A Dark Brown Dog

by Stephen Crane (excerpt)

After a time, a little dark-brown dog came trotting with an intent air down the sidewalk. A short rope was dragging from his neck. Occasionally he trod upon the end of it and stumbled.

He stopped opposite the child, and the two regarded each other. The dog hesitated for a moment, but presently he made some little advances with his tail. The child put out his hand and called him. In an apologetic manner the dog came close, and the two had an interchange of friendly pattings and waggles. The dog became more enthusiastic with each moment of the interview, until with his gleeful caperings he threatened to overturn the child. Whereupon the child lifted his hand and struck the dog a blow upon the head.

This thing seemed to overpower and astonish the little dark-brown dog, and wounded him to the heart. He sank down in despair at the child's feet. When the blow was repeated, together with an admonition in childish sentences, he turned over upon his back, and held his paws in a peculiar manner. At the same time with his ears and his eyes he offered a small prayer to the child.

He looked so comical on his back, and holding his paws peculiarly, that the child was greatly amused and gave him little taps repeatedly, to keep him so.
. . .

One day, however, the father of the family got quite exceptionally drunk. He came home and held carnival with the cooking utensils, the furniture and his wife. He was in the midst of this recreation when the child, followed by the dark-brown dog, entered the room. They were returning from their voyages.
. . .

The head of the family saw him at this moment. He gave a huge howl of joy, and knocked the dog down with a heavy coffee-pot. The dog, yelling in supreme astonishment and fear, writhed to his feet and ran for cover. The man kicked out with a ponderous foot. It caused the dog to swerve as if caught in a tide. A second blow of the coffee-pot laid him upon the floor.
Question 11 of 17
Instructions:Select all the correct answers.
Select the subject and theme of the passage.

Subject: A little dog is adopted by a kind child.

Subject: A little dog is taken into an abusive home.

Theme: Keeping animals teaches children empathy.

Theme: Those who are abused learn to abuse the weak.

Subject: A little child receives a dog as a gift from his father.

The subject of a piece of literature can be defined as the topic, what the story is going to be about. The theme of the story is the idea that the author is trying to convey to the public.

In this story, the subject is abuse and a little dog, so the correct option for subject would be option B: "A little dog is taken into an abusive home". It is not option A because in the story, the little kid hits the dog, so he is not kind. Option E is also incorrect because the father does not give the dog to the kid, the child finds it on his own.

The theme of the story is about how abuse can be transmitted from parent to child. This is exemplified in the story because the father abuses his family and the dog, and when the child meets the dog, he also hits him, so he learned to be abusive. Therefore the correct answer would be option D: "Those who are abused learn to abuse the weak". Option C is incorrect because there is no mention of empathy in the story.