The Boy Who Loved Ice Cream

Question 1

Summary

Answer 1

This short story is about a little boy’s obsession with ice-cream. Benjy is a little boy who lives in
rural Jamaica. His family is extremely poor and the most important, and festive, day for them is
the Harvest Festival. It is an even more important event for Benjy because this is the only place
that he can access the coveted ice cream. Benjy has never tasted ice-cream, but he relishes the
very thought of it through the second hand description that is passed on to him by his sister.

Question 2

Setting

Answer 2

 The story occurs in the small town of Springville in rural Jamaica.
 The family is from an even smaller town called One Eye, located in the mountains of
Springville.

Question 3

Main Characters

Answer 3

Benjy
Elsa
Mother
Papa

Question 4

Characteristics of Benjy

Answer 4

 The second youngest child.

 He is a really intense child in terms of achieving his desires.

Question 5

Characteristics of Elsa

Answer 5

 Benjy’s older sister.
 She takes care of Benjy when his mother is busy.
 She introduces Benjy to the foggy concept of ice cream.

Question 6

Characteristics of Mother

Answer 6

 She was very progressive and forward thinking.
 She was a very sociable and friendly person.
 Always eager to go or do something different.

Question 7

Characteristics of Papa

Answer 7

 He was a farmer.
 The short story reveals that he was wedded to the soil.
 He did not like to go out.
 He preferred a predictable lifestyle.
 He was very jealous.

Question 8

Theme

Answer 8

Jealousy

Question 9

Symbol

Answer 9

Ice cream:
Ice cream, in this short story, is the symbol for anything that is intensely desired, anything that is
anticipated to bring great pleasure.