Hoops
What is the main character MOST passionate about in the story?
Basketball
What kind of food does Winston enjoy eating at the beginning of the film?
Junk food; unhealthy food
Who is the main character in "Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto and who does he have a crush on?
Victor / Teresa
What point-of-view is the story written in?
First-person
Name a minor character from any story we've read this marking period.
Hoops - Dad, Dante, Police Officer
Feast - James, Kirby
Seventh Grade - Teresa, Mr. Bueller
The Tell-Tale Heart - Old man, Police Officers
What point of view is the story in? How do you know?
Second person point of view
Name a minor character in the film.
James or Kirby
Why does Victor want to take French? (Hint: There are 2 reasons).
2) He wants to go to France someday.
On what night does the narrator kill the old man?
The eighth night
Where does The Tell-Tale Heart take place?
A house
What is the name of the player at Muni Gym that challenges the main character to a game?
Dante
What does the parsley sprig symbolize in the film?
James and Kirby's relationship; Kirby's healthy lifestyle; Kirby's food choices; healthy food; the vegetables fed to Winston
What point of view is "Seventh Grade" written in?
Be SPECIFIC.
Third-person limited.
Why does the narrator confess to the police?
He feels guilty and thinks the police can hear the old man's heartbeat.
What lie does Victor tell in "Seventh Grade"?
He lies about speaking French.
Which event challenges the idea that basketball exists independently from real-world issues? How?
The police interaction and the discrimination both show that basketball is connected to real-life problems like unfair treatment and discrimination.
How would the film change if it were told from James’s perspective?
What new information might the audience learn?
We’d understand James’s emotions.
We would see how James feels about the relationship.
We might understand his sadness, frustration, or confusion more clearly.
What does Victor's behavior in "Seventh Grade" reveal about his character or his personality?
He is insecure, unsure of himself, and/or tries hard to impress others.
Other acceptable answers: he's determined, dedicated, motivated, eager-to-impress, self-conscious, nervous, hopeful, or embarrassed.
What does the sound of the heartbeat symbolize in The Tell-Tale Heart?
The heartbeat represents the narrator’s guilt and growing paranoia.
What is the FULL title of the story "Hoops"?
How to Transform an Ordinary, Everyday Hoop Court into a Place of Higher Learning and You at the Podium
How does the main character's view of his dad change over the course of the story?
You must use 2 specific examples from the story in your answer.
At the beginning, the main character feels distant from his dad because they don’t talk much about basketball. By the end, he realizes his dad supports him when he shows up to his game, helping him understand that his dad cares even if he doesn’t say it.
How does Winston’s final choice reflect his character development over the course of the film?
You must use specific examples from the film to support your answer.
Winston’s motivations shift from prioritizing food and his own personal desires to valuing relationships, loyalty, and family.
What memory does Mr. Bueller share in Seventh Grade, and why is it important?
Acceptable answers:
He remembers trying to impress a girl by pretending to be someone he wasn’t, which makes him understand Victor.
He recalls pretending to be rich, which helps him sympathize with Victor’s situation.
His memory of impressing a girl influences him to be kind to Victor.
How do changes in pacing mirror the narrator’s psychological state in the story?
Poe changes the pacing to match the narrator’s mental state.
Slower pacing shows the narrator being calm, careful, or obsessive, while faster pacing shows his panic and loss of control. This helps the reader understand how unstable he really is.
What was the essential question for this unit?
How do authors develop complex characters?