Show:
Seventh Grade
Dirk the Protector
Amigo Brothers
Vocabulary
Literary Elements
100
Who is Michael, and why is he always scowling?
(Michael is Victor’s friend. He is always scowling because he thinks it will impress girls.)
100
How does Paulsen get the food, clothing, and shelter he needs to survive?
(He buys some food and hunts or “hustles” some. He buys school clothes with his meager earnings. He sleeps in the basement of an apartment building.)
100
What does the title of the story tell you about Felix and Antonio’s friendship?
(They were such good friends that they felt like brothers.)
100
What is a barrage ?
a heavy attack
100
What is the difference between direct and indirect characterization?
direct characterization tells the reader about a character; indirect characterization shows the reader about the character.
200
What is most likely the theme of this story?
(The story shows it is important to be true to yourself, no matter how tempting it might be to pretend to be someone else. The story also shows that life is full of embarrassing moments that you can live through—and get over.)
200
How does Dirk help Paulsen in his struggle to survive?
(Dirk protects him from the bullies who steal his money and threaten his safety.)
200
Describe how the end of the story reflects the theme.
(The end of the story shows that friendship is more important than who won the fight.)
200
Bedlam means
noisy confusion
200
What is a theme?
A universal message in a story meant to share a life lesson.
300
What is the major conflict of the story?
(Victor needs to impress Teresa so that she will be “his girl.”)
300
Describe two challenges that Paulsen faced and tell how he met each one.
Responses will vary. Paulsen’s challenges include the following: He needed a place to stay, so he made a place for himself in the basement. He needed money for food and clothing, so he took a job at the bowling alley. He did not make enough money at the bowling alley, so he delivered newspapers to bars late at night. He climbed down a fire escape and came upon a growling dog. To avoid being bitten by the dog, he offered the dog half of his burger. To avoid giving his money to the gang, he usually tried to run away, but they caught him and took the money anyway—until Dirk took on the job of bodyguard.
300
How does Felix and Antonio’s decision to avoid seeing each other before the fight help them to keep their friendship intact?
(The separation allows them to mentally prepare to enter the ring as opponents rather than close friends. At the same time, they make a commitment to come together afterward as if nothing had happened.)
300
What is a forerunner ?
one who came before
300
Define 1st, 2nd and 3rd person point of view.
1st = I, me, my - one narrator 2nd = you 3rd = he, she, it - outside observer
400
Will Victor try to make an impression in the same way again? Why or why not?
(Most likely Victor will not fake knowledge to try to impress someone again. He knows he was just lucky that Mr. Bueller allowed him to get away with pretending he could speak French.)
400
What caused Paulsen to leave Dirk on the farm?
He knew that Dirk was happy on the farm.
400
How do the boys’ similarities contribute to their friendship?
(Because they come from the same background and both enjoy boxing, they have a lot in common. They can spend time together working out and talking about boxing, and each understands what the other goes through.)
400
If you are at an impasse , you are
in a deadlock
400
What is point of view in literature? What is the point of view in "Dirk the Protector"?
the perspective from which a story is told 1st person
500
Why was Mr. Bueller least likely to embarrass Victor?
(Mr. Bueller had a similar experience in college.)
500
Which effect did Dirk have on Happy and the gang?
The gang never bothered the author again.
500
The people in the neighborhood are intensely interested in the fight between Felix and Antonio. How might this interest affect the two fighters?
(The neighborhood interest might put extra pressure on the fighters to do well in the competition and not let their supporters down.)
500
What does linger mean?
continue to stay
500
What is the theme of "Amigo Brothers"? How do you know this?
Friendship is more important than winning. The boys walk out of the ring together before the winner is announced.