| General Knowledge | Basics of the Story | Basics of the Story | Themes/Lessons | Important Takeaways |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
There is no known origin.
What is the origin of the vanishing hitchhiker?
|
The side of the road near the spot of their accident.
Where is the vanishing hitchhiker picked up?
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She was carrying heavy books, bags, etc.
Why did the hitchhiker need a ride?
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The struggle of a parent after losing a child. Always being reminded even if the parent does not have people bringing items that belonged to the daughter.
When the mother of the hitchhiker opens the door and receives the items from the driver, she places them on a large pile. What theme could be drawn from this?
|
It shows them the harsh reality of parenthood once their children learn how to drive.
Why is the vanishing hitchhiker important to mothers and aspiring mothers?
|
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It spread too quickly. An original could never be identified.
Why does the vanishing hitchhiker not have an origin?
|
The place she was going before she died.
Where does the vanishing hitchhiker wish to be taken?
|
A lone man.
Who usually picks the hitchhiker up?
|
The frailty of life
The vanishing hitchhiker is a story of a teenager dying young. What theme could be drawn from this?
|
It teaches them that they have to be more careful behind the wheel.
Why is the vanishing hitchhiker important to teenagers?
|
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Not a survival of past cultures in any way, there are only certain elements which can be found in stories from previous cultures.
Does the vanishing hitchhiker have any connection to past cultures?
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Only a teenager.
How old is the hitchhiker?
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It is "proof" of her existence.
What is the importance of the belongings the hitchhiker was carrying?
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To be more careful when they are old enough to drive and realize that any person could end up like the hitchhiker in the story.
What is one lesson a teenager could draw from this story?
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It served as a fast-spreading model for all contemporary legends that followed it.
Why is the vanishing hitchhiker important to American folklore?
|
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It created a fast-spreading model for all modern legends that followed it (The Hook, The Killer in the Back Seat, etc.)
Why is the vanishing hitchhiker important to modern day folklore? (Hint: think why is has no origin)
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She disappears, the only trace of her is the belongings she was carrying.
When the hitchhiker arrives at her desired destination, what happens?
|
Windy, rainy, snowy, "anything but pleasant". Extreme weather conditions.
What is the weather around the time of the pickup?
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To teach their kids to be more careful so they do not end up like the mother of the hitchhiker in the story
What is a lesson mothers and aspiring mothers could draw from this story?
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It was the first documented American urban legend that had no ties to previous cultures.
In respect to its connection to other cultures, what makes the vanishing hitchhiker legend special?
|
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Many ghosts in European folklore haunt places of their death.
What is one element of the vanishing hitchhiker story which can be found in the folklore of other cultures?
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The mother of the hitchhiker.
When the driver arrives at the doorstep of the desired destination, what usually greets him?
|
White or black
What color(s) is the hitchhiker typically wearing?
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Young people dying too young and never reaching important milestones in their life
The hitchhiker in the story is always aspiring to get to her destination but never reaches it. What theme could be drawn from this?
|
The development of improved modes of transportation and media outlets
Why did the vanishing hitchhiker spread so quickly?
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