Name: Jorge Cruz
Directions: After reading the short story, “The Night I Won the Right to the Streets of Memphis” respond to the following questions in complete sentences. Then save your draft and post your answers to the questions page on Ms. Graves’ wiki.
1. Who is the protagonist of the story? The antagonist?
The protagonist is the boy who was sent to the store multiple times. The antagonist is the group of boys that were beating up the boy that was sent to the store to get groceries.
2. Are the characters consistent and motivated in their actions? Are they believable? Cite examples from the story to prove your answers.
The antagonist are consistent by repeatedly attacking the boy who was sent to the store. They are motivated to take the money that the boy who was sent to the store was carrying.
3. What is/are the conflict/s in the story? Is/Are the conflict/s physical, intellectual, moral, emotional?
The conflict is that the group of boys are attacking the little boy physically. Because of them beating the little boy up, the little boy is struck with fear of walking down the street.
4. What is the story’s theme? Or what message is the story trying to communicate?
The story is trying to show people that they will sometimes have to stand up for themselves. They won’t be able to hide from their enemies forever.
5. How do the various events in the story complicate the action or resolve it?
The event that resolved the story was when the little boy finally stood up for himself.
6. Is the ending happy, unhappy, ambiguous, open or closed? Was it a surprise, an unconventional ending? How does the ending relate to the theme: does it make the theme stronger or weaker?
The ending is a happy one, because the boy learns to stand up for himself and was finally able to go to the store to get the groceries. The ending relates to the theme because the ending showed, in the readers mind, someone standing up for themselves.
7. From whose point of view is the action seen? Is the point of view omniscient, first person, or objective? Are there shifts in point of view in the story and if so, why?
The story is from the point of view of the boy. This story is in first person and does not shift in point of view.
8. Is the setting important to the plot, or could the story have happened anywhere? Explain your answer.
The setting is important to the plot, but could have been anywhere, as long as they were in a neighborhood where there were groups of boys always hanging out.