Category 1: “Sucker” — Characters
Who is the narrator of “Sucker”?
Who is Pete?
What does the line “It was like when they play sad music in the movies” show about Pete?
He’s feeling emotional but can’t explain why.
What's an instance of family sticking together in either of the text and what's one instance of family not sticking together
Taking any
What bigger issue does the house in Clybourne Park represent?
The struggle for equality and the right to live where they choose.
What process or system do we use to answer constructed response questions?
CER, Claim Evidence Reasoning
What causes Pete to start being kind to Sucker for a while?
A dream about Maybelle that makes him feel happy.
Which BEST explains why Sucker’s voice “was a
shock” to Pete?
Pete is shocked to hear Sucker’s voice in the
quiet, dark night, especially because he has been
dreaming of Maybelle and forgot where he was:
“Then I dreamed about her and it seemed I kissed
her. It was a surprise to wake up and see the dark. I
lay still and a little while passed before I could come
to and understand where I was. The house was
quiet and it was a very dark night” (11).
How does Walter react when Mama tells them she bought a house?
He jumps up in fury and later turns away, angry and silent.
Compare and contrast Walter’s and Mama’s points of view in this scene and explain why they’re in conflict with each other.
Mama’s desire to give Travis a house (180–184)
• Mama’s view of the house as a legacy from Big Walter (186)
• Mama’s vision of each person having a special place of their own in the house (196)
• Mama’s idea that the house will give Walter pride of ownership (198)
• Ruth’s joy at Mama’s news (191–195)
• Walter’s concerns about where Mama has been (159–171)
• Walter’s immediate fury upon hearing Mama’s news (184)
• Walter’s disbelief and anger when he hears that the house is in Clybourne Park (201)
• Walter’s use of sarcasm to convey his belief that the house will bring them something other than
peace and comfort (206)
What system or process do we use to answer the writing prompt?
CUBE
How does Sucker feel about Pete at the start of the story?
He idolizes Pete and wants to be close to him.
What lesson does Pete learn by the end of the story?
That kindness must be consistent and hurting people can’t be undone.
What neighborhood is the house located in?
Clybourne Park.
The stage directions in this part of the scene
suggest that Mama feels _________ about telling
Walter and Ruth her news.
When Mama first tells Walter about the house, she
does so “Still to his back, fingering things on the
table.” This description of her not facing Walter
and fidgeting while she speaks suggests that
Mama is nervous.
How are we going to breakdown the text to understand it better?
Annotate
What emotion does Pete feel after realizing he’s been mean to Sucker?
What is guilt or regret?
Why does Sucker talk so fast in paragraph 24
He’s been waiting a long time for someone to listen.
What main conflict appears in this scene?
Mama vs. Walter’s dream — how to use the insurance money
What going on with Travis in that Scene?
In this scene, Travis comes home late and is about to get in trouble, but Mama interrupts to share her good news — she bought a house for the family. Travis’s excitement makes the moment joyful, and Mama uses him to remind everyone that the house is for their future.
What do you always use in your answer to a writing prompt?
Always restate the question in your answer, always use textual evidence to prove your answer
What does Pete remember doing to Sucker when Sucker lost a BB gun?
Pete kicked at him to make him be quiet.
In paragraph 27, Pete narrates, “I started to punch
Maybelle but couldn’t quite make up my mind.”
Which of the following BEST describes Pete’s
feelings when he sees Sucker at the movie theater?
In this paragraph, Pete’s feelings about Sucker are
conflicted. At the very beginning of the paragraph,
he starts to point Sucker out to Maybelle. This
suggests that he is feeling proud of Sucker or that
he wants to share him with Maybelle because
he feels warmly toward them both. But after
watching Sucker’s appearance and behavior (which
sounds goofy and a little embarrassing in Pete’s
description), he ends up not following through
on this instinct. He states, “I started to punch
Maybelle but couldn’t quite make up my mind” (27).
This shows that his feelings toward Sucker are
ultimately ambivalent.
How does Ruth’s reaction differ from Walter’s?
Ruth is thankful and happy, while Walter is angry and resentful.
Why Mama Didn’t Want to Tell Walter Right Away
Mama didn’t want to tell Walter she used the insurance money to buy a house because she knew he would be angry and disappointed.
Walter wanted to use the money for his dream — investing in a liquor store — and Mama believed that idea went against her values and would not help the family long-term.
So she was hesitant and afraid of his reaction. She hoped to protect him from hurt but also stand by what she believed was right for the whole family.
📖 Text Evidence (from the excerpt you shared):
Line 190–191: “(Quietly, looking at her son with pain) Yes, I did.”
→ shows Mama feels guilty and nervous because she knows Walter won’t be happy.
Line 196: “(She cannot help speaking directly to him... almost like a girl now) ... I figure if the new baby is a boy, we could get one of them double-decker outfits...”
→ Mama is pleading for understanding — she’s trying to soften the news so he won’t explode.
Line 200: “(Frightened at this telling) Well—well—it’s out there in Clybourne Park—”
→ The word “frightened” shows she’s afraid of how he will react when he learns the house is in an all-white neighborhood.
What are we going to do with time you are giving to test?
Maximize, use it wisely and efficiently, take your time bur do not waist it,