First Thoughts 
1. Does Mary seem like a typical teenager? Explain. 

Shaping Interpretations  

2. List three conflicts (internal or external) in this story. Which conflict seems to be the main one? Why? 

3. Explain the title of the story. In what way is Mary “too soon a woman”?  

4. In your opinion, does the eleven-year-old narrator become “too soon a man” as well? Why or why not? 

5. Is Mary a hero? What heroic qualities does she display? 

6. Explain the character’s motivation for each of these actions: 
    • At the beginning of the story, why does Pa refuse to talk to Mary? 
    • Why does Mary refuse to give the children any of the mushroom at first? 
    • Why does Pa ask about Mary when he returns? 

Connecting with the Text  

7. Would you have done what Mary did if you were in her place? Explain. (As Mary, can you think of a way to save the children without risking your own life?) 

8. Have you ever been given more responsibility than is usual for someone your age? Describe your experience being “too soon a woman” or “too soon a man.” How did it change you? (If you prefer, describe an experience someone you know or know about has had.) 

Challenging the Text  

9. “Too Soon a Woman” has also been published under the title “The Day the Sun Came Out.” Which title do you like better? Why?  

10. Do you think this story presents a realistic picture of life for Western settlers in the nineteenth century? Why or why not?