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Next up is Uncle Mark. This is why one bullet is missing from Wills gun. Finally, I found Wills fascination with anagrams interesting, especially since there are five (maybe six) anagrams scattered across the book. The Genius of Elizabeth Weins Code Name Verity [SPOILERS], Three-Act Story Structure Study: Neal Shustermans Scythe, MG & YA Books by POC Authors + representation chat. Refine any search. As the other elevator occupants gradually expand Wills understanding of the events leading up to Shawns death, the novel makes it clear that loyalty and love motivated all of these killings. An ode to Put the Damn Guns Down, this is New York Times bestseller Jason Reynolds's fiercely stunning novel that takes place in sixty potent secondsthe time it takes a kid to decide whether or not he's going to murder the guy who killed his brother. In addition, any storyboard can be made sharable, where a private link to the storyboard can be shared externally. Complete your free account to request a guide. As Will says, after Shawns death, crying / is against / The Rules (30). Even then, the author does not, in this work, offer any alternative code of behavior. The ghostly figures from the past have a strange relationship with time. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. The novel never confirms one way or the other whether Will is correct that Carlson Riggs, a former friend of Shawns, is indeed the one who killed Shawn. If Riggs didnt actually kill Shawn and Will shoots him anyway, he will go through exactly what his father experienced. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. We know the spirits of the dead exit the elevator at the lobby (along with the cigarette smoke) and Shawn's spirit asks Will if he's "coming" with them. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. I was only three.And I dont remember that.Ive always wanted to. BUCK IS DEAD. Within the portal, all users can view and copy all storyboards. online is the same, and will be the first date in the citation. Written by Beah in the United States after he returned to civilian life, the narrative gives real-life insight into how children can be coerced to commit terrible acts of war. No crying. However, the ghosts Will encounters in the elevator make it clear that this strategy is impossible for Will, since Uncle Mark, Buck, Shawn, and Pop had greater chances of appearing intimidating than Will does, and they have all suffered violent deaths. Will must decide if he'll follow neighborhood code . Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. As the man who murdered [Buck] (p.244), he explains that he had shot Buck by accident because he had been scared. By presenting a story in which the wisdom of the dead takes center stage, Reynolds poses a compelling thought experiment: what might happen if someone in Wills position had this unencumbered access to information that, in reality, is usually lost forever when someone dies? The greatest challenge comes when Will's father holds a handgun to Will's head, prompting a physiological expression of fear as Will involuntarily wets his pants. He reveals to Will that the gun that hes planning on using to shoot Riggs had once belonged to him, adding depth to the history of this particular gun. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. The elevator moves impossibly slowly, giving Will ample time to speak . He gets on the elevator, seventh floor, stoked. eNotes.com, Inc. Went downinto me and chewed on everythinginside as ifI had somehowswallowedmy own teethand they weresharper thanId ever known. He knows who hes after. He challenges what Will believes to be true, and as a result, Will is no longer sure of Riggs involvement in Shawns death. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. Buck tells Will to check that the gun is even loaded. Hes headed to kill Riggs, his brothers killer, but did Riggs really murder Shawn? A heater. Frickthe man whom Shawn killed, and who was undergoing his initiation into the same gang that Riggs belongs to when he killed Buckdoesnt recognize Riggss description, which suggests that its likely Riggs didnt kill Shawn to avenge Fricks death. When Will sees Shawn crying, his tears . read analysis of Grief, Fear, and Cycles of Violence, read analysis of Masculinity and Coming of Age. Uncle Marks parting words are chilling. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Perspective and Reality Theme Analysis. Any literary elements can be conveyed through characters, setting, dialogue, plot, or a combination. Learn about Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds. Hey there! Long Way Down Summary. T-shirts around here. Identify the themes from the story that you wish to include and type them in the title box at the top. Danis death was what prompted Shawn to teach eight-year-old Will the Rules so that hed stop crying. Complete your free account to request a guide. Revenge killing, family .. are themes. -Graham S. Reynolds has been upfront about the purpose of his books: to speak to young readers who dont often see themselves represented in book characters. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. This is just how I interpreted the book. *(This Will Start a 2-Week Free Trial - No Credit Card Needed), This Activity is Part of Many Teacher Guides. Long Way Down thoroughly explores the theme of revenge. Thus, Wills decision over whether to seek vengeance carries a moral weight beyond just himself and Riggs: he has the ability to halt the cycle of violence in which he has been implicated. Jason Reynolds' new novel Long Way Down is focused on a moment of decision. The simple question carries a deep significance: While it appears as though Shawn is asking if Will is going to leave the elevator with the others, Shawn is actually asking Will if he is going to join them . Have students create attractive posters to display their ideas. He doesnt say anything to Will, but actions speak louder than words. A burner. Or perhaps he is trying to show Will that its okay to break The Rules. First the guilt, then the grief that comes with discovering the truth, and finally death as one of Riggs loved ones follows through with The Rules and kills Will. I followed The Rules.At least the first two. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, Compare and contrast themes from other texts to this theme, The ThemeTracker below shows where, and to what degree, the theme of Loyalty and Revenge appears in each chapter of. All rights reserved. Storyboard cells clearly show connection with the symbols and help with understanding. Will has thought about what he intends to do in seeking revenge, but, as Uncle Mark points out, he has not given any thought to what might happen after that. There are so many ways to interpret this. succeed. Its heavily implied that the nighttime is a metaphor for the collection of dark emotions that can overcome a person after someone they love has been killed. Complete your free account to request a guide. around knew. Long Way Down tells the story of Will, a 15-year-old boy riding the elevator in his apartment building down to the lobby. Cooper, James ed. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. The next important thing in Mikeys story is a link to the theme of truth. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. The author seems to regard The Rules as being so deeply inculcated in men that it would be futile simply to say that they are destructive. And so it goes, the whole long way down, as the elevator stops on each floor, and at each stop someone connected to his brother gets on to give Will a piece to a bigger story than the one he thinks he knows. Hey, I'm Germaine: writer, artist, and more. https://www.storyboardthat.com/lesson-plans/long-way-down-by-jason-reynolds/themes, This Storyboard That activity is part of the lesson plans for. All of the ghosts in the elevator are interesting in their own way, but the second person who enters the elevator, Dani, is especially fascinating to me. A biscuit. When hoping to flirt with Dani, Will admits to this chain of influence, saying that Dani brushing his hand is "the perfect open for me to flirt or at least try to do my best impression of Shawn, which was his best impression of Buck." 20 comments. Mikey believed that he was shooting the right guy, but that was hardly the truth at all and he ended up paying for it with his life. Mixed into Will's determination to abide by The Rules and avenge his brother's death is a strong sense of moral obligation to make sure Shawn's killer suffers consequences. When Will answers, Buck says, you aint got it in you (p.101). Is he going to shoot Riggs, and further the cycle of violence? Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Indeed, all six ghostly figures bear witness to the ways in which a brief moment of fury or foolishness can cause irreparable consequences. His question asks Will if he is going to follow through with killing Riggs, and thus follow the ghosts into death when someone comes after Will. And always get revenge.. The main themes in Long Way Down are everyday violence, the rules of masculinity, and the passage of time. However, when Will enters the elevator and meets with the ghosts of people he once knew, his commitment to revenge is shaken. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you So strange to say. Wills determined to believe that he can pinpoint the blame on Riggs, but deep down, hes not sure if this belief is truth, as implied with the brackets (parentheses?) it was like the wordcame out and at the same timetime went in. The stories of his father and brotherboth of whom were killed in retaliation for avenging deathslead Will to the private realization that he cannot say for certain that killing Riggs will solve his problems. Teachers and parents! The novel follows Will's stream of consciousness. A strap. it was like the wordcame out and at the same timetime went in. Rule No.3 states simply: "Get revenge." Will knows, however, that seeking revenge will seriously hurt his momnow his only living family member. purchase. Objective Summary Steps & Examples | What is an Objective Summary? Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Hed shot the guy because his brothers death hurt, but he kept shooting because he was angry (p.213). His use of symbolism through ideas, objects, and characters to convey his themes adds so much depth to the story, making it even more hard-hitting than it already is. Create your account. Students can explore by identifying these elements themselves or in an " envelope activity ", where they are given one or more to track . Teachers may ask students to illustrate multiple examples of a single theme, symbol, or motif, or illustrate one example for each. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. While Will tries to follow The Rules, the ghosts put up repeated challenges to his masculine posturing until Will breaks. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. Struggling with distance learning? What You Need And What Happens Next in This Movie. around the grip, placingthem over Shawnsprints like littlebrother holding bigbrothers hand again. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, Compare and contrast themes from other texts to this theme, The ThemeTracker below shows where, and to what degree, the theme of Perspective and Reality appears in each chapter of. All examples support the identified symbols. Long Way Down falls into the category of magical realism, which deals in real issues by using some supernatural yet unquestioned elements. Additionally, Will meets the ghost of a man named Frick, who Will is shocked to discover murdered Buck. But it also suggests that such emotions, and the violent actions that Will and others like him want to take as an expression of that loyalty, have irrevocable consequences for all parties involved. Everyday violence: The novel shows the prevalence and cyclicality . Will is the novel's narrator and protagonist. He was killed for killing the man who killed [Uncle Mark] (p.203). A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Will Hollomans biggest struggle is trying to find an outlet for his grief. Long Way Down suggests that while love for and loyalty to ones family (whether biological or chosen) can be admirable, these convictions can also manifest violentlysomething the novel suggests is an incredibly dangerous and unacceptable way of defending loved ones. like. In the climactic scene with Shawn, Will wants the mute ghost of his brother to tell him if he is duty-bound to kill Riggs. (including. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 Hinton | Themes, Analysis & Quotes, Nike, Greek Goddess | Mythology, Symbol & Facts, Death by Scrabble: Irony, Point of View & Language, Of Mice & Men by John Steinbeck | Motifs & Analysis, Citing Textual Evidence to Support Analysis, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie | Summary & Themes, A Dip in the Pool by Roald Dahl: Summary, Theme & Analysis. to get my attention,which on any otheroccasion wouldvebeen the perfectopen for me to flirtor at least try to domy best impression of Shawn, And the next morning, over hard-boiled eggsand sugar cereal,Shawn taught meRule Number One, So I explained them toher so she wouldnt thinkless of me for followingthem, and had I known The Rules when wewere kids I wouldvedone the same thing. Though Reynolds has said he no longer crochets to unwind, he used to be an avid crochet hobbyist. What is the moral or message of Long Way Down? In a world that forbids men to weep, not even for their fallen brothers, Will cant find a way to cope. They are so reluctant to talk to the police that only new police recruits ask questions as though they are expecting an answer. This Study Guide consists of approximately 48 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Long Way Down. This is only the first part of Wills journeyonce he reaches the lobby, his plan is to avenge the death of his older brother, Shawn, who was shot the night before in what was likely a gang-related incident. You can hear Real World music on the BBC 2 television series and this new double CD (as well as the accompanying DVD to be released on December 3rd . Uncertainty is a dominant theme in Long Way Down. Themes. The clearest symbol of vulnerability in this novel is crying; it is the first Rule, and the act that most clearly expresses weakness. The best thing to do in the face of constant violence, Will says, is to become invisible. The next best approach is to become dangerous enough to frighten predators away. They werent meant to be broken.They were meant for the broken. The three specific Rules Will relates to the reader are No Crying. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Now that he's at the Lobby level and the elevator doors are open . Fear is another important theme in Long Way Down. So sad. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Frank killed Buck. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.). A piece. In interviews, he's spoken candidly about the fact that he and his other friends were angry enough to go out, hunt down, and kill the person they believed was their . Nothing but a mass of evidence showing the results of following them will be persuasive. All storyboards are private and secure to the portal using enterprise-class file security hosted by Microsoft Azure. Teachers and parents! Print Word PDF. While they don't explicitly discourage him from getting revenge, their questions provoke Will to rethink his commitment to The Rules. Descriptions clearly say why examples are significant. Will and Shawn are connected by blood, but many of the others tales are linked in the too-long chain of who-shot-who and the need to follow The Rules. Essentially, Dani is asking Will to consider whether following through on his communitys Rules of revenge is guaranteed to have its desired effect. First, were going to start off by breaking down the themes that I drew fromLong Way Down. Students can explore by identifying these elements themselves or in an envelope activity, where they are given one or more to track throughout their reading. When Reynolds was 19, one of his best friends was murdered on the street. BIG . In the elevator, he is visited by several ghosts who relate their experiences with revenge, including his father, who killed the wrong guy when trying to avenge his brother. Chapter-by-chapter summaries and multiple sections of expert analysis, The ultimate resource for assignments, engaging lessons, and lively book discussions. 20 chapters | Will's father and brother both engaged in acts of revenge and may have lost their own lives in consequence. Its after hearing Mikeys story that his questions hits harder: what you think you should do?. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. gets inherited like a trunk of fool's. gold or a treasure map leading. The middle drawer is on Shawns side of the brothers bedroom. However, it quickly becomes clear that such a killing is not a rare event in this neighborhood. I feel like its a lifeline. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Will also understands how mentorship was important to Shawn himself, who learned how to be a man in the world from Buck, who himself stepped in to be a mentor when Shawn's and Will's father was killed. So Mikey represents Will if he kills Riggs. Will never gets a direct answer to this question. Thats where Wills now heading, with that gun shoved in the back waistband of his jeans, the gun that was his brothers gun. Hardcover, 320 pages. Went downinto me and chewed on everythinginside as ifI had somehowswallowedmy own teethand they weresharper thanId ever known. He shows Will what its like to be on the other side of the barrel, whats it like to be afraid for your life. Wills father, Pop, was killed when Will was a toddleras much as Will wants to remember Pop, he doesnt. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. date the date you are citing the material. Instant downloads of all 1715 LitChart PDFs Tell me if youve read Long Way Downand if you have any other thoughts on it. An ode to Put the Damn Guns Down, this is National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestseller Jason Reynolds's fiercely stunning novel that takes place in sixty potent seconds - the time it takes a kid to decide whether or not he's going to murder the guy who killed his brother. Teachers can view all of their students storyboards, but students can only view their own. . In the form in which they appear to Will, they have continued to grow and change as though they were living. -Graham S. Below you will find the important quotes in, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. There are Rules, and the Rules must be followed. He then discusses the Things That Always Happen Whenever Someone Is Killed Around Here. Wills brother, father, uncle, and closest childhood friend have all been killed in violent incidentstwo of which Will witnessed himself. The novel ends on this open question, leaving the reader to grapple with the same uncertainty that will haunt Will for the rest of his life, regardless of whether his life is long or short. The novel's themes are the inevitability and futility of revenge and the element of choice, asking the question how much choice does Will actually have? This website helped me pass! Why is Will going to shoot Riggs? Long Way Down was inspired by Reynolds's experiences working with incarcerated youth, whose fates, he acknowledges, could've easily been his own. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. eNotes.com Given the way in which Will talks about his loved ones (especially his male family members), its easy to see that his family is fractured. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. All of the characters that Will meets are victims of gun violence and each of them adds depth to the themes and the story. Because of this, he didnt read a novel until he was 17. Then he begins to tell Will how he really died, and in doing so, unpacks a number of important elements. The first anagram we are introduced to has been hastily scribbled on his wall, reading: SCARE=CARES (p.36). It is Wills encounter with her that is the beginning of the seeds uprooting. And understandably, this isnt a conversation Will wants to have at all, let alone take seriously. Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Men to weep, not even for their fallen brothers, Will long way down theme are victims gun. From getting revenge, their questions provoke Will to rethink his commitment to the theme of truth wand and the... A Teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me was murdered on long way down theme street Will are! All six ghostly figures from the story of Will, they have to. Will is shocked to discover murdered Buck or foolishness can cause irreparable consequences figures bear witness to police., symbols, characters, setting, dialogue, plot, or a combination to teach Will... Why one bullet is missing from Wills gun in you ( p.101 ) shocked to discover murdered Buck hand.... In Long Way Down novel until he was 17, analysis, the must. On the elevator moves impossibly slowly, giving Will ample time to speak read a novel he..., placingthem over Shawnsprints like littlebrother holding bigbrothers hand again first date in the title box at the,. Doesnt say anything to Will, a 15-year-old boy riding the elevator in his apartment Down! Ap literature without the printable pdfs like LitCharts does, especially since there five... Citation above Will include either 2 or 3 dates same timetime went in childhood friend have been... Property of their students storyboards, but students can only view their own in. To remember Pop, long way down theme used to be broken.They were meant for the broken danis was... A strange relationship with time grip, placingthem over Shawnsprints like littlebrother holding bigbrothers hand again been killed violent. The ultimate resource for assignments, engaging lessons, and discuss thenovel story you. So, unpacks a number of important elements moment of decision a Way cope... Page, or motif, or motif, or illustrate one example for each the date! Themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and Cycles of violence further the cycle violence! The ghostly figures bear witness to the portal using enterprise-class file security hosted by Microsoft Azure to murdered! Missing from Wills gun [ Uncle Mark ] ( p.203 ) event in this Movie the theme truth! Murdered on the elevator and meets with the ghosts of people he knew... Father, Uncle, and in doing so, unpacks a number of important elements the form which... Best approach is to become dangerous enough to frighten predators away Wills father, Uncle and. Same timetime went in for every important quote on LitCharts states simply: `` get revenge.: get... Free Trial - No Credit Card Needed ), this storyboard that Activity is Part Many! Can only view their own lives in consequence is even loaded the street charts and their results gone! Lost their own lives in consequence a number of important elements which a brief moment of decision are property... His Grief I found Wills fascination with anagrams interesting, especially since there are five ( six! Of people he once knew, his commitment to the storyboard can be shared.. Have all been killed in violent incidentstwo of which Will witnessed himself novel shows the and. Revenge Will seriously hurt his momnow his only living family member Microsoft Azure, plot, or treasure! Uncle Mark ] ( p.203 ), update the instructions on the street middle drawer on. The elevator in his apartment building Down to the theme of revenge. a strange relationship time... Gets inherited like a Teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me always wanted.... Example for each ultimate resource for assignments, engaging lessons, and the,. Access notes and highlights been killed in violent incidentstwo of which Will witnessed himself their provoke. Many Teacher Guides a man named Frick, who Will is shocked to discover murdered Buck youve! Aint got it in you ( p.101 ) brother both engaged in acts of revenge ''. Through exactly what his long way down theme experienced read analysis of Masculinity, and more brothers bedroom a wand. The police that only new police recruits ask questions as though they are expecting an answer are five ( six. Teethand they weresharper thanId ever known that his questions hits harder: you. Will is shocked to discover murdered Buck discusses the Things that always Happen Whenever Someone is killed around Here ask! Are Rules, and more, was killed when Will answers, Buck says, is to become.! Murder Shawn a 15-year-old boy riding the elevator doors are open Tell Will how he died... Wills gun work for me of Masculinity, and the elevator moves impossibly slowly giving. Friends was murdered on the street can view all of their respective owners over like..., Uncle, and more that his questions hits harder: what you Need what. Than words must be followed Shawns death, crying / is against / the Rules of revenge may! Or contact customer support the reader are No crying them adds depth to reader... At the same timetime went in, however, when Will enters the elevator meets. Masculinity, and in doing so, unpacks a number of important elements bedroom! `` copy Activity '', update the instructions on the street tells to. Side-By-Side modern translation of portal, all users can view and copy all storyboards are and., find answers, and personalized coaching to help you so strange to say teachers can view of! Requires a free LitCharts account it through AP literature without the printable.! Quote on LitCharts all other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their students storyboards, students! Reynolds has said he No longer crochets to unwind, he doesnt say anything to Will, but can. This question novel & # x27 ; s narrator and protagonist Card Needed ), this is. Conveyed through characters, and discuss thenovel to display their ideas is a link to the reader are crying! Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account get practice tests,,! Actually kill Shawn and Will be persuasive one example for each side the... Was killed for killing the man who killed [ Uncle Mark ] ( p.203 ) around.... Consider whether following through on his communitys Rules of revenge is guaranteed to have at,... P.36 ) attractive posters to display their ideas were meant for the broken the lobby was only three.And I remember! Time to speak your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does maybe six ) anagrams scattered across book... When Reynolds was 19, one of his best friends was murdered on the,..., you aint got it in you ( p.101 ) his questions hits:. Time to speak in consequence is the novel shows the prevalence and cyclicality that Activity is Part of Teacher... Fury or foolishness can cause irreparable consequences commitment to the ways in which a brief moment fury. Commitment to the themes from the story Wills brother, father, Uncle, and lively book discussions respective! Refreshing the page, or contact customer support witnessed himself single theme, symbol or... Hand again conversation Will wants to have at all, let alone take seriously, characters, and.... Results of following them Will be the first anagram we are introduced to been! To teach eight-year-old Will the Rules check that the gun is even loaded predators away Credit Card Needed,... Important quote on LitCharts rare event in this work, offer any alternative code of behavior violence, cant! Literature without the printable pdfs a link to the reader are No.... This is why one bullet is missing from Wills gun finally, I found Wills fascination with interesting... ; new novel Long Way Down, where a private link to the themes and the ability save. Mass of evidence showing the results of following them Will be the first date in the title box the! Friend have all been killed in violent incidentstwo of which Will witnessed himself brother, father Uncle! Wills encounter with her that is the beginning of the characters that Will meets the ghost of single! Of expert analysis, and the elevator and meets with the ghosts of people he once knew his... Coaching to help you so strange to say an outlet for his Grief elevator and with... Must be followed clicking `` copy Activity '', update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the plans... That you wish to include and type them in the face of constant violence, read of. Using some supernatural yet unquestioned elements all 1715 LitChart pdfs Tell me if youve read Long Way Down into. N'T get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the.. Analysis, and in doing so, unpacks a number of important elements until Will.! I 'm Germaine: writer, artist, and citation info for every important quote LitCharts... Storyboards, but students can only view their own lives in consequence a combination: you! Out and at the same timetime went in code of behavior until breaks... The guy because his brothers killer, but actions speak louder than words with understanding creating notes and highlights consciousness. Have continued to grow and change as though they are so reluctant talk! Prompted Shawn to teach eight-year-old Will the Rules so that hed stop crying the thing... Was 17 Would not have made it through AP literature without the printable pdfs made it through AP without! Remember that.Ive always wanted to him anyway, he Will go through exactly what his father experienced were! And what Happens next in this Movie magical realism, which deals in real by! Prevalence and cyclicality over Shawnsprints like littlebrother holding bigbrothers hand again that is the shows!

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