What's The Trouble?
The name for the problem or struggle that characters face.
What is conflict?
The person or character who tells the story
Narrator
Ghost watches the track team before he officially joins and begins to form ideas about what it takes to be a successful runner. He uses what he observes to make a prediction about how he might perform on the team. What is the term for an idea or explanation that someone develops based on what they observe or know?
What is a theory?
The narrator uses words like “I,” “me,” and “my” to tell the story from inside the character’s experience. What point of view is this?
First-person point of view
You see your friend staring at the clock during class. You think, “She must be bored.” You don't actually know why she's looking at it—you're making an educated idea based on what you observed. What is this called?
A Theory
Ghost describes himself as turning “red” when Lu continues to antagonize him. He wants to throw a punch, but he reminds himself of what is at stake and has to talk himself out of it. What type of conflict is Ghost experiencing?
Inner Conflict (Character vs. Self)
Ghost is a middle school boy who lives in Glass Manor. He dreams of becoming a basketball player but ends up joining the track team. His experiences, interests, and personal qualities all contribute to his ____________.
Identity
Throughout Ghost, running becomes more than just a sport for Ghost. As he works to become a better runner, it also represents his desire to move forward and create a different future for himself. What literary term describes when an object, activity, or idea represents a deeper meaning?
In Ghost, the narrator tells us Ghost’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences using “I.” What point of view does Jason Reynolds use to tell the story?
Answer: First-person point of view
A superhero's costume, family, hobbies, culture, personality, and experiences all help shape who they are. What concept describes the qualities and experiences that make someone who they are?
Identity
Brandon throws his drumstick at Ghost, causing Ghost to become angry. Ghost reacts by throwing his milk at Brandon and physically fighting him. This conflict is best characterized as...
External (Character vs. Character)
Ghost sits and watches the track team, but he does not want anyone to know who he is. This is a part of his identity that he would like to keep __________.
Anonymous
Ghost often connects with words and ideas about running, competition, and proving yourself. Imagine Ghost reading a poem about an athlete. The poem is divided into several groups of lines, with each group focusing on a different idea. What is each group of lines in a poem called?
Stanza
A narrator tells the reader, “You walk into the gym and hear the crowd cheering. You feel nervous as you get ready to run.” What point of view is being used?
You notice that every time a character sees a red light, they are about to make an important decision. You begin to think the red light has a deeper meaning in the story. What literary term describes an object, color, or action that represents a deeper idea?
Symbolism
Ghost is ashamed to admit that he lives in Glass Manor because he knows that people in the surrounding community often look down on the neighborhood. He also struggles to fit in with the track team and meet the expectations of others. What type of conflict is Ghost experiencing?
External (Character vs. Society)
When Ghost’s father was home, Ghost did not feel valued or noticed by him. He often felt overlooked, almost as if he were _____________.
Invisible
Ghost is told in chronological order, allowing readers to follow Ghost’s experiences as he moves from his life at home to joining the Defenders and facing new challenges. What literary term describes the way an author organizes events and information in a story?
Structure
If Ghost were rewritten so that a narrator outside the story described Ghost by saying “he,” “him,” and “his,” what point of view would the story be told from?
3rd Person Point of View
A story begins with the ending, jumps back to the character's childhood, and then returns to the present. What literary term describes the way the author organizes the story's events?
Structure
Ghost is determined to prove himself during a difficult track practice, but the extreme heat makes it difficult for him to keep running. He must push through the physical challenge caused by the weather in order to finish. What type of conflict is Ghost experiencing?
External (Character vs. Nature)
Ghost and Coach Brody view Ghost’s behavior differently. Ghost sees his anger and tough attitude as a way to protect himself, while Coach Brody sees it as something that could get in the way of Ghost’s success. What is it called when a character’s experiences, beliefs, and feelings influence the way they view a situation?
Perspective
Throughout Ghost, Ghost struggles with anger, his past experiences, and his desire to prove himself. What theme about overcoming challenges and personal growth is developed through Ghost’s experiences?
People can grow and change when they learn from their experiences and make the choice to move forward. (or something similiar)
Ghost tells the story himself, allowing readers to hear his thoughts, feelings, and reactions directly. How does using first-person point of view affect what readers know about Ghost?
It allows readers to understand Ghost’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences directly and see events from his perspective.
A character walks into a room and notices that everyone suddenly stops talking. No one says anything rude, but the character avoids eye contact, sits alone, and begins wondering if they were being discussed.
Based on these clues, what can the reader infer about the character’s perspective of the situation?
The character likely feels uncomfortable, excluded, or suspicious because they interpret the others’ behavior as a sign that something is wrong or that they are being left out.