The Nickel Boys Chapter 1-10 Quiz

Nickel Boys Quiz

Chapter 1-10 Summary

• The Nickel Boys, a novel by Colson Whitehead, tells the story of two young boys, Elwood Curtis and Turner, at a reform school in Florida in the 1960s.
• The story is based on the real-life events of the Dozier School, a notorious reform school in Florida that operated for over 100 years.

Character Questions

• Elwood Curtis: a idealistic and naive young boy who is sent to the Nickel Academy reform school after being falsely accused of theft.
• Turner: a cynical and street-smart young boy who becomes Elwood's friend and ally at the Nickel Academy.
• Spencer: a corrupt and cruel administrator at the Nickel Academy who abuses his power and mistreats the students.

Significant Events

• Elwood's arrest and wrongful conviction for theft, leading to his sentencing to the Nickel Academy reform school.
• Elwood's friendship with Turner, which helps him survive the harsh conditions at the Nickel Academy.
• The discovery of the "White House", a secret underground bunker where students are brutally punished and abused by the school administrators.

Quotes

• "I was a smart kid, and I knew what the school was going to be like, but I didn't know what the Nickel Academy was going to be like." - Elwood Curtis
• "The Nickel Academy was a place where you could be somebody, even if you weren't somebody on the outside." - Turner

Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Chapter 1-10 Quiz

Character Questions

• Elwood Curtis, the protagonist, is sent to the Nickel Academy for boys after being accused of stealing a car
• Elwood's desire for education and his naivety are key aspects of his character
• Jack Turner, a rebellious and street-smart boy, becomes Elwood's friend and ally

Significant Events

• Elwood is sentenced to Nickel Academy, a reform school in Florida, in the 1960s
• The boys at Nickel Academy are subjected to physical and emotional abuse by the staff
• Elwood discovers the horrors of the "White House", a secret punishment building on campus

Quotes

• "All the emails were deleted, but the memory of the emails lingered" (Chapter 3) - highlighting the theme of memories and the past
• "We were boys, after all, and no one, not even the Nickel Academy, could take that away from us" (Chapter 5) - emphasizing the boys' resilience and hope

Themes

• The corrupt and exploitative nature of institutions and authority figures
• The struggle for identity, humanity, and dignity in oppressive environments
• The importance of friendship, hope, and resistance in the face of adversity