4 How does ithe title help you infer the theme of this welection? Use ideas from the selection. 5 Why was Lily remembering that Thompson and sons had recently shut down important in developing a theme of this story?

Below are sample responses that show how you might support your ideas using details from the selection. You may need to adapt these answers if your class text provides more specific clues. 4. One way the title hints at the story’s theme is by drawing our attention to change—whether that’s the loss of a way of life, the end of an era, or even the conflict between past traditions and current realities. For example, if the title hints at something “closed,” “ending,” or “forgotten,” it sets the stage for an exploration of what is lost when familiar institutions or ways of life disappear. This prepares readers to consider how economic or social change impacts individuals and communities. Even if the title seems simply descriptive, its wording (for instance, invoking images of endings or isolation) can prompt us to think about how the characters relate to these larger transformations. 5. In the story, Lily’s memory of Thompson and Sons having recently shut down plays an important role in developing the theme. Her recollection is not just a passing detail—it symbolizes the disappearance of something fundamental to the community’s identity or everyday life. Remembering the closed business evokes a sense of loss and nostalgia for a time when local institutions provided stability and connection among community members. It also subtly reinforces the theme of change: as one local anchor falls away, it marks both an end and, perhaps, the beginning of something new. This detail forces both the character and the reader to consider how economic shifts or changing social structures can transform a community’s environment, revealing how even ordinary events have deeper cultural and emotional significance. In sum, the title and Lily’s memory work together to underscore the story’s central concern with change and loss, inviting us to reflect on how shifts in our surroundings affect our sense of self and belonging.