(English III) Act One Scene 2/3 Study Guide- Jaren Katz

What was the money Gabriel received as a compensation for his injury used for?

It paid for Rose and Troy's house

According to Rose, where has Cory gone?

To football practice

At the end of Rose and Troy's conversation about Gabriel's money, where does Troy go?

To listen to a ball game on the radio

According to Troy, why doesn't he want Cory to get involved in football (sports)? What does Troy want Cory to do? (What is Troy's fear?)

According to Troy, he doesn't want Cory to get involved in football because, that's something that somebody can always take away from you, on the other hand Troy wants Cory to learn himself a real trade so he can make himself his own kind of living. Troy's fear is that Cory might fail, and he won't have a backup plan to follow his plan as making it into the AFL.

Why does Troy tell Cory he has to get another job?

Because Troy's the boss and what he says goes.

Why does Gabriel say his own name is not in Saint Peter's book?

Because he has already died

How much compensation did Gabriel receive as a result of his injury?

$3,000

Explain Cory's view on buying a TV and Troy's view on using the money for a roof. What is important to Cory? What is important to Troy?

Cory wants to buy a T.V because three of his friends have one and so he's able to watch baseball games and even the world series, also the TV is important to cory. Troy on the other hand would rather fix the roof than the TV because he has the responsibility of providing a roof over his family's head rather than luxuries.

Troy says that all he's got strength to do is __________ (fill in the blank).

Earn a living to support all the people who rely on him.

In what way does Troy say he doesn't want his son to end up like him?

Frustrated at not being able to have a professional career.

Who is Gabriel? Describe him and give his history.

Gabriel is Troy's brother who was injured in the war. He's got a metal plate in his head, and he received $3,000 from the government in compensation for his injury.

When Gabriel first appears, what is he carrying?

Gabriel is carrying a trumpet

What does Gabriel symbolize?

Gabriel, represents God and God's will. Troy struggles to get Gabriel to what he wants him to, along with Troy's use of Gabriel's money, reinforces the earlier stated idea that Troy is struggling to bend God's will to his own. Meanwhile, Gabriel's presence at the end of the play represents how Troy is finally united with God, with his and God's will finally in harmony.

Why does Gabriel suddenly run off from Rose and Troy's yard?

He says he hears the hounds of hell coming after him.

When Rose asks Gabriel if he wants breakfast, what does he say?

He says he usually eats breakfast with Saint Peter.

What descriptive word does Troy use when he complains about Cory to Rose?

Lazy

While they are working together, for what reason does Troy say Cory should be grateful to him?

That Troy put a roof over his head and food in his mouth.

What does Rose say Cory wants to hear from Troy?

That he did a good job.

What does Cory tell Troy about his job?

That the manager gave the job to somebody else.

Who does Gabriel think he is?

The Archangel Gabriel

After Rose sends Cory out to help Troy, what do Cory and Troy work on silently for some time before talking to each other?

The fence

What does the Fence symbolize, when we first see it in Act 1 Scene 2?

The fence symbolizes Troy's determination to live his life according to what he believes is right. On one level, Troy strives to keep the influences of the world out, including Cory's football ambitions and Rose playing the lottery, the way a fence keeps things out. On another level, though, the way Troy keeps Cory, Rose, and later his daughter close to him, making them live their lives on his terms, keeps them in the same way a fence keeps things in. The fact that at the end of the play the fence is in the same condition as it was in when the play started symbolizes how his ideals and dreams don't actually serve anybody, himself included.

What does Act 1 Scene 3 tell us about Troy?

The key element of this scene is the insight it offers into the character of Troy. The first major insight comes in his speech to Cory about responsibility, which essentially sums up who Troy is, what he's all about, and why he acts the way he does toward Cory, Rose, and later to his daughter. His insistence upon being called sir suggests that he feels he deserves respect for fulfilling those responsibilities.

What is the significance of Troy blasting a hole in forever when he is talking to Rose in Act 1 Scene 3?

The third major insight about Troy comes in his speech to Rose in which he refers to blasting a hole in forever. This is a reference to the act of sexual intercourse, specifically to his ejaculating into her. On a poetic level, however, the phrase indicates that to Troy, having sex represents immortality, the hope of fathering a child and that child being a part of him that will eventually go on forever. This gives us an indication of how much he cares for his children, no matter what misguided choices that caring leads him to make. This, along with his aforementioned sense of responsibility, foreshadows what happens later in the play when he brings home the baby he fathered by Alberta.

Whose names does Gabriel say are in Saint Peter's book?

Troy and Roses's

What lesson is Troy trying to reach Cory when they are talking about the $200 for the TV? What does Troy do that shows he wants to see Cory get the TV?

Troy is trying to teach Cory the responsibility of enjoying life when you've worked hard to earn it. When Troy says,"I'll tell you what... you get you a hundred dollars and I'll put the other hundred with it", this shows that Troy wants Cory to succeed and prove that he can show that he is able to fulfill that hard work.

What is Troy's response to Cory's question about why Troy never liked him?

Troy says that Cory is a responsibility but that Troy doesn't have to like him.

Describe the differences on how Troy and Rose view playing the lottery.

Troy says the lottery is a waste of money and Rose just plays for fun.

What does Troy tell Cory in response to his explanation about the football recruiter?

Troy tells Cory he needs a full-time job.

Why does Troy want to know where Cory is in Act 1, Scene 2?

Troy wants Cory to help build the fence.

Why is Troy's comment to Cory to not be like him, Ironic?

Troy's comment about wanting Cory to not be like him is deeply ironic in that by doing what he's doing, Troy is making Cory exactly like him. Troy is also behaving toward his son in exactly the same way as he says white people behave towards him, keeping him from pursuing his dreams and realizing his potential. In the 1970's, Hank Aaron, the baseball player referred to by Cory, became the holder of the Major League record for career home runs.