ENGL 2210 World Literature II
"The Man Who Was Almost a Man" Study Guide
- After reading the first paragraph, identify the narrator, the point of view, and the dialect.
- How old is Dave? What does he want to buy?
- Notice the subtle details Wright gives us, especially smells and reactions of his characters.
- What is Dave's mother's reaction to his coming home?
- What does the mother think of the catalogue?
- What does Dave's father think about it?
- What is Dave's mother's response when he asks her if he can buy a gun? How does he ask her?
- What are Dave's reasons for wanting a gun?
- What does the gun symbolize for Dave?
- Can you porovide several examples of symbols from everyday life that represent power?
- What is the condition under which his mother will let him buy the gun? Does he keep his promise?
- Why hadn't Dave fired the gun when he was out on the fields with it? How does he get around showing it to his mother at breakfast?
- Describe Dave's firing of the gun. Describe Jenny's reaction. What had Dave accidentally done?
- What does Dave try to do to help Jenny?
- What is the explanation he offers for Jenny's death?
- What is Dave's reaction when pressed to tell the truth? What is the crowd's reacion when he tells?
- What must Dave do to make up for shooting the mule?
- What is Dave's father going to do to him?
- Why does Dave lie about what he did with the gun?
- What are Dave's thought that evening when he can't sleep? What does he do?
- What is the most important thing in the world to Dave?
- Why does he run away?
- What is the meaning of the ending of the story?
- Think of the train as a symbol. What do you think it represents?
- What does it mean to "accept responsibility for one's actions"? How should one do it?
- Provide several specific examples of how Dave is treated by his parents, Mr. Hawkins and by other man that make him feel inferior.
- Provide examples of Dave's rebelliousness against his society?
- Focusing on aspects of Dave’s character, self-image, and experiences, how do you imagine Dave as a man in his 20's? Defend your answer.
- To what extent do you think Dave's parents and his society are responsible for his behavior? Do they keep him from maturing into a man?
- List all of the insults he receives from his mother and father, and from others.
- List all of the incidents where he is treated like a mule.
- At what point (not in the sense of age) in your own life did you feel that you were no longer a boy or a girl, but a man or a woman?
- How do your own parents and your society prevent you from becoming a man or a woman?
- How do young boys and girls in our society try to escape the pressure that prevents them from growing up into a man or a woman?
- Tough question! Is society better off without individuals like Dave? Should they celebrate his departure?
- Are individuals like Dave better off away from a society like his?