Characters
What is the name of Will's older brother?
Shawn
Describe the symbol of the missing tooth.
The missing tooth represents the constant pain and reminder of losing his brother, Shawn, similar to the gap losing a tooth leaves behind
NO. 1: CRYING Don’t. No matter what. Don’t.
NO. 2: SNITCHING Don’t. No matter what. Don’t.
NO. 3: REVENGE Ifsomeone you love gets killed, find the person who killed them and kill them.
Which poetic device does the poem below use?
"Cut in half.
Half empty. Half cold.
Half curious about that one drawer..."
Anaphora
Which ghost does not smoke a cigarette?
What is Will's last name?
Holloman
What does the too-big T-shirt symbolize?
BEEF or grudges that get passed down
What event led to Will learning the Rules?
When Will was 8 years old he saw of his friends, Dani, get killed in front of him. Will's brother, Shawn, told him never to cry which led to Will learning the Rules?
What literary device does the poem below use?
"He was known around here for being as loud as police sirens..."
Simile
Why does Shawn have to go into the Dark Suns territory?
He goes to buy a special soap for his mother's eczema.
Which character always dreamed of making movies?
Uncle Mark
What does the middle drawer symbolize?
The middle drawer symbolizes something that is off track, like young Will and Shawn, as well as symbolizing the secrets that Shawn was hiding away from Will
What are Will's three reasons for being sure that Riggs killed Shawn?
1. turf, Riggs moved into the Dark Suns territory
2. crime shows, Will always knows who the killer is
3. had to be
DAILY DOUBLE
1. What literary device is used in the poem below?
2. What does it mean?
"Shawn’s face a candle, melted wax, flame flickering out."
Metaphor
Shawn was devastated about losing Buck, and his soul, or inner flame, began to flicker out, which could be seen on his face as his sadness was obvious
Explain how the instructions for a penny drop are relevant to Will's plan for revenge:
"If you let go too early you’ll land on your face. If you let go too late you’ll land on your back. To land on your feet, you gotta time it just right."
The instructions for a penny drop say that one has to time it just right, and Will must do this, getting to Riggs place early in the morning, if he wants to get away with killing Riggs because of his connection to the Dark Suns
Which character tells Shawn that he saw who killed Buck?
Tony, Will's friend
What does the bathtub symbolize?
The deep sense of regret that Will's father felt after killing Gee, he laid in the bathtub, unable to face his family
1. What did Shawn's mother try to warn him about after he turned 18?
2. Why might he not have heard?
Shawn's mother tried to warn him about the nighttime and Shawn probably had his headphones in, Tupac or Biggie
Explain the juxtaposition of bubble gum and blood, and connect it to Dani's character.
Bubble gum and blood describes the contrast between something innocent and something deadly, this is represented in the story through the loss of innocence children, like Dani and Will, experience because of gun violence
1. What was supposed to be Frick's dark deed?
2. Why did he end up killing Buck instead?
Frick was supposed to rob Buck, but he ended up killing him because Buck laughed at him and then lunged at him, causing Frick to become scared and leading him to shoot Buck
What character is referred to as 'a dimmed light post' after Shawn's death?
Will and Shawn's mother
Explain how the smoke in the elevator represents Will's anger or indecision throughout the ride.
As Will gets closer to the lobby, closer to killing Riggs, he becomes more anxious and less sure of himself and his mission for revenge; meanwhile, as more ghosts get on the elevator and smoke cigarettes, Will's indecision gets more choking, as well - finally, as he reaches the lobby, the smoke rushes out, and Will [presumably] stays in the elevator, sure that he will not kill Riggs
7. Buck
6. Dani
5. Uncle Mark
4. Mikey (Will's dad)
3. Frick
2. Shawn
What is the phrase below an example of?
ICE MAN CINEMA
How does this connect to Uncle Mark?
Anagram
Uncle Mark was killed, making Will's father an ice man, someone cold-blooded, like a killer
Uncle Mark always wanted to make movies because he loved cinema
What are the steps of the Dark Suns initiation?
1 TURF: nine blocks from where Will lives
2 THE SHINING: cigarette burn under the right eye
3 DARK DEED: robbing someone, beating someone