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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who was Buck to Shawn, as said by Will in Chapter Two?

2. What does Buck ask Will about the gun in Chapter Two that Will has not thought about?

3. Who is the man on the elevator with Will in Chapter Two?

4. What does the girl first say to Will in Chapter Three?

5. What does Will think about himself when he thinks that Buck is not taking him seriously in Chapter Two?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who gets on the elevator in Chapter Three? How do Will and the new person first interact?

2. What happens on the day of the picture that Dani shows to Will in Chapter Three?

3. What does Will insist to the reader directly after he introduces himself in the beginning of Chapter One? Why does he say he does this?

4. How does Shawn come to teach Will The Rules as explained in Chapter Three? What does Will feel after he is taught the Rules?

5. What does Dani ask Will when he tells her his plan in Chapter Three? How does he respond?

6. Who was Buck to Shawn as described in Chapter Two? What does Buck give Shawn and teach him?

7. What does Will compare his mother’s eczema to in Chapter One? And how does he turn this into wordplay talking about the grudges in the neighborhood?

8. What does Will think Buck is thinking about him in Chapter Two? What does Will assert about himself to the reader in response?

9. What is the metaphor Will describes in Chapter Three about God displaying his children?

10. Who does Will think has killed Shawn in Chapter One? Why does Will think this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter Four of the novel, film techniques are used to illustrate the center of the story. In early lessons, the novel’s connection to rap music was discussed. What is the effect of having the novel contain so many genre forms? Why are so many different kinds of media referenced and contained in the novel? How does this enhance the story of the novel? Pull from at least four textual examples to support your exploratory claim.

Essay Topic 2

Think about the ending of the “The Scene” in Chapter Four where Will says he shoots after some reluctance. Consider how many generations are represented repeating a similar pattern of revenge. Why does Will not want to shoot? Does Will have free will to choose to shoot or not shoot? Why or why not? Argue why or why he does not have free will and connect this to the ending of the novel. What does the ending suggest about free will?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast how Pop feels and acts after shooting Ghee to how Will feels and acts after Dani dies. What similarities exist between the two scenes? What is the novel saying about death by having these similarities? What themes is the novel trying to evoke with these two passages? Write a claim about the purpose of comparing the theme, and draw on at least two other sections in the novel to support your claim.

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