The Five People You Meet in Heaven Quiz

Questions and Answers

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.

The park had a boardwalk, a Ferris wheel, roller coasters, bumper cars, a taffy stand, and an arcade.

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?

He is the maintenance guy at Ruby Pier. Signup and view all the answers

If Eddie could 'hear' trouble in the rides, what does this suggest about him?

He has worked at the pier for so long he has memorized everything. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Eddie like kids better than teenagers?

They give him headaches. Signup and view all the answers

Is Eddie's job at Ruby Pier the job he always wanted?

False Signup and view all the answers

Do you think Eddie and Dominguez get along well?

True Signup and view all the answers

Describe Eddie's 'One true-love snapshot.'

For Eddie, it came on a warm September night after a thunderstorm. She wore a yellow cotton dress, and they danced to the music of a big band. Signup and view all the answers

What does Eddie do/make for the little girl?

He made her a little rabbit out of pipe cleaners. Signup and view all the answers

How did Eddie die and why did he put himself in such danger?

He tried to save the little girl because she was standing under the broken ride that was about to fall on her. Signup and view all the answers

What decade in the 1900s was Eddie born?

1920s Signup and view all the answers

Did Eddie die trying to save the little girl?

True Signup and view all the answers

Did Eddie save the little girl?

False Signup and view all the answers

Why do you think Eddie doesn't feel worry or pain?

He is in heaven. Signup and view all the answers

How old is Eddie? And what is his party like?

It's his 5th birthday and he's at the pier with his family. Signup and view all the answers

Where does Eddie wake up? How is it different from what he remembered at the end of his life?

In the teacup ride on Ruby Pier. He doesn't feel any pain. Signup and view all the answers

How is Eddie different? What can he do that he hadn't done (or been able to do) for years?

He can walk without a cane. Signup and view all the answers

At the end of the chapter, who is waiting for Eddie?

The Blue Man. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Eddie feel like a child?

He was a child when he met the Blue Man. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the Blue Man.

The Blue Man's skin was a grotesque shade, a graying blue. He had thin lips, and a sagging chest. Signup and view all the answers

Where does the Blue Man tell Eddie he is? Why isn't Eddie happy with the answer?

He's at Ruby Pier in the 1920s. Eddie has been trying to get away from Ruby Pier. Signup and view all the answers

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?

The purpose of heaven is for people to learn lessons they never learned while alive. Signup and view all the answers

What killed the Blue Man?

Eddie ran in front of the Blue Man's car and it caused him so much shock his heart stopped. Signup and view all the answers

How do you think the Blue Man's revelation about who killed him affected Eddie?

Eddie felt guilty about it. Signup and view all the answers

Based upon what happened in this section, who is braver: Eddie or Joe?

Eddie because he goes after the ball and defends Joe. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the Blue Man's childhood. Why doesn't his father care for him?

He was a nervous boy who had to work in a factory with his father. His father viewed him as weak. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the Ruby Pier in the 1920s the Blue Man's heaven?

Ruby Pier is where he felt comfortable and could get away. Signup and view all the answers

How did the Blue Man die? What was the initial cause that set things in motion?

The Blue Man died by the shock of almost hitting someone while driving - Eddie's baseball was the thing that set things in motion. Signup and view all the answers

Where does Eddie unwillingly go on his 8th birthday?

The Blue Man's funeral. Signup and view all the answers

Explain what the Blue Man meant when he says to Eddie, 'We are all connected.'

This is because the human spirit knows, in some way, that all lives intersect. Signup and view all the answers

What do you believe the Blue Man meant when he said to Eddie, 'Strangers are just family you have yet to come to know'?

Everyone is mankind. Signup and view all the answers

Which parent (Eddie's father or mother) seems more engaged in Eddie's life?

His mother was engaged with Eddie because she talked with him and also taught him how to dance. Signup and view all the answers

What does Eddie find that scares him, even in heaven?

A set of dog tags. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Eddie decide to sign up and go to war?

He wanted to get away from Ruby Pier. Signup and view all the answers

Who did Eddie meet in the tree? Where had they fought together?

He meets his Captain. They fought in the Philippines. Signup and view all the answers

Of all the things Eddie learned during the war, list the three that you believe would be the most profound or life-changing.

<ol> <li>He learned how to speak different languages. 2. He learned what scabies were. 3. He learned to sleep on the rocky earth.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Eddie think he lived a 'nothing life'?

He didn't do anything interesting. He worked at Ruby Pier his whole life. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Eddie's captivity.

They became very thin because they weren't eating. They were forced to work in the coal mines. Signup and view all the answers

What event changed Eddie's (and the Captain's) attitude and showed why they focused on escape afterward?

One of their soldiers, Rabozzo, became very sick and couldn't stand or walk. Crazy Two then killed him. Signup and view all the answers

What carnival/Ruby Pier skill did Eddie use to help engineer his escape?

Juggling. Signup and view all the answers

How long had Eddie and his fellow soldiers been held captive?

About half a year. Signup and view all the answers

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?

He saw a child and wanted to save it. Signup and view all the answers

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?

He thought it was hard for him to follow orders. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Eddie attack the Captain when he learned it was he who shot Eddie in the leg?

Because the Captain shot him. Signup and view all the answers

What was the lesson the Captain explained to Eddie about sacrifice?

'Sacrifice is a part of life. It's something to aspire to.' Signup and view all the answers

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'?

When we sacrifice something we are not losing but giving someone else a chance. Signup and view all the answers

What had the Captain been waiting for that Eddie gave him? Why do you think this was important to the Captain?

The Captain kept his promise. Signup and view all the answers

Does Dominguez and Willie's response at work to Eddie's death seem normal? Why or why not?

They are very calm about it. Signup and view all the answers

Whom did Eddie see in the diner that upset him or got Eddie's attention?

His dad. Signup and view all the answers

Why do you think Eddie is upset (to the point of tears) when his father stares at Eddie's wounded leg?

Eddie doesn't have a good relationship with his father. Signup and view all the answers

Eddie's father damaged his son in a number of ways. Briefly explain how each happened.

Neglect: Eddie's father never held Eddie. Violence: Eddie's father would lash Eddie. Denial of Affection: When proud, his father would just nod. Silence: After the war, he stopped talking about Eddie. Signup and view all the answers

Why, while sitting at the docks, did Eddie feel he was like the fish pulled in on the nets?

He felt out of place. Signup and view all the answers

What was the connection between railroads and amusement parks?

Railroads were looking to increase weekend business; people used the railroad to access weekend attractions. Signup and view all the answers

What was the old woman's name and her connection to Ruby Pier?

Her name was Ruby; she was at the old entrance at Ruby Pier. Signup and view all the answers

What bars happiness and joy from Eddie's life?

His parents. Signup and view all the answers

What devastated Ruby and Emile's future and broke his spirit?

When Ruby Pier burned in flames and all of his years of work went to waste. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Ruby there/what is she going to tell Eddie?

Ruby tells Eddie how the pier caught fire and how it connects to his father's death. Signup and view all the answers

When Eddie held up his hands, showing his dying father his grease-stained fingertips, what was he 'saying' to his father?

He was showing his father how hard he worked. Signup and view all the answers

What does Eddie believe caused his father's pneumonia?

His father was once drunk and jumped into a freezing ocean. Signup and view all the answers

What did Eddie take of his father's from the drawer? Why did he take that to represent 'a piece of his father'?

A deck of cards. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Eddie 'curse his father'?

Eddie had unresolved issues and rage with his father after Eddie's father died. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Eddie's father save Mickey instead of killing him or letting him drown?

Eddie's father was very loyal towards people. Signup and view all the answers

What was Eddie's father's last act? Why do you think he did this?

He was slumped out of a window. Signup and view all the answers

What does Ruby say to Eddie about anger? Do you agree?

'Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from inside.' I agree because you should always forgive. Signup and view all the answers

If you were Eddie, thinking about all that had happened, could you forgive your father as Ruby said Eddie needed to do?

I would forgive but I wouldn't forget. Signup and view all the answers

What did Eddie mean when he told the spirit of his father, 'It's fixed'?

He meant that everything was okay now. Signup and view all the answers

What events does Eddie keep 'stepping' into?

He steps in different kinds of weddings. Signup and view all the answers

Whom does Eddie meet that he knows (4th person)?

His wife, Marguerite. Signup and view all the answers

Although Eddie had been promoted to Head of Maintenance, how did his job compare to his brother, Joe's?

He does the messy work while his brother is a salesman. Signup and view all the answers

Did Eddie's wife, Marguerite, already meet her five people?

True Signup and view all the answers

What happens to Marguerite as she is driving to the track to get Eddie?

She gets in a car crash. Signup and view all the answers

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?

She has a tumor. She died when she was 47. Signup and view all the answers

What is one old, warm feeling that Eddie had missed for years, but found again in Heaven?

Making his wife happy. Signup and view all the answers

Eddie's wife tells him, 'Lost love is still love, Eddie. It takes a different form, that's all.' What does she mean?

It doesn't matter if the person is alive or not; you still love them. Signup and view all the answers

Why do you think Eddie asked his wife to change back to the age when he last knew her?

The last time Eddie saw his wife was when she was 47. Signup and view all the answers

About what age is Eddie (or does he feel/appear) now? How can you tell?

He probably the age when he died (83) because he was holding a cane. Signup and view all the answers

What person signals to Eddie? Who do you think it might be?

A little girl. Signup and view all the answers

How does Eddie's life progress through his birthdays, from 51 to 82?

He just works on his birthday. Signup and view all the answers

When Eddie is in the cemetery, visiting his relatives, and stops at his wife's last resting place, what does he think about taffy?

Eddie would do anything to have his wife back. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Tala, the little girl, and how did she die?

Eddie burned her to death. Signup and view all the answers

What does Tala reveal to Eddie, when he tries to explain that he was a nothing person and his life was nothing?

She told Eddie that he made children happy at Ruby Pier. Signup and view all the answers

Did Eddie save the little girl at Ruby Pier?

True Signup and view all the answers

Whose hands did Eddie feel, and why were they there when he was trying to save the little girl at Ruby Pier?

He felt Tala's hands pulling him to heaven. Signup and view all the answers

Why were there thousands of people at the pier? What does this say about Eddie's life?

They were there for Eddie. Signup and view all the answers

Whom does Eddie meet again, on the Ferris Wheel?

Marguerite. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Eddie waiting for and why?

Amy or Annie. Signup and view all the answers

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.

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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.