Duke Chapter 8

Jenna Olson

7 Apr 202007:54

Summary

TLDRIn Chapter 8 of the story, Hobie is determined to get his dog Duke back from a military man. After some reflection, Hobie realizes that Duke's bad habit of chasing squirrels could be his ticket to getting him returned. While running an errand for his mother, Hobie helps a little girl train her disobedient dog, giving him the idea to write another letter to the soldier. In the letter, Hobie warns that Duke’s squirrel-chasing habit might cause trouble, suggesting that the soldier return Duke to him.

Takeaways

📅 Chapter eight is set on April 3rd, 1944, indicating the timeline of the story.
🐶 Hobie is trying to get his dog Duke back from a military man who now considers Duke his team.
💡 Hobie's mother sends him on an errand for groceries, which leads to a series of events.
🛒 At Lee's grocery, Hobie encounters Mrs. Lee, who is strict about her no-dogs-in-store rule.
🍪 Hobie receives two root beer barrels as a treat from Mrs. Lee, showing a kind gesture.
👴 Hobie witnesses Max helping his grandpa with groceries, highlighting community and family support.
🐷 The mention of pickled pigs feet adds a humorous and relatable moment for the characters.
🚲 On his way home, Hobie helps a little girl train her dog, Susie, using positive reinforcement.
📝 Hobie writes a letter to Private First Class Course, hoping to get Duke back by mentioning Duke's squirrel-chasing habit.
💡 The realization that Duke's bad habit might be a reason to get him returned is a turning point for Hobie.
🏡 Hobie's mother's concern for his well-being after he comes home wet shows familial care.

Q & A

What is the title of Chapter 8?
-Chapter 8 is titled 'Plan B'.
What does Hobie hope to achieve with his 'Plan B'?
-Hobie hopes to figure out a different plan to get Duke, his dog, back home.
Why did Hobie write a letter to the military man?
-Hobie wrote a letter to the military man because he wanted his dog, Duke, back.
What was the response Hobie received from the military man?
-The military man responded by saying that Duke and he are now a team and he would bring Duke back when he can, but not because of a little sister.
What errand does Hobie's mom send him on?
-Hobie's mom sends him to get eggs for a new recipe she got from Aunt Ellen.
What is the name of the grocery store Hobie goes to?
-The grocery store Hobie goes to is Lee's Grocery, which is actually Mrs. Lee's house.
What rule does Mrs. Lee have about dogs in her store?
-Mrs. Lee has a strict rule against dogs in the store.
What does Hobie nearly do to his spotter model while being preoccupied?
-Hobie nearly glues the wings upside down on his spotter model.
What does Mrs. Lee give Hobie as a treat?
-Mrs. Lee gives Hobie two root beer barrels as a treat.
Who is Max's grandpa buying pigs feet from Mrs. Lee?
-Max's grandpa is buying pigs feet from Mrs. Lee at the grocery store.
What does Hobie teach the little girl about training her dog, Susie?
-Hobie teaches the little girl to use positive reinforcement with cookies to train Susie to sit on command.
What bad habit of Duke's does Hobie mention in his letter to the military man?
-Hobie mentions that Duke has a bad habit of chasing squirrels and can't be deterred from it.
What does Hobie hope will happen after sending the letter about Duke's bad habit?
-Hobie hopes that the military man will send Duke back because of the squirrel-chasing habit.

Outlines

00:00

📬 Chapter 8: Plan B and Grocery Errand

In Chapter 8 titled 'Plan B', Hobie is seen continuing his efforts to reunite with his dog Duke, who is currently with a military man. Hobie had previously sent a letter expressing his desire to keep Duke, but now he's considering a new plan. The chapter begins with Hobie running an errand for his mother to buy eggs and other groceries at Mrs. Lee's grocery store. Despite the rain, he's preoccupied with thoughts of how to get Duke back. At the store, he interacts with Mrs. Lee, who is fond of him, and with Max, a friend from school, who is helping his grandfather buy pickled pigs feet. Hobie also encounters a little girl struggling to control her Boston Terrier, Susie. He offers to help train Susie, using a cookie as a reward for good behavior, and shows the girl how to reinforce the 'sit' command without the treat.

05:00

🐾 Dog Training and a Letter to Private First Class

In this paragraph, Hobie assists a young girl in training her dog, Susie, by demonstrating how to use positive reinforcement to teach the 'sit' command. He emphasizes the importance of repetition and consistency in training. After their encounter, Hobie reflects on his own inability to cure Duke of chasing squirrels, a habit that might cause problems for Duke's current owner. This realization prompts Hobie to write another letter to the military man, Private First Class, warning him about Duke's squirrel-chasing habit and suggesting that Duke should be returned. Hobie hopes that by disclosing this information, he might increase the chances of getting Duke back. The chapter ends with Hobie mailing the letter, hopeful that it will result in Duke's return.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Hobie

Hobie is the protagonist of the story, a young boy who deeply cares about his dog, Duke. Throughout the narrative, Hobie is determined to bring Duke back after he was sent away to help in the military. His persistence in devising plans like 'Plan B' showcases his attachment and sense of responsibility for Duke.

💡Duke

Duke is Hobie's dog, who has been sent to help in the military during World War II. Hobie misses Duke and is constantly thinking of ways to bring him back, which reflects the central emotional conflict in the story. Duke’s relationship with Hobie symbolizes loyalty and companionship, with the added tension of Duke forming a bond with the soldier.

💡Plan B

Plan B refers to Hobie's alternate plan to get his dog, Duke, back from the soldier. This phrase signifies Hobie’s determination and adaptability, showing that he is thinking creatively about how to reunite with Duke. It suggests that Hobie’s first attempt failed, so he’s now considering a second strategy.

💡Squirrel

The squirrel represents Duke’s one bad habit, his inability to resist chasing squirrels, which Hobie highlights in his letter to the soldier. Hobie uses this flaw as a justification for why Duke should be returned to him, as it might cause trouble for the soldier handling Duke.

💡Mrs. Lee

Mrs. Lee is the owner of the grocery store where Hobie runs errands for his mother. Her interaction with Hobie provides a glimpse into the everyday life of the community during wartime, and her light-heartedness (e.g., offering root beer barrels) contrasts with the seriousness of Hobie's concerns about Duke.

💡Max

Max is Hobie’s friend, and their interaction shows a sense of normalcy and friendship in the midst of Hobie’s internal conflict. The script mentions Max helping his grandfather and inviting Hobie to read a comic, showing how childhood friendships persist even in times of personal struggles and war.

💡Military

The military plays an indirect but important role in the story, as Duke was sent to help the soldiers. Hobie writes letters to a military man caring for Duke, trying to convince him to send Duke back. The war effort and the role of dogs in the military highlight the larger context of World War II in the background of the story.

💡Obedience Training

Obedience training is a key concept in this chapter as Hobie helps a little girl train her dog, Susie, and reflects on Duke's inability to resist squirrels. Hobie uses training techniques like rewarding Susie with cookies to help her learn commands, which parallels his experiences with Duke and reinforces the bond between humans and their pets.

💡Letter

The letter is a significant plot device in the chapter, as Hobie writes to the soldier caring for Duke, explaining the dog’s bad habit of chasing squirrels. This letter is Hobie’s latest attempt (Plan B) to get Duke back, emphasizing his resourcefulness and emotional connection to his dog.

💡World War II

Though not explicitly mentioned in the script, World War II serves as the historical backdrop of the story. The war impacts Hobie's life directly, as his father is away and his dog Duke has been sent to assist in the military. The wartime setting creates a sense of urgency and loss, affecting family dynamics and personal connections.

Highlights

Hobie sent a letter to the military man asking for his dog Duke back.

The military man responded that Duke has become his team and he will bring him back when he can.

Chapter eight is titled 'Plan B' indicating Hobie's new strategy to get Duke back.

Hobie's mother sends him on an errand to get eggs and other groceries.

Hobie is preoccupied with thinking about how to get Duke back.

Hobie almost makes a mistake while working on his spotter model due to his distraction.

Hobie visits Lee's grocery, a small store run by Mrs. Lee.

Mrs. Lee has a strict rule against dogs in the store, which Duke used to ignore.

Hobie buys groceries and Mrs. Lee gives him two root beer barrels as a treat.

Hobie helps an old man with his groceries, showing his kind nature.

Hobie meets Max and they discuss Max's grandpa's love for pickled pigs feet.

Hobie helps a little girl train her dog Susie using cookies as a reward.

Hobie realizes that Susie's bad habits might get her returned to the pound.

Hobie writes another letter to the military man, mentioning Duke's squirrel-chasing habit.

Hobie hopes that mentioning Duke's bad habit will lead to Duke being sent back to him.

Hobie's mother prepares hot Ovaltine to warm him up after his wet errand.