Theme & Symbolism
What is a symbol?
An object, person, or place that stands for a bigger idea or meaning beyond itself.
How can a reader use context clues to determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word?
A. Look at the surrounding words and sentences for hints about the word’s meaning.
B. Choose the longest definition in the dictionary.
C. Skip the word and focus only on the title.
D. Guess the meaning without using information from the text.
A. Look at the surrounding words and sentences for hints about the word’s meaning.
What is the plot and what are the elements of a plot?
Plot- the sequence of events in a story. Each event results from a previous one and causes the next.
Elements- Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution
What is conflict?
Conflict is the problem or struggle that drives the story forward. Without conflict, there is no plot.
What is indirect characterization?
The author shows you what the character is like using clues
What does the wall likely represent?
A. The community’s shared history and values
B. A barrier that divides the community
C. Where the kids in the community play after school
D. Wealth and success in the community
A. The community’s shared history and values
What does the word "inscription" mean as used in paragraph 33?
A. A type of paint used by the artist
B. A colorful painting on a wall
C. A list of people in the neighborhood
D. A written dedication or message
D. A written dedication or message
How does the discovery of Jimmy Lyons’s name impact Lou?
A. It makes Lou want to leave the neighborhood.
B. It helps Lou realize that the painter lady has honored someone important to their community.
C. It makes Lou angry that the painter lady used a rainbow.
D. It causes Lou to finish his plan to paint over the mural.
B. It helps Lou realize that the painter lady has honored someone important to their community.
How does the painter lady’s arrival create conflict in the story?
A. She asks the children to bring her food from the restaurant.
B. She invites the children to help her paint a mural on the wall.
C. She paints over the wall that the children and neighborhood have used for years.
D. She teaches the children about the history of their neighborhood.
C. She paints over the wall that the children and neighborhood have used for years.
What does the following quotation reveal about the narrator?
“Then Lou gasped and dropped the paint bag and ran forward, running his hands over a rainbow. He had to tiptoe and stretch to do it, it was so high. I couldn’t breathe either.” (Paragraph 69)
A. She is surprised and deeply moved by what she sees on the wall.
B. She is embarrassed that Lou is touching the painting.
C. She is worried that the painter lady will become angry with them.
D. She is disappointed that the wall does not look the way she expected.
A. She is surprised and deeply moved by what she sees on the wall.
How does the author use symbolism to develop the theme?
A. The wall symbolizes the community’s rules and traditions, showing the importance of following and respecting expectations.
B. The wall symbolizes the community’s struggles and disagreements, showing the importance of standing up for what people believe.
C. The wall symbolizes the community’s differences and conflicts, showing the importance of protecting people from outside influences.
D. The wall symbolizes the community’s history and identity, showing the importance of honoring and understanding others.
D. The wall symbolizes the community’s history and identity, showing the importance of honoring and understanding others.
What does the author mean when she says that Side Pocket uses his “ain’t-I-fine” voice?
A. He speaks nervously because he is afraid she might fall.
B. He speaks loudly because he is angry with the painter lady.
C. He speaks in a polite and charming way to impress the painter lady.
D. He speaks seriously because he is explaining the painting.
C. He speaks in a polite and charming way to impress the painter lady.
In paragraph 29, what does the neighborhood’s gathering around the wall help reveal about the plot?
A. The neighborhood is preparing to remove the wall.
B. The painter lady’s artwork has become important to the community.
C. The narrator and Lou are planning to paint over the wall.
D. The people in the neighborhood are angry about the painter lady’s work.
B. The painter lady’s artwork has become important to the community.
How is the conflict between the children and the painter lady resolved?
A. The children paint over the mural and reclaim the wall.
B. The children realize that the painter lady painted the wall to honor their community and Jimmy Lyons.
C. The painter lady leaves the neighborhood before finishing the wall.
D. The children convince the painter lady to stop painting the wall.
The children realize that the painter lady painted the wall to honor their community and Jimmy Lyons.
In paragraph 1, how does the painter lady’s actions make the narrator feel?
A. She feels excited to see the painter lady working on the wall.
B. She feels angry because the painter lady is taking over a wall she believes belongs to the neighborhood.
C. She feels nervous because she thinks the painter lady might leave town.
D. She feels proud that the painter lady chose their neighborhood for her artwork.
Prove your answer with evidence.
B. She feels angry because the painter lady is taking over a wall she believes belongs to the neighborhood.
How does paragraph 25 develop the theme?
A. It shows that people may misunderstand others when they judge their actions without taking the time to understand their reasons.
B. It shows that people should protect their communities by refusing to accept help from outsiders.
C. It shows that people should avoid sharing their artwork when they know others may disagree with it.
D. It shows that people from different neighborhoods should keep their traditions separate from one another.
A. It shows that people may misunderstand others when they judge their actions without taking the time to understand their reasons.
List 2 things that you have to identify in order to answer the following question:
How is the conflict in the story resolved?
1. What is the conflict?
2. What is the resolution?
3. How does the story reach the resolution?
How do the events in paragraphs 27-29 lead to the narrator and Lou finding the neighborhood gathered around the wall?
A. Seeing graffiti in New York inspires the boys to buy paint, and their plan to use it leads them to the wall.
B. The painter lady leaves the neighborhood, and the boys follow her to the wall.
C. The Morris twins bring dinner to the painter lady, and the boys follow them to the wall.
D. Mama tells the boys to repaint the wall, and they gather the neighborhood to help them.
A. Seeing graffiti in New York inspires the boys to buy paint, and their plan to use it leads them to the wall.
Question: In the paragraphs 31-33, how does the narrator’s reaction to the mural show that the conflict is beginning to change?
A. The narrator realizes the painter lady has created something meaningful for the community.
B. The narrator becomes more determined to paint over the wall.
C. The narrator is angry because the painter lady has left the neighborhood.
D. The narrator decides that the wall should remain plain.
A. The narrator realizes the painter lady has created something meaningful for the community.
Why does the narrator likely drop her book satchel on Lou’s toes in paragraph 5?
A. The narrator wants Lou to know that she is ready to help paint the wall.
B. The narrator wants Lou to stop talking positively about the painter lady.
C. The narrator is worried that Lou will leave the neighborhood.
D. The narrator wants Lou to help her carry the painter lady’s supplies.
B. The narrator wants Lou to stop talking positively about the painter lady.
Which statement best describes the theme of the story?
A. Expressing yourself through art is the only way to heal from a tragedy.
B. Do not judge others before taking the time to understand their intentions.
C. Ruining someone else’s hard work is never the way to resolve a conflict.
D. Adults have a hard time understanding what kids find important.
B. Do not judge others before taking the time to understand their intentions.
What does the word “scheme” most likely mean as used in paragraph 29?
A. A plan or idea
B. A painting technique
C. A type of neighborhood celebration
D. A disagreement between friends
A. A plan or idea
In paragraph 16, how does the painter lady’s response to the Morris twins affect the narrator?
A. The narrator begins to respect the painter lady’s work.
B. The narrator becomes even more upset with the painter lady.
C. The narrator decides to help the painter lady finish the wall.
D. The narrator realizes that the painter lady is trying to help the community.
B. The narrator becomes even more upset with the painter lady.
Which of the following best summarizes the main conflict in the story?
A. The children are upset because a painter takes over their neighborhood wall, but they later discover that her mural honors their community and its history.
B. The children are angry because their parents will not let them play near the neighborhood wall.
C. The painter lady wants the children to help her paint, but they refuse because they are too busy with school.
D. The children want to learn how to paint, but the painter lady refuses to teach them.
A. The children are upset because a painter takes over their neighborhood wall, but they later discover that her mural honors their community and its history.
How does the author use the character of the painter lady to develop the theme?
A. The painter lady shows how art can bring a community together.
B. The painter lady proves that people should always work alone.
C. The painter lady shows how difficult it is to find a place to live in a new neighborhood.
D. The painter lady proves that adults should make all the decisions for children.
A. The painter lady shows how art can bring a community together.