59 pages • 1 hour read
Elvira WoodruffGeorge Washington's Socks
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1991A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Chapters 20-23Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 20 Summary
Hooter shrieks at the slaying of Gustav; rebel soldiers see the children’s horror. The rebels accuse Matt, Q, and Hooter of being “runners” or spies loyal to the Tories. They threaten prison and are still suspicious even after finding a dollar bill on Tony, because although they recognize General Washington’s image, they don’t understand the name The United States of America. One soldier says that Tony and Katie, “the two little ones” (139), will be raised as patriots. The rebels are disrespectful to Gustav’s body by toying with his hat, which disturbs Matt.
Another soldier displays Israel’s blue glass beads that Matt must have dropped on the way to Mr. Hornbee’s farm. Before Matt can react, Captain McCowly appears, and Matt, trying to prove their loyalties, reminds him that he, Matt, was the one who brought General Washington’s cape. General Washington himself arrives and thanks Matt for bringing the warm garment on such a cold night. General Washington also says kind words to Katie and compares her to his own daughter; he gives Katie his spare socks. General Washington’s kindness emboldens Matt, and Matt requests that the glass beads get to Israel’s sister. Sympathetic to Matt, General Washington agrees.
Matt, Katie, and the boys sit to wait for the return trip across the river. They continue to mourn Gustav’s death and disparage war.
Chapter 21 Summary
The boys turn their attention to finding the rowboat, uncertain how and where to search. Katie says that she knows something, but Matt hushes her. Finally, Katie reveals that she knows the underbrush hides the rowboat nearby.
The name inscribed on the boat appears in a puddle inside, reflected. They see Emit Levart as it appears backwards: time travel. Katie hops into the boat and simply says aloud her desires: “I want to go home […] It’s too cold. I want to be where it’s warm” (151). The boat begins to vibrate, and Matt and the other boys are quick to jump in. The boat disappears.
With a scene break and a shift in point of view, the narrative continues in 1775. Captain McCowly frantically tries to convince General Washington that he saw the children board a boat and disappear. General Washington feels disturbed by Captain McCowly’s antics. His feet get wet getting into the boat. He realizes he gave up his dry socks but wishes the “little feet” well wearing them now.
Chapter 22 Summary
The scene returns to Matt, Katie, Q, Hooter, and Tony sitting in the rowboat. The water and air are warm. They speculate that willpower directs the boat. A paper-like object floats around Matt’s hand as he touches the water’s surface; it’s a chip bag. Relieved to be in their own time and lake, they all agree to keep the time travel trip a secret. They take care to hide the evidence, like Matt’s shoes from Mrs. Hornbee and General Washington’s spare socks. Katie agrees to trade these to Q, who can better hide them in his collections of odds and ends, for a bag of marshmallows. Some share their immediate plans: Hooter wants to eat; Tony wants a bath. Matt makes the others laugh when he says he will read more Adventures in History. He begins to list the things he’ll always remember from their very real adventure, and the others follow suit.
Chapter 23 Summary
Matt appreciates the comforts of home—TV, music, and air conditioning. At dinner, when their parents inquire about the campout, Katie reveals that General Washington gave her socks and that she found the boat, but Mr. and Mrs. Carlton assume that she means role playing history. Mrs. Carlton fears that Katie’s mention of the boat means that they went close to the lake, but Mr. Carlton assures her, “They were just pretending, like all kids do” (165). He compliments Matt for taking Katie on the campout, and Matt hesitantly thanks him. The story ends with Mr. Carlton requesting the sugar bowl, which presumably holds Matt’s discarded peas from dinner the night before.
Chapters 20-23 Analysis
Matt and the others now see that, in any conflict, there are humans on both sides. Gustav is Hessian, but he is kind and respectful, and he saves Katie’s life. When the rebels shoot him, the friends see that labeling the enemy isn’t so easy, as evidenced when Hooter says, “I don’t understand it […] Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? It’s not like on TV, where you can always tell” (144). After Matt respectfully closes Gustav’s eye, Hooter bursts out “I hate war” (145), a sentiment they all share.
Matt doesn’t lose his insistence and encouragement that they will get home, though he seems uncertain about finding the rowboat. He twice shushes Katie’s taunts about knowing something he doesn’t before finally listening to her; when it’s Katie who knows where the old boat is, Matt is not stingy with appreciation toward her, promising to make her vice-president of the club.
One more scene caps off the 1775 setting after the children magically disappear in the rowboat. The point of view shifts to General Washington, as readers are privy to his thoughts. Comic relief is evident, as General Washington assumes Captain McCowly is drinking and is imagining the spinning, disappearing rowboat. Washington tells him that, despite the victory at Trenton, “It’s not time for celebrating, yet, Captain” (152).
As the children realize they’ve successfully traveled home, Hooter’s remarks about food and Tony’s about hot water and towels solidify the theme of comfort. Upon arrival home, Matt flies around his house enjoying one modern convenience after another.
The theme of empathy for the “other” is evident as well when Hooter names Gustav as a part of their experience that he will never forget. The children all agree that they hate war, harkening to Matt’s awe at Washington and his soldiers’ courage at the beginning of the novel. Now, Matt’s perspective on war has changed.
A moment of humorous dramatic irony occurs when Mrs. Carlton tells Matt to change into clean clothes: “The way that boy looks after a simple backyard camping trip. You’d think he was just through a war!” (163). More dramatic irony ends the book, with Mr. Carlton complimenting Matt’s sense of responsibility with Katie, as well as asking for the sugar bowl, where readers know Matt stashed the peas the night before.
