THE MARKET SQUARE DOG
By James Herriot
Unit Overview
In this unit, you will be reading "The
Market Square Dog" by James Herriot.
In James Herriot's short story "The Market Square Dog," a
veterinarian and a policeman help a stray dog that is injured.
As we read, you will identify the themes
of Friendship & Family, Honor & Courage, and Love as
they relate to the text.
Background
James Alfred Wight (1916-1995), known by the
pen name James Herriot, was a British veterinarian and writer. Herriot used his
years of experience as a veterinarian to write books about animals and their
owners. In this short story, a veterinarian helps a stray dog that is injured.
Literary Terms &
Notes
Below is a flipbook
of important terms and notes that will help you understand the passage. It is important that you go over all the
terms and notes before reading the excerpt.
Let's Practice
Related
Media
Dogs React To Being Adopted
The video below will provide you with information about dog shelters
and what happens if dogs are not adopted. How do the fears of volunteers who
work with shelter dogs compare to the narrator's fears in the short story? How
do the dogs in the video react to being adopted? How does this compare to the
response of the stray in "The Market Square Dog"?
"Adopt, Don't Shop!"
The video below will provide you with additional information about why
it's essential to adopt pets rather than shop for them. Why do some people
choose to shop for dogs? How is this reflected by the people who come into the
shelter in "The Market Square Dog"? How do these choices negatively
affect dogs in shelters? How does the short story emphasize the importance of
adopting a dog in need of a home?
The Market Square Dog
You can read the passage two ways:
1. Click on Unit Resources and
read the printed version of the text.
2. Sign-up on "COMMONLIT"
and receive an enhanced version of the text.
As you read, take notes
on how the narrator feels about the stray dog.