Long Way Down Character Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is Buck's real name?

James

What happened to Dani?

She got shot in a crossfire.

What does Uncle Mark want Will to verbalize?

That Will thinks he could kill someone.

The rules are meant for the __________ to follow.

broken Signup and view all the answers

What format effect is noted on page 245?

The words are scattered over the page. Signup and view all the answers

How does turning a page to get the last word impact the reader?

It adds suspense. Signup and view all the answers

What significance do the anagrams Will creates have?

They connect to deeper meanings in the story. Signup and view all the answers

What does Will's mother worry about when Shawn turns 18?

Going to jail, getting his girlfriend pregnant, and dying. Signup and view all the answers

Who does Will believe killed his brother?

Carlson Riggs. Signup and view all the answers

How does Will plan to avenge his brother's death?

By taking his brother's gun, finding Riggs, and shooting him. Signup and view all the answers

What do the flashbacks of Shawn throughout the book reveal?

Will and Shawn were very close. Signup and view all the answers

How much time passed during the elevator ride?

1 minute. Signup and view all the answers

How does Will recognize the first ghost that enters the elevator?

By his voice, shirt, and lack of hair. Signup and view all the answers

Why doesn't Will recognize Dani at first?

She is now as old as he is. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Uncle Mark start dealing drugs?

To buy a new camera. Signup and view all the answers

How does Will's father die?

He was shot for killing the man that murdered Uncle Mark. Signup and view all the answers

What does Will think his father's action of pulling the gun on him represents?

It represents the reality of being killed as an innocent kid. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Frick in relation to the story?

Frick killed Buck. Signup and view all the answers

What do Will and Shawn each break in their final conversation?

The rule of not crying. Signup and view all the answers

What does Will idolize about Tupac and Biggie?

They are from 'the hood' and lived lives with similar rules. Signup and view all the answers

What decision does Will reflect on at the beginning of the novel?

Whether readers would want to be his friend depending on if he kills Riggs. Signup and view all the answers

Provide an example of a simile from the book.

'lying there like a piece of furniture left outside.' Signup and view all the answers

Provide an example of a metaphor from the book.

'crowded in this cell, this coffin, this elevator.' Signup and view all the answers

Provide an example of hyperbole from the book.

'gun shots make everybody deaf and blind.' Signup and view all the answers

Provide an example of onomatopoeia from the book.

'more like bang.' Signup and view all the answers

Provide an example of alliteration from the book.

'a man who loved with precision, patience, and purpose.' Signup and view all the answers

Provide an example of repetition from the book.

'WAIT.Wait.Wait...wait.' Signup and view all the answers

Provide an example of personification from the book.

'howling, cutting through the sounds of the city.' Signup and view all the answers

Provide an example of connotation from the book.

'felt the imprint of the piece like another piece of me.' Signup and view all the answers

Provide an example of symbolism from the book.

'the middle drawer, the only thing out of place on Shawn's side of the room.' Signup and view all the answers

What is the setting of the story?

An urban area with violence and gangs. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Characters and Relationships

Buck, also known as James, was a significant figure in Will's life, akin to a big brother. He wore gold chains and had a distinctive shirt reading "Rip Buck you'll be missed 4eva."
Dani was a childhood acquaintance of Will's; she was shot in a crossfire and questions Will about why he needs a gun, emphasizing the futility of violence.
Uncle Mark, Will's father's brother, was involved in drugs to finance his aspirations for filmmaking. He pushed Will to acknowledge the seriousness of his intent to kill.
Will’s father, killed due to a revenge killing, had a close relationship with Uncle Mark, paralleling Will's bond with his brother Shawn.
Frick, who has a twin, murdered Buck during a robbery gone wrong for gang initiation. His actions instigated the cycle of violence affecting Will and Shawn.

The Rules of the Community

The community operates under strict rules: no crying, no snitching, and revenge-driven actions, reflecting the harsh realities faced by those who have lost loved ones to violence.

Themes of Revenge and Consequences

Will’s plan to avenge Shawn’s death by killing Carlson Riggs highlights the cycle of violence and misguided perceptions about honor and revenge.
The elevator ride, lasting a mere minute, symbolizes how quickly life can change, filled with exciting and dangerous encounters with ghosts of the past.
Will’s internal conflict about avenging his brother’s death grapples with the morality of his actions while confronting the ghosts representing past traumas.

Ghostly Encounters and Their Messages

Each ghost's appearance serves to challenge Will’s intent and provoke reflection, urging him to reconsider his perceptions of justice and revenge.
The presence of Shawn as the final ghost emphasizes the pain and strain caused by violence, as he listens to Will but does not support the quest for revenge.

Symbolism and Literary Devices

The elevator symbolizes confinement, restlessness, and the chaos of Will’s thoughts, contributing to the themes of fear and anger.
Use of literary devices, such as similes and metaphors, enhances emotional depth; for example, the elevator is compared to a coffin, evoking feelings of entrapment.
Anagrams created by Will symbolize the intertwining of words and meanings, reflecting his internal struggle with the events unfolding around him.

Significance of Music and Culture

Shawn admired rappers Tupac and Biggie, symbolizing their shared cultural background and the influence of street life on their realities. Both artists' fates mirror the violence that plagues their community.

Conclusion and Future Implications

The book concludes with uncertainty about Will’s fate, posing existential questions about choices affected by grief and conditioned responses to violence.
The emotional turmoil leaves readers to ponder Will’s potential trajectory—whether he follows through with revenge or chooses a different path.

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Description

Test your knowledge of the characters from Jason Reynolds' 'Long Way Down'. This quiz focuses on Buck, his characteristics, and his relationship with Shawn. Dive into the significant themes and connections that define the story.