Peace Like a River Chapters 1-3 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Who is Davy?

Reuben's brother, 16, impulsive, mature.

Who is Reuben?

11, doubtful, has asthma, shy.

Who is Swede?

Reuben's sister, 8, very smart, very mature, confident.

Who is Jeremiah?

Reuben's dad, very religious, has miracles associated with him. Signup and view all the answers

What is Jeremiah's first miracle?

Reuben's survival. Signup and view all the answers

What is Jeremiah's second miracle?

Reuben having no brain damage. Signup and view all the answers

What is Jeremiah's third miracle?

Walking on air. Signup and view all the answers

What is Jeremiah's job?

School janitor. Signup and view all the answers

What happened in the Dolly situation?

Tommy Basca and Israel Finch are going to beat her up, lights go out, she hits Israel in neck with padlock, they are about to do bad things to her, Jeremiah steps in and saves her. Signup and view all the answers

When was Reuben born and who are his parents?

1951, Jeremiah and Helen Land. Signup and view all the answers

What was Jeremiah doing at the time of Reuben's birth?

Pacing outside the hospital, when God told him that Reuben was in trouble. Signup and view all the answers

What did Dr. Nokes tell Jeremiah when he was trying to get Reuben to breathe?

Reuben has been dead for over 12 minutes already and would have brain damage if he survived. Signup and view all the answers

What did Jeremiah do to the doctor?

Hit him and he went down and got Reuben to breathe. Signup and view all the answers

Does Reuben have brain damage?

False Signup and view all the answers

Whose farm are they goose hunting at?

August Schultz's. Signup and view all the answers

Davy tells Reuben to try and shoot his first goose. What happens?

He misses the first 2 shots, desperately shoots a third time and hits the bird, Swede chases it. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when Swede chases the bird?

She is convinced the goose is trying to kill her and is chased. Signup and view all the answers

What happens while Swede is being chased?

Davy breaks the bird's neck and kills it while Jeremiah is hysterically laughing. Signup and view all the answers

When they get back to the farm with the goose, what happens?

Davy offers to help Reuben clean it but Reuben says no and Swede tells him all the steps until he says stop. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Swede want Reuben to forgive her?

For running away from the goose. Signup and view all the answers

In chapter 2, what does Swede tell Reuben when he asks what is wrong with Davy?

He is upset because 2 boys beat up his girlfriend Dolly and dad stopped the fight but will not give Davy more details. Signup and view all the answers

Who beat up Dolly?

Tommy Basca and Israel Finch. Signup and view all the answers

In the morning in chapter 2, what does Davy say to Reuben?

The boys who beat Dolly made threats to Jeremiah's family. Signup and view all the answers

What happens at the end of chapter 2?

Jeremiah is pacing and praying on his truck and walks off the truck but does not fall. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the family returns home in chapter 3?

They find their door tarred and Reuben has trouble breathing. Signup and view all the answers

What does Reuben compare breathing with asthma to?

It gets sticky and spongy. Signup and view all the answers

What does Jeremiah say to Reuben at home in chapter 3?

He gives more details about what happened: escalating just like war, Dolly went to locker room to get shoes when trapped by Finch and Basca, he was in boys locker room, Dolly threw a padlock at Israel to the left of his Adams Apple, they started to slap her, Jeremiah beat them up, he says they already won the war. Signup and view all the answers

What happens in church?

Reuben leaves service to be with Bethany Orchard, they make pancakes and share an orange, Reverend Johnny talks in tongues and Jeremiah passes out, Rev. Johnny touches Jeremiah and then Reuben. Signup and view all the answers

What do they find when they get home from church?

The war has paid a visit and Swede met them at the door. Signup and view all the answers

How does Reuben describe the touch from Rev. Johnny?

Not good, powerful, lights snap, era plug and then open, lungs ease. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Main Characters

Davy: Reuben's older brother, 16 years old; characterized by impulsiveness and maturity.
Reuben: The protagonist, 11 years old; shy, doubtful, suffers from asthma.
Swede: Reuben's 8-year-old sister; exceptionally intelligent, mature, and confident.
Jeremiah: Reuben's father; deeply religious and associated with miraculous events.

Miracles of Jeremiah

First Miracle: Reuben's survival after a critical incident at birth.
Second Miracle: Reuben has no brain damage despite being dead for over 12 minutes.
Third Miracle: Jeremiah describes a mystical experience of "walking on air."

Reuben's Birth

Reuben was born in 1951 to Jeremiah and Helen Land.
Jeremiah felt God communicated with him while pacing outside the hospital during Reuben's birth, foreseeing trouble.

Conflict and Tension

Dolly's Situation: Davy intervenes when his girlfriend Dolly is threatened by Tommy Basca and Israel Finch; Jeremiah saves Dolly from being assaulted.
Davy's Struggles: Davy expresses anger and frustration toward schoolmates who hurt Dolly, feeling unsupported by his father.

Goose Hunting Incident

The family goes goose hunting on August Schultz's farm; Reuben initially misses his shots, hits a goose on the third try, causing chaos.
Swede's comedic chase of the injured goose results in Davy killing it while Jeremiah laughs.

Family Dynamics

After a goose hunting outing, Davy offers to help Reuben clean the bird, but he declines. Swede insists on detailing the cleaning steps, reflecting their sibling dynamic.
Throughout chapter 2, Davy warns Reuben of threats to their family, indicating rising tensions in their lives.

Church and Spiritual Moments

During church, Reuben sneaks out to be with his crush, Bethany Orchard, while Reverend Johnny speaks in tongues. This results in Jeremiah passing out.
The church service highlights Jeremiah's spiritual fervor and the family's connection to their faith.

Aftermath of Conflict

Returning home, the family confronts vandalism (their door is tarred) and Reuben's worsening asthma.
Reuben describes his asthma as feeling "sticky and spongy," illustrating his struggles with the condition.

Summary of Key Events

The family's situation escalates with threats and violence surrounding Davy and his girlfriend.
Reuben's breathing difficulties and the family's prayerful dynamics underscore the themes of faith, struggle, and resilience present in their lives.
The story builds on the interaction between family members, the impact of violence on their lives, and the strong religious foundation they rely on in challenging times.

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Test your knowledge of the early chapters of 'Peace Like a River'. These flashcards cover key characters and their traits, focusing on the main figures such as Reuben, Davy, Swede, and Jeremiah. Perfect for reinforcing your understanding of the book's foundation.