What is contemporary poetry?
Who is this character?
Vocabulary
Close reading
What is the storytelling arc?
100

This refers to poems written from the mid-20th century to the present. They are often characterized by accessible and conversational language and exploration of modern themes.

What is contemporary poetry?

100

This is the main character whose brother was just shot, and because of this, he prepares himself to get revenge on the person who murdered him.

Who is Will?

100

The act of seeking vengeance for a wrong or harm done to someone.

What is revenge?
100

These are the three ______ used throughout the novel to justify Will's intended actions, which symbolize the cycle of violence created by generational influence. 

What are the rules?

100

This is when Shawn gets shot in the street on his way home and Will describes "The Rules" for the readers.

What is exposition?

200

This is the role of the poet within works of contemporary poetry. 

What is the storyteller? 

200
This was Will's childhood crush, who got shot and died when he was eight years old while they were playing on the playground together. 

Who is Dani?

200

The use of informal or casual language in dialogue or writing.

What is slang?

200

This is the author of Long Way Down.

Who is Jason Reynolds?
200

Will confronts Shawn's ghost, questioning if he should carry out the revenge

What is the climax?

300

Unlike traditional poetry, contemporary poetry often breaks away from more fixed forms and embraces this style of poetic formatting. 

What is free verse?

300

This man was like an older brother to Shawn, the first to appear in the elevator with Will on his way down to the lobby.

Who is Buck?

300

The repetition of violent behavior from one generation to the next.

What is the cycle of violence?

300

The author chooses this setting to convey his interpretation of how people experience grief and the oppressive nature of generational expectations.

What is an elevator?
300

Will rides the elevator with ghosts who challenge his decision to seek revenge.

What is rising action?

400

These are three common themes that can be found when reading works of contemporary poetry. 

What are identity, social justice, and personal experiences?

400

This person is who Will claims "had to be" Shawn's killer because he needed someone to blame and get revenge on. 

Who is Riggs?

400

The act of blocking or suppressing certain materials or ideas.

What is censorship?

400
These are the three central themes of the novel that guide the narrative in various directions. 

What is grief and trauma, the cycle of violence, and revenge vs. forgiveness?

400

After hearing from the ghosts, Will struggles with his emotions and starts to wonder if getting revenge is the right decision.

What is the falling action?

500

This author wrote a contemporary poem that we annotated, and then we compared it to a classic poem before starting our unit on Long Way Down. 

Who is Ocean Vuong?

500

This is the character who tells Shawn who was responsible for killing Buck because he witnessed it when he was around shooting hoops and "trying to fly." 

Who is Tony?

500

A situation where a character struggles with two or more difficult choices.

What is a dilemma?
500

This is the hidden reason why the author chose to introduce each of the ghosts in the order he did. Because of the impact it would have on Will’s decision-making. 

What are the five stages of grief?

500

Will decides to get Shawn's gun from the middle drawer and continue the cycle of violence that has consumed his community.

What is conflict?