is Emily’s mother’s job in Washington?
- How does Emily make tea? How did that make you feel? Why?
- Why does the author have a beautiful flower blooming the night that Lincoln is killed? How does
the flower contrast the chaos and or symbolize Lincoln and the future?
- What information does Emily learn from Uncle Valentine when he comes to get her?
- Who is rumored to have killed Lincoln?
- Who else are they looking for?
- What is Emily’s response to Uncle Valentine’s news?
- Agree/Disagree: Annie says “Nightmares don’t always happen when you sleep…Most of them
happen when you’re awake.” Explain your reason and give an example.
- Vocabulary:
 Dismal- (Adjective) showing or causing gloom or depression
 Gallantry- (Noun) very brave behavior : courage
 Fallow- (Adjective) of a light yellowish-brown color
 Ominous- (Adjective) suggesting that something bad is going to happen in the future
 Deranged- (Verb) to make insane
 Aghast- (Adjective) struck with terror, amazement, or horror : shocked
 Implicated- (Verb) to show that someone or something is closely connected to or involved in
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Chapter 9:
something (such as a crime)
Gawk- (Verb) to gape or stare stupidly
Portmanteaus- (Noun) a large suitcase
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What are Marietta’s reasons for not becoming a doctor even though she wants to be one?
Why is Uncle Valentine summoned to the White House?
What type of bells ring for Lincoln’s death? Where have you read about these bells before?
Who is locked in the room on the third floor of Uncle Valentine’s house? Why?
Who visits Emily in the middle of the night? What does this person want from her?
What is the new mystery Emily must solve?
Vocabulary:
 Dismay- (Noun) sudden loss of courage or resolution from alarm or fear
Chapter 10:
- How have people’s opinions of Lincoln changed since his death? Explain the views before and
after.
- What must they decorate the house with to show their respects to the President?
- Where is Emily supposed to meet Annie?
- What prevents her from meeting Annie there?
- Agree/Disagree: Uncle Valentine says “Progress in medicine is frightening to many.” Explain what
Uncle Valentine means by this.
- Vocabulary:
 Petulant- (Adjective) having or showing the attitude of people who become angry and annoyed
when they do not get what they want
Forthright- (Adjective) free from ambiguity or evasiveness : going straight to the point
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Chapter 11:
- Who is at Annie’s house when Emily and Robert arrive?
- Agree/Disagree: Robert says “Discretion is the better part of valor” (Henry IV, William
Shakespeare). Why does he say this and what does he mean by this statement?
- Who is Powell?
- Where did Robert see Powell last night? What was he doing there?
- Why have Annie, Mary Surratt, and Powell been arrested by the detectives?
- Why does Emily go into Annie’s house?
- Vocabulary:
 Discretion- (Noun) the quality of being careful about what you do and say so that people will not
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be embarrassed or offended : the quality of being discreet
Valor- (Noun) strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness :
personal bravery
Accomplices- (Noun) one associated with another especially in wrongdoing
Reluctantly- (Adverb) feeling or showing doubt about doing something : not willing or eager to do
something
Chapter 12:
- Why doesn’t Emily want to go back to school?
- Characterize Mrs. Mc Quade.
- What does the class say about explotation?
- Who is Emily’s antagonist?
- Characterize Emily’s antagonist.
- What does the antagonist reveal to Emily about her Uncle?
- What must Emily go home and confirm on a piece of paper? Why?
- Vocabulary:
 Bleary- (Adjective) dull or dimmed especially from fatigue or sleep
 Abide- (Verb) to accept or bear (someone or something bad, unpleasant, etc.) — usually used in
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negative constructions
Stately- (Adjective) very impressive in appearance, manner, or size
Imperiously- (Adjective) having or showing the proud and unpleasant attitude of someone who
gives orders and expects other people to obey them
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Exploitation- (Noun) an act or instance of exploiting [Exploit = to use (someone or something) in a
way that helps you unfairly]
Emnity- (Noun) positive, active, and typically mutual hatred or ill will
Malice- (Noun) desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to another
Flippant- (Adjective) lacking proper respect or seriousness
Farce- (Noun) a funny play or movie about ridiculous situations and events
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Chapter 13:
- Summarize the story Emily’s father told her about the princess.
- Agree/Disagree: Emily’s father says “Always notice things that are important in the workings of the
Kingdom.” What does her father mean by this? Why does he teach her this lesson?
- What does Emily realize about Maude and the Hack?
- Who does Uncle Valentine bring home?
- How will he help this person?
- Who wakes Emily up in the middle of the night? What do they see?
- Why did Uncle Valentine lie about the paper?
- What did her father want Uncle Valentine to do for Emily?
- What is “Another difficult arrangement” that Emily “entered into”?
- What happens when Myra tries to leave the funeral with two men?
- Do you think Emily did the right thing? Why or why not?
- Vocabulary:
 Wan- (Adjective) suggestive of poor health : sickly
 Indulgent- (Adjective) willing to allow someone to have or enjoy something even though it may
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not be proper, healthy, appropriate, etc.
Unseemly- (Adjective) not according with established standards of good form or taste
Catafalque- (Noun) a pall-covered coffin-shaped structure used at requiem masses celebrated
after burial
Assuage- (Verb) to lessen the intensity of (something that pains or distresses) : ease
Preened- (Verb) to pride or congratulate (oneself) on an achievement
Emanated- (Verb) to come out from a source
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Chapter 14:
- What does Mrs. Mc Quade say about body snatching?
- Why does Emily not want Mrs. Mc Quade to bring up body snatching in the discussion?
- Why does Emily have to show Myra the shed?
- How does Emily’s father’s advice of “don’t make arrangements to save the moment” apply to this
situation?
- Agree/Disagree: “Our enemies make us strong…not our friends. Our friends will lie to us, tell us
what we need to hear. Forgive us. We must keep a few good enemies on hand, always, to keep us
sharp and teach us never to do anything that needs forgiveness.” Why does Emily think of this
advice?
- How does Emily get Robert to show her the shed?
- Why is Emily hopeful at the end of the chapter?
- Vocabulary:
 Conjecture (Noun) an opinion or idea formed without proof or sufficient evidence : guess
 Cadavers- (Noun) a dead body; especially : one intended for dissection
 Morbid –(Adjective) relating to unpleasant subjects (such as death)
 Insolently- (Adjective) rude or impolite : having or showing a lack of respect for other people
Chapter 15:
- Why does Emily keep Robert in her sight at all times?
- What about the shipments that arrive to Uncle Valentine’s house seem suspicious to Emily?
- What does Emily find in the shed, when Robert shows her?
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How does war help technology and medicine advance?
What happens when Emily takes Myra to see the shed?
Why is Uncle Valentine upset at dinner that night?
Do you think Dr. Mudd should be guilty for helping Booth? Why or why not?
Vocabulary:
 Hypodermic
 Bequeathed
 Gingerly
Chapter 16:
- What information about Merry and Maude add to Emily’s suspicions about Uncle Valentine’s as a
body snatcher?
- What is reported about Booth? Is it the truth?
- How does Emily help Uncle Valentine on Tuesdays and Thursdays?
- What does Emily get in the mail? What new information does she get?
- Who comes to dinner that night? What does he tell Uncle Valentine?
- Vocabulary:
 Impoverished
 Bereft
 Paupers
Chapter 17:
- Who visits Uncle Valentine’s house that day? What does she take with her?
- What does Emily dream about?
- What does Emily overhear when Addie wakes her up?
- Why does Emily get upset when Robert says that Marietta is “Levelheaded”?
- When Emily and Robert face each other on stairs, what does Emily realize?
- Vocabulary:
 Desolate
 Recrimination
 Deuteronomy
Chapter 18:
- What is adding up for Emily?
- Agree/Disagree: “Don’t ever act on your thoughts if you’re confused…wait until your mind clears.”
Why?
- What happened to Alex?
- Why does Emily say she has lost her innocence when she contemplates the right and wrong of
medicine?
- Why do hundreds of soldiers come to Washington?
- Was it wrong what Sherman’s men did? Why or why not?
- What does Robert give Emily?
- What does Robert tell Emily about body snatching? Does she believe him?
- Vocabulary:
 Fervently
 Review
 Taudry
Chapter 19:
- What are the charges against Mrs. Mary Surratt?
- Describe the prison that Mary Surratt is in.
- How does Robert get the jailer to treat Mary Surratt better?
- Whose birthday is it at school? What does Emily give her as a present?
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- Where do the girls go “to do something more exciting” for Myra’s birthday? Who do they meet up
with?
- Why is Emily so upset in the end of the chapter?
- Vocabulary:
 Abet
 Surly
 Simpered
 Preened
 Droning
 Passel
 Conjectures
Chapter 20:
- Why is Emily going to leave Uncle Valentine’s house? Where will she go?
- What does Annie think of Emily leaving?
- Who will Emily take with her? Where does this person want to go?
- Vocabulary:
 Portmanteau
 Dandified
Chapter 21:
- What does Addie want when she leaves?
- Where does Emily take Addie? Who is there to greet her?
- Make a prediction to where Addie’s home is.
- What is in the way of Emily getting to the train station on time?
- What is Emily’s solution to this problem?
- What happens to Emily as she stops and rests on the hill?
- Who is there to help Emily? Why does this upset her?
- Vocabulary:
 Shanties
 Malice
 Epaulets
Chapter 22:
- What does Robert say happened at the medical college?
- What does Emily say to explain herself to Robert?
- What is Robert’s reaction to her story?
- Who told on Emily?
- What else does Robert make Emily feel bad about?
- Vocabulary:
 Pander
 Inept
Chapter 23:
- What happens when Emily confronts Uncle Valentine about the incident?
 What upset Emily?
 What upset Uncle Valentine?
- Vocabulary:
 Camphor
 Petulant
 Decoctions
 Dastardly
 Addle headed
Chapter 24:
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What is the fate for Mary Surratt?
What happened to Dr. Mudd?
Why does Emily have to visit Marietta?
What is wrong with Marietta? What lie does Emily tell to her?
What is Emily’s plan?
What happens when Emily meets up with Robert?
Is Emily successful?
What is Robert and Emily’s relationship like now?
Vocabulary:
 Insipid
 Amnesty
 Clemency
 Plied
 Garret
 Wastrel
Chapter 25:
- What was Emily’s “penance for the loss of Addie”?
- Where will Dr. Mudd go to jail?
- Where will Annie spend the next two nights?
- What does Emily give her to take with her?
- Where will Mary Surratt be buried? Why?
- Why would Uncle Valentine want Mary Surratt’s body for experimentation?
- Why is this the first time Uncle Valentine will not put science before humans?
- Vocabulary:
 Escapade
 Penance
Chapter 26:
- Describe the day of hanging.
- What do they all wait for?
- What happens to Mary Surratt?
- Why does Emily think “Miss Muffet was dead. My daddy was dead. The world as we had all known
it before the war and the shooting of Lincoln, that innocent world, was dead. This was the world
now, as we had brought it upon ourselves to be. Four hooded bodies swinging under the trapdoors
of the scaffold. One of them a woman. This is what the crowd had come to see this day, the
official death of that old world.” What does this mean?
- What does Emily want to become now?
- Vocabulary:
 Admonished
 Solemn
Author’s Note:
- Create a bulleted list of facts that Ann Rinaldi included in the novel.