The Novel
This is the year the novel is set in.
1963
This is the struggle between opposing forces in a story.
Conflict
This character turns his head sideways to hide his lazy eye.
Kenny
This is how Kenny describes Byron in the first chapter.
As a juvenile delinquent.
In the text, Byron's lips were stuck to the _________. In the movie, Byron's lips were stuck to the ________.
Mirror, Window
This is where the novel begins.
Flint, Michigan
What is symbolism?
When an object, person, or situation has a deeper meaning than its literal meaning. It means something other than itself.
"About a million fingers pointed at the new kids and a million laughs almost knocked them over."
Personification
Momma puts her hand in front of her mouth because she wants to hide her gap tooth.
True.
This is why Byron and Kenny didn't want to hold Joey's head during the trip to Birmingham.
Joey drools a lot!
This is the author of The Watsons Go To Birmingham.
Christopher Paul Curtis
This is the story's central turning point.
The climax
This character got in some trouble when he kissed his reflection.
Byron
This is where Byron is supposed to go to to straighten up.
Birmingham, Alabama/Grandma Sands' house
In the movie, the bus scene is missing. Why is that scene so important?
That is when/where Kenny meets Rufus and they become friends.
Momma is from this place.
Birmingham, Alabama
Dad makes a big show of Joey getting to add this item to the Brown Bomber.
A car freshener "pine cone"
"Hambone Henderson had a head shaped just like a hambone."
A simile.
Joey is the middle child.
False.
This is what happens to Byron after he gets a "conk."
Dad shaves his head.
This is the historical period in which The Watsons Go To Birmingham takes place. During this period, minorities were fighting for equal rights in the United States.
The Civil Rights Movement
This is the part of the story after the characters and setting are introduced and where the events of the story begin to create suspense as the character faces conflict.
Rising Action
This character's house burned down when she was a little girl.
Momma
This is Byron's best friend.
Buphead
In the movie at the church, something different happened when he thought he saw Joey. What was different?
He didn't pull on little girl "Joey" and take her shoe like he did in the book.
This is the name of the place where Kenny almost drowned.
Collier's Landing
Kenny giving away his dinosaurs is a symbol for this.
Kenny growing up/leaving his childhood behind.
"It was so cold that if you were stupid enough to go outside your eyes would automatically blink a thousand times.."
Hyperbole.
Kenny saves Byron from the Wool Pooh.
False.
How long does Dad drive nonstop?
Almost 18 hours
This is the main theme of the novel.
The importance of family and friends.
This is the background information used to help the reader understand the events in a better way.
The exposition
This character stole Kenny's dinosaurs.
L.J. Jones
This is Byron's punishment for conking his hair.
Dad shaves it off
In the movie, things move a lot faster than in the book. Why do you think most people prefer reading the text before watching the movie?
If you read the book before watching the movie, you'll better understand the characters, their behaviors, and major details leading up to the climax and the resolution.
This is the chapter in which the Watsons start to drive to Birmingham.
Chapter 9
The "wool pooh" symbolized what for Kenny?
Death, and how a person can die from just swimming.
"Hambone Henderson had more bumps and knots on his head than a dinosaur."
Metaphor.
According to Mrs. Watson, the trip to Birmingham should take 3 days.
True
According to Byron, this is where frozen people go.
They get picked up by the garbage truck man.
This is the genre of the book.
Historical Fiction
This is the end of the story. It occurs after the climax. It is when you learn what happens to the characters after the conflict is resolved.
The resolution
This character is the "King" of the school.
Larry Dunn.
Byron signs for these at the grocery store without Momma's permission.
Swedish Cremes, cookies
Name one scene from the novel that was not included in the movie.
-When Kenny meets Rufus for the first time on the bus to Clark Elementary School
-When Byron comes to Kenny's rescue, to fight the bully, Larry Dunn
-Mrs. Watson’s attempt to burn Byron’s fingers with a match, after she catches him lighting toys on fire
This is the name of the church that got bombed in Birmingham.
The 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama.
This is where Kenny spends most of his time when he gets back from Burmingham.
Behind the couch in the "World Famous Watsons Pet Hospital."
"I bet Byron's lips stretched a mile before they finally let go of that mirror. I bet his lips looked like a giant rubber band before they snapped away from the glass." What are the two examples of figurative language here?
Hyperbole and simile.
Byron helps Kenny out of his depression.
True
This is what Larry Dunn calls his signature move of smashing snow in people's faces.
He calls it a "Maytag Wash."