Podcast
Questions and Answers
Who is the story about and what is going to happen to him?
Who is the story about and what is going to happen to him?
A man named Eddie. He is going to die and go to heaven.
Describe Ruby Pier.
Describe Ruby Pier.
The park had a boardwalk, a Ferris wheel, roller coasters, bumper cars, a taffy stand, and an arcade.
Briefly describe Eddie.
Briefly describe Eddie.
Eddie was a squat, white-haired old man, with a short neck, a barrel chest, thick forearms, and a faded army tattoo on his right shoulder. His legs were thin and veined now, and his left knee, wounded in the war, was ruined by arthritis. His face was broad and craggy from the sun.
What's Eddie's job?
What's Eddie's job?
If Eddie could 'hear' trouble in the rides, what does this suggest about him?
If Eddie could 'hear' trouble in the rides, what does this suggest about him?
Why does Eddie like kids better than teenagers?
Why does Eddie like kids better than teenagers?
Is Eddie's job at Ruby Pier the job he always wanted?
Is Eddie's job at Ruby Pier the job he always wanted?
Do you think Eddie and Dominguez get along well?
Do you think Eddie and Dominguez get along well?
Describe Eddie's 'One true-love snapshot.'
Describe Eddie's 'One true-love snapshot.'
What does Eddie do/make for the little girl?
What does Eddie do/make for the little girl?
How did Eddie die and why did he put himself in such danger?
How did Eddie die and why did he put himself in such danger?
What decade in the 1900s was Eddie born?
What decade in the 1900s was Eddie born?
Did Eddie die trying to save the little girl?
Did Eddie die trying to save the little girl?
Did Eddie save the little girl?
Did Eddie save the little girl?
Why do you think Eddie doesn't feel worry or pain?
Why do you think Eddie doesn't feel worry or pain?
How old is Eddie? And what is his party like?
How old is Eddie? And what is his party like?
Where does Eddie wake up? How is it different from what he remembered at the end of his life?
Where does Eddie wake up? How is it different from what he remembered at the end of his life?
How is Eddie different? What can he do that he hadn't done (or been able to do) for years?
How is Eddie different? What can he do that he hadn't done (or been able to do) for years?
At the end of the chapter, who is waiting for Eddie?
At the end of the chapter, who is waiting for Eddie?
Why does Eddie feel like a child?
Why does Eddie feel like a child?
Describe the Blue Man.
Describe the Blue Man.
Where does the Blue Man tell Eddie he is? Why isn't Eddie happy with the answer?
Where does the Blue Man tell Eddie he is? Why isn't Eddie happy with the answer?
According to the Blue Man, what is the purpose of heaven and how does it tie into the title: The Five People You Meet in Heaven?
According to the Blue Man, what is the purpose of heaven and how does it tie into the title: The Five People You Meet in Heaven?
What killed the Blue Man?
What killed the Blue Man?
How do you think the Blue Man's revelation about who killed him affected Eddie?
How do you think the Blue Man's revelation about who killed him affected Eddie?
Based upon what happened in this section, who is braver: Eddie or Joe?
Based upon what happened in this section, who is braver: Eddie or Joe?
Describe the Blue Man's childhood. Why doesn't his father care for him?
Describe the Blue Man's childhood. Why doesn't his father care for him?
Why is the Ruby Pier in the 1920s the Blue Man's heaven?
Why is the Ruby Pier in the 1920s the Blue Man's heaven?
How did the Blue Man die? What was the initial cause that set things in motion?
How did the Blue Man die? What was the initial cause that set things in motion?
Where does Eddie unwillingly go on his 8th birthday?
Where does Eddie unwillingly go on his 8th birthday?
Explain what the Blue Man meant when he says to Eddie, 'We are all connected.'
Explain what the Blue Man meant when he says to Eddie, 'We are all connected.'
What do you believe the Blue Man meant when he said to Eddie, 'Strangers are just family you have yet to come to know'?
What do you believe the Blue Man meant when he said to Eddie, 'Strangers are just family you have yet to come to know'?
Which parent (Eddie's father or mother) seems more engaged in Eddie's life?
Which parent (Eddie's father or mother) seems more engaged in Eddie's life?
What does Eddie find that scares him, even in heaven?
What does Eddie find that scares him, even in heaven?
Why does Eddie decide to sign up and go to war?
Why does Eddie decide to sign up and go to war?
Who did Eddie meet in the tree? Where had they fought together?
Who did Eddie meet in the tree? Where had they fought together?
Of all the things Eddie learned during the war, list the three that you believe would be the most profound or life-changing.
Of all the things Eddie learned during the war, list the three that you believe would be the most profound or life-changing.
Why does Eddie think he lived a 'nothing life'?
Why does Eddie think he lived a 'nothing life'?
Describe Eddie's captivity.
Describe Eddie's captivity.
What event changed Eddie's (and the Captain's) attitude and showed why they focused on escape afterward?
What event changed Eddie's (and the Captain's) attitude and showed why they focused on escape afterward?
What carnival/Ruby Pier skill did Eddie use to help engineer his escape?
What carnival/Ruby Pier skill did Eddie use to help engineer his escape?
How long had Eddie and his fellow soldiers been held captive?
How long had Eddie and his fellow soldiers been held captive?
Why did Eddie go into the burning building? What does this say about him as a person despite all that had happened to him in the last 6 months?
Why did Eddie go into the burning building? What does this say about him as a person despite all that had happened to him in the last 6 months?
What difficulty did the Captain (with respect to soldiers under him) have during the war and how did he try to deal with or solve it?
What difficulty did the Captain (with respect to soldiers under him) have during the war and how did he try to deal with or solve it?
Why did Eddie attack the Captain when he learned it was he who shot Eddie in the leg?
Why did Eddie attack the Captain when he learned it was he who shot Eddie in the leg?
What was the lesson the Captain explained to Eddie about sacrifice?
What was the lesson the Captain explained to Eddie about sacrifice?
What did the Captain mean when he said, 'Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you're really not losing it. You're just passing it on to someone else'?
What did the Captain mean when he said, 'Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you're really not losing it. You're just passing it on to someone else'?
What had the Captain been waiting for that Eddie gave him? Why do you think this was important to the Captain?
What had the Captain been waiting for that Eddie gave him? Why do you think this was important to the Captain?
Does Dominguez and Willie's response at work to Eddie's death seem normal? Why or why not?
Does Dominguez and Willie's response at work to Eddie's death seem normal? Why or why not?
Whom did Eddie see in the diner that upset him or got Eddie's attention?
Whom did Eddie see in the diner that upset him or got Eddie's attention?
Why do you think Eddie is upset (to the point of tears) when his father stares at Eddie's wounded leg?
Why do you think Eddie is upset (to the point of tears) when his father stares at Eddie's wounded leg?
Eddie's father damaged his son in a number of ways. Briefly explain how each happened.
Eddie's father damaged his son in a number of ways. Briefly explain how each happened.
Why, while sitting at the docks, did Eddie feel he was like the fish pulled in on the nets?
Why, while sitting at the docks, did Eddie feel he was like the fish pulled in on the nets?
What was the connection between railroads and amusement parks?
What was the connection between railroads and amusement parks?
What was the old woman's name and her connection to Ruby Pier?
What was the old woman's name and her connection to Ruby Pier?
What bars happiness and joy from Eddie's life?
What bars happiness and joy from Eddie's life?
What devastated Ruby and Emile's future and broke his spirit?
What devastated Ruby and Emile's future and broke his spirit?
Why is Ruby there/what is she going to tell Eddie?
Why is Ruby there/what is she going to tell Eddie?
When Eddie held up his hands, showing his dying father his grease-stained fingertips, what was he 'saying' to his father?
When Eddie held up his hands, showing his dying father his grease-stained fingertips, what was he 'saying' to his father?
What does Eddie believe caused his father's pneumonia?
What does Eddie believe caused his father's pneumonia?
What did Eddie take of his father's from the drawer? Why did he take that to represent 'a piece of his father'?
What did Eddie take of his father's from the drawer? Why did he take that to represent 'a piece of his father'?
Why did Eddie 'curse his father'?
Why did Eddie 'curse his father'?
Why did Eddie's father save Mickey instead of killing him or letting him drown?
Why did Eddie's father save Mickey instead of killing him or letting him drown?
What was Eddie's father's last act? Why do you think he did this?
What was Eddie's father's last act? Why do you think he did this?
What does Ruby say to Eddie about anger? Do you agree?
What does Ruby say to Eddie about anger? Do you agree?
If you were Eddie, thinking about all that had happened, could you forgive your father as Ruby said Eddie needed to do?
If you were Eddie, thinking about all that had happened, could you forgive your father as Ruby said Eddie needed to do?
What did Eddie mean when he told the spirit of his father, 'It's fixed'?
What did Eddie mean when he told the spirit of his father, 'It's fixed'?
What events does Eddie keep 'stepping' into?
What events does Eddie keep 'stepping' into?
Whom does Eddie meet that he knows (4th person)?
Whom does Eddie meet that he knows (4th person)?
Although Eddie had been promoted to Head of Maintenance, how did his job compare to his brother, Joe's?
Although Eddie had been promoted to Head of Maintenance, how did his job compare to his brother, Joe's?
Did Eddie's wife, Marguerite, already meet her five people?
Did Eddie's wife, Marguerite, already meet her five people?
What happens to Marguerite as she is driving to the track to get Eddie?
What happens to Marguerite as she is driving to the track to get Eddie?
What illness kills Marguerite, how old is she when she dies, and what is the last familiar thing she sees before going into the hospital?
What illness kills Marguerite, how old is she when she dies, and what is the last familiar thing she sees before going into the hospital?
What is one old, warm feeling that Eddie had missed for years, but found again in Heaven?
What is one old, warm feeling that Eddie had missed for years, but found again in Heaven?
Eddie's wife tells him, 'Lost love is still love, Eddie. It takes a different form, that's all.' What does she mean?
Eddie's wife tells him, 'Lost love is still love, Eddie. It takes a different form, that's all.' What does she mean?
Why do you think Eddie asked his wife to change back to the age when he last knew her?
Why do you think Eddie asked his wife to change back to the age when he last knew her?
About what age is Eddie (or does he feel/appear) now? How can you tell?
About what age is Eddie (or does he feel/appear) now? How can you tell?
What person signals to Eddie? Who do you think it might be?
What person signals to Eddie? Who do you think it might be?
How does Eddie's life progress through his birthdays, from 51 to 82?
How does Eddie's life progress through his birthdays, from 51 to 82?
When Eddie is in the cemetery, visiting his relatives, and stops at his wife's last resting place, what does he think about taffy?
When Eddie is in the cemetery, visiting his relatives, and stops at his wife's last resting place, what does he think about taffy?
Who is Tala, the little girl, and how did she die?
Who is Tala, the little girl, and how did she die?
What does Tala reveal to Eddie, when he tries to explain that he was a nothing person and his life was nothing?
What does Tala reveal to Eddie, when he tries to explain that he was a nothing person and his life was nothing?
Did Eddie save the little girl at Ruby Pier?
Did Eddie save the little girl at Ruby Pier?
Whose hands did Eddie feel, and why were they there when he was trying to save the little girl at Ruby Pier?
Whose hands did Eddie feel, and why were they there when he was trying to save the little girl at Ruby Pier?
Why were there thousands of people at the pier? What does this say about Eddie's life?
Why were there thousands of people at the pier? What does this say about Eddie's life?
Whom does Eddie meet again, on the Ferris Wheel?
Whom does Eddie meet again, on the Ferris Wheel?
Who is Eddie waiting for and why?
Who is Eddie waiting for and why?
Study Notes
Overview of Eddie's Journey
- Eddie is the main character, an old man who dies and experiences his afterlife in heaven.
- The story takes place primarily at Ruby Pier, a theme park with rides and attractions.
Eddie's Background
- Described as a squat, white-haired man with physical ailments and a faded army tattoo.
- Works in maintenance at Ruby Pier, a job he didn't aspire to due to life circumstances influenced by war.
Key Relationships
- Eddie has a close, almost father-son relationship with his coworker Dominguez.
- His memories reveal a significant "one true-love snapshot" with a woman in a yellow dress.
His Death and Impacts
- Eddie sacrifices himself to save a little girl at Ruby Pier, leading to his death.
- His experiences in the afterlife uncover deep feelings of guilt and unresolved issues related to his father and his own life choices.
Themes of Connection and Sacrifice
- The Blue Man, one of the people Eddie meets in heaven, emphasizes that all lives are interconnected.
- Eddie learns about sacrifices, as explained by the Captain from his war experiences, emphasizing that sacrifice is inherent to life.
Personal Reflections in Heaven
- In heaven, Eddie discovers he can walk without pain and meets significant figures from his life, including his wife, Marguerite.
- He realizes that lost love persists and takes different forms, highlighting the enduring nature of love.
Revelations and Acceptance
- Eddie confronts his past, including familial conflicts, and learns to find peace and understanding regarding his father's actions.
- Tala, a little girl he unintentionally harmed in a fire, reveals how Eddie’s life brought joy to many children at Ruby Pier, providing him with a purpose.
Resounding Themes
- The narrative reflects on the complexities of life, love, sacrifice, and understanding one's impact on others.
- Eddie learns the importance of forgiveness and the interconnectedness of human experiences as he meets different individuals in heaven.
Conclusion and Legacy
- The story culminates with Eddie's ultimate realization of his significance and fulfillment in making children happy, revealing the value of his previously perceived "nothing life."
- The final scenes illustrate that Eddie's life touched many, culminating in his reunion with those he loved.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge of 'The Five People You Meet in Heaven' with this quiz. Explore key themes, characters, and settings from the story. This quiz covers various aspects of Eddie's life and the significance of Ruby Pier.
