4.

Question

Read the following passage from “The Sun Parlor,” by Dorothy West.

Why does West’s aunt dislike staying in the sun parlor?

Excerpt from “The Sun Parlor”

by Dorothy West

But at night she slept fitfully. The sleeping house and the separation from the flock were unbearable. She was afraid of the sun parlor, seeing it as an abnormal offshoot from the main part of the house, its seven long windows giving access to so many imagined terrors. She did not know if we would hear her if she called. She did not know if she would ever get well.

She cannot sleep because the sun is so bright.

It depresses her because someone died there.

It is difficult to climb the stairs to get there.

She feels separated from the rest of the family.

Answer 1

The aunt dislikes staying in the sun parlor because she sees it as an abnormal offshoot from the main part of the house, feeling separated from the rest of the family. She is afraid of the perceived terrors outside the seven long windows and does not feel safe or connected to the rest of the household.