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"The Dinner Party"

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A short story by Mona Gardner, published in 1941

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The House on Mango Street

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A novel by Sandra Cisneros, published in 1984

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Down These Mean Streets

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A memoir by Piri Thomas, published in 1967

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"The Dinner Party" Plot

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There is a dinner party at a house of a British official in India. The guests are British but there is one American. During the dinner, the American notices that the hostess calls a servant and that servant puts a bowl of milk outside, which shows there is a snake in the room. The American looks at each corner of the room and notices that there is no snake. The snake pops out and they get rid of it. The American asks the hostess how she knew the snake was there and she said that it was on her foot during dinner.

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"The Dinner Party" Characters

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o The American o The Servant o The Hostess o The Dinner Guests

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"The Dinner Party" Setting

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British controlled India

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The House on Mango Street Plot

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Esperanza, a young girl, grows up on Mango Street, which is not in the best neighborhood. Esperanza faces many obstacles as she grows up and has many experiences that shape her identity. Esperanza learns her identity as a girl throughout the novel

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Esperanza

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The main character

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Sally

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Esperanza's friend

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Esperanza's mother

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Esperanza's mom

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Nenny

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Esperanza's sister

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Papa

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Esperanza's father

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Carlos

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Esperanza's brother

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Kiki

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Esperanza's brother

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Minerva

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Esperanza's friend who is older and unhappy

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Rafaela

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A married woman who Esperanza helps sometimes

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Mamacita

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The large lady that lives across the street whose family is taking the American culture but not her own culture

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Alicia

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A girl on Mango Street who goes to college since she wants a brighter future

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Marin

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The older girl who lets Esperanza and her friends hang out with her. Louie's cousin

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Louie

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Esperanza's brother's friend

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Meme (Juan)

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Esperanza's friend

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Cathy

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The first friend Esperanza makes on Mango Street who is rude and moves away

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Rachel

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Esperanza's friend

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Lucy

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Esperanza's friend

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Edna

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Esperanza's neighbor

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Aunt Lupe

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Esperanza's sick aunt

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Ruthie

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Edna's daughter who sometimes hangs out with Esperanza

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Earl

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A jukebox repairmen who lives on Mango Street in Edna's basement

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The House on Mango Street Setting

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Chicago, Illinois

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Down These Mean Streets Plot

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The story starts with Piri wandering the streets at night alone after a fight with his father. Piri's father ignores him. They eventually move from Spanish Harlem to an Italian block where Piri gets into a fight with some kids and winds up with tar in his eyes. They move back to the Spanish Harlem and Piri joins a gang. During this time, Piri starts to get in trouble with the law. Piri and his family moves to Long Island but Piri faces discrimination at school so he moves back to Spanish Harlem. He finds a place to stay with Pane and develops a sexual relationship with a thirty-year old woman, Pane's sister Lorry. Piri and Louie go to a job interview but due to skin color, Louie gets the job and Piri doesn't. Piri decides to go south to find himself so after a fight with his family, he travels south with Brew. In Virginia, he meets Mr. West whom he talks with. Piri and Brew go on the ship that they work on and Piri serves cold coffee to an officer after he calls Piri boy. Brew eventually leaves Piri.

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Piri

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The main character. He is Puerto Rican but looks black

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Momma

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Piri's mother. Puerto Rican

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Poppa

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Piri's father. Cuban

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James

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Piri's brother

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Jose

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Piri's brother

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Paulie

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Piri's brother who dies

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Ricardo

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Piri's brother who dies

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Miriam

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Piri's sister

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Rocky

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The Italian kid who picks on Piri

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Crutch

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Piri's friend who is in the gang

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Crip

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Piri's friend in the gang who is darker skinned

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Louie

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Piri's friend in the gang who is lighter-skinned

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Marcia

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The girl in Long Island who makes fun of Piri

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Angelo

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The Italian boy in Long Island who tries to befriend Piri but Piri pushes him away

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Pane

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The man who lets Piri stay in his house

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Lorry

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Pane's thirty year old sister who Piri develops a sexual relationship with

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Mr. Christian

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The interviewer that is racist

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Brew

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Piri's friend who is black and from Mobile, Alabama

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Mr. West

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The man Piri and Brew meet in the bar who talks with them about his book and struggles of black people

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Down These Mean Streets Setting

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o The Spanish Harlem, New York o Long Island, New York (the suburbs) o The South (Norfolk, Mobile, New Orleans)

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Simile

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A figure of speech that makes a comparison, showing similarities between two things. Draws resemblance with the help of the words "like" or "as". Example: "The grandma's feet were lovely as pink pearls" (Cisneros 39)

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Metaphor

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A figure of speech which makes an implicit, implied, or hidden comparison between two things or objects that are poles apart from each other but have some characteristics common between them. In other words, a resemblance of 2 contradictory or different objects is made based on a single or some common characteristics. When you portray a person, thing, or action as being something else, even though it is not actually that "something else". Develops a comparison. Does not use "like" or "as" to develop comparison. Actually makes an implicit or hidden comparison and not an explicit one. Example: "She is the color of a bar of naphtha laundry soap" (Cisneros 52)

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Hyperbole

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Derived from a Greek word meaning "over-casting". A figure of speech which involves an exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis. A device that we employ in our day-to-day speech. Unreal exaggeration to emphasize the real situation. Example: "I wanted to be dead, to turn into the rain, my eyes melt into the ground like two black snails" (Cisneros 97)

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Personification

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A figure of speech in which a thing, an idea, or an animal is given human attributes. The non-human objects are portrayed in such a way that they have the ability to act like human beings. Example: "I write it down and Mango says goodbye sometimes. She does not hold me with both arms. She sets me free" (Cisneros 110)

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Symbolism

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The use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. Generally, it is an object representing another to give it an entirely different meaning that is much deeper and more significant. Sometimes an action, an event, or word spoken by someone may have a symbolic value. Example: "You will always be Esperanza. You will always be Mango Street" (Cisneros 105)

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Diction

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The word choice within a piece of literature and is linked to the mood and tone of the work. Example: "Not a flat. Not an apartment in the back. Not a man's house. Not a daddy's" (Cisneros 108)

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What is the difference between mood and tone?

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Mood is the general atmosphere created by the author's words and is the feeling that the reader gets while reading. Mood can stay constant throughout a novel or change from scene to scene or chapter to chapter. Some mood words are bouncy, jubilant, and melancholic. Meanwhile, the tone is the author's attitude towards the subject. For example, journalistic writing should take an objective, whereas literary writing may differ in tone.

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Gender Roles

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A complicated and highly debated topic. The result of cultural and personal ideas and the determine how males and females "should" think, speak, dress and interact within the concept of society

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Gender Discrimination

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A prejudice or discrimination based on a person's gender, or a refusal to live by the "gender roles" of their biological gender. It is linked to the belief that one gender is intrinsically inferior to the other (typically the female gender). In the American workplace, it is illegal but unfortunately still takes place

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Minority Group

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A subset of people within a larger social order

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Minority

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A group that is different from the social majority. It does not matter how many people are in a minority, what matters is the amount of power they hold within society

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Social Majority

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The people who hold the majority of social power within a community or society

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Minority Discrimination

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Discrimination against a person based on their minority status. This is illegal in the United States but unfortunately still happens. Race discrimination was made illegal under Title VII which also prohibits discrimination based on religion and gender

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Passing

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A concept that questions the core of racial identity. Racial passing occurs when a person who is classified as a member of one racial group can present themselves and act as a member of another racial group, to the point where they are accepted as a member of that group

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Stereotypes

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An oversimplified view of an entire group of people

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What makes Down These Mean Streets and The House on Mango Street Bildgungsromans?

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Down These Mean Streets and The House on Mango Street are both bildungsromans (novels dealing with a person's formative years and moral/psychological growth or a "coming of age" story) because both stories start with the main character around the age of 12 and follow them as they make choices and grow into adulthood.

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Describe the setting of Harlem.

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Harlem is a rough neighborhood with a lot of crime and also poverty.

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Make a prediction: what does the author mean when he says, "I wonder if it's something I done, or something I am."

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I think when the author says, "I wonder if it's something I done, or something I am", I think he means if people, like his father, judge him based on appearance.

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Why does Piri run away from home?

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Piri runs away from home because his father beats him.

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How does Piri's mother feel about Puerto Rico?

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Piri's mother loves Puerto Rico and longs for days spent on the sunny island.

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What is going on in America during 1941 and how is Piri's family affected?

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In America in 1941, the Great Depression was going on. The Great Depression affects Piri's family because Piri's father loses his job.

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Describe how Thomas uses dialogue as a literary device. Is it an effective device to convey the relationship between Piri and his family? Why or why not?

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Thomas uses dialogue as a literary device because the characters use descriptions of what they are talking about and often speak of their emotions. Yes, it is an effective device to convey the relationship between Piri and his family because his father uses direct, sharp dialogue, which shows Piri does not have a great relationship with his father. Piri's mother uses more a story-like essence in her dialogue, which shows that Piri has a better relationship with his mother.

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Describe the change in Piri's identity when he is with his friends, with his family and with strangers?

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When Piri is with his friends and family, he feels proud of who he is and that he does not have to hide who he truly is. When Piri is with strangers, he feels shame of who he is.

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For Piri, what is it like to be a Puerto Rican on an Italian block? What happens to him?

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For Piri, being a Puerto Rican on an Italian block means that he gets discriminated against and the other boys fight him. Piri gets into a fight and winds up with asphalt in his eyes.

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What device does Thomas use to make the reader feel sympathy towards Piri at the end of the chapter?

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At the end of the chapter, Thomas also uses the literary device of simile and hyperbole in "I was like a cat in a movie about Indians, taking it like a champ, tied to a stake and getting like burned toast" to make the reader feel sympathy towards Piri.

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Why do Piri and his mother go to the home relief office?

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Piri and his mother go to the home relief office because Piri's father lost his job and his mother wants the home relief office to help them by giving them food or clothes. Piri's mother needs Piri there to translate for her.

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Where do Piri and his family move in Chapter 6? Describe the new setting.

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In Chapter 6, Piri and his family move back to Spanish Harlem. The new setting is tense and different for Piri because he is the same race as everyone else but he is not accepted yet. Piri fights Waneko, the leader of a gang.

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What does it mean to "belong?" What did Piri sacrifice by joining a gang?

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To "belong" means to trust a group of people, have friends, and fit into the society that is around you. By joining a gang, Piri sacrifices his innocence. Piri sacrifices a relationship with his family. He also gives up his future since Piri eventually winds up in jail. Piri wants acceptance from his dad and he finds acceptance in his new family, the gang.

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Describe the difference between Piri's thoughts and Piri's actions. Give at least one example.

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Piri is "full of talk but no action". Piri thinks things but he does not always do it. One example of this is "just being a kid, nothing different from all the other kids, was good" but really Piri was, in a way, forced to grow up due to his activity in a gang and where he lives.

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Describe Piri's "brush with the law" in excerpt 6:

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In excerpt 6, Piri and his friends decide to start a lemonade stand to make money but they choose to steal their supplies instead of paying for it. They go to the grocery store and notice that a worker at the store put a bag into another bag (one that was full of money made from selling drugs). Piri and his friends decide to return that night and steal the bag, among other goods from the store. The police come so Piri runs away with his friends. They hide from the police in a dark alley but the police notice them. A high fence prevents the boys from escaping the police. Piri and his friends decide to jump the fence but Piri is the only one who makes it over the fence and the police catch his friends.

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Do Thomas' inner thoughts (in italics) add to your understanding as a reader? Why or why not?

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Thomas's inner thoughts do add to my understanding as a reader because they help me understand what Piri is thinking and his motivation behind his actions, which help me understand the story better.

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Where do Piri and his family move at the beginning of Part 2?

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At the beginning of Part 2, Piri and his family moves to Long Island.

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What does Piri overhear Marcia and her friends talking about in the gym?

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Piri overhears Marcia and her friends talking about Piri and how he is black in the gym.

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Why does Piri take out his anger on Angelo?

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Piri takes his anger out on Angelo because the people at his school are discriminating him and he is upset.

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Why does Piri leave Long Island?

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Piri leaves Long Island because of the discrimination he received at his school in Long Island.

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Describe racism or oppression that occurs when Piri seeks a job. How does this experience affect Piri?

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When Piri seeks a job, he does not get the job because of his skin color. This experience sickens Piri because he thought the interview went well but the interviewer still judged him for his skin color.

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What does Mr. Christian say that shows his ignorance/prejudice towards other cultures/races during the interview? Give two examples.

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During the interview, Piri says that his parents are Puerto Rican and Mr. Christian replies, "Is Thomas a Puerto Rican name?" which shows his ignorance and prejudice towards other cultures and races. Mr. Christian also assumes that Piri is Catholic during the interview.

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Why do you think it bothers Piri that other people think he is Black?

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I think that it bothers Piri that other people think he is Black because he is actually Puerto Rican and he receives discrimination for being something he is not. He is upset because he has the same heritage as his brothers but they look white, so they receive different treatment.

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Why does Piri want to go down South? Does he think it will be easier for him there? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

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Piri wants to find a job in the South. Piri knows of the racism that occurs in the South but he knows it will be easier to get a job there. Piri also wants to find his identity in the South. Brew tells Piri of all of the hatred that occurs in the South to explain how bad it is there for black people.

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Why does Piri feel like an outsider in his own family?

answer

Piri feels like an outsider in his own family because he is the only child who has darker skin and appears to black while his siblings look white.

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What skin color is valued by Piri? What skin color is valued by Piri's family?

answer

The black skin color is valued by Piri. The white skin color is valued by Piri's family.

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Explain why Piri is going down South.

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Piri is going down South because he wants to gain an understanding of who he really is without his family being there to hold him back.

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What information do we get that may explain the strained relationship between Piri and his father?

answer

The information that we get that may explain the strained relationship between Piri and his father is that Piri's father has been trying to avoid the color of his skin and the discrimination that he received due to it that he may have avoided developing a strong relationship with Piri because Piri has darker skin.

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Describe the Pennsylvanian man Mr. West and explain what kind of book he wants to write.

answer

The Pennsylvanian man, Mr. West is a man who appears to be tan and is 1/8 Negro. Mr. West wants to write a book about the life of Negroes in the South.

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There is a lot of dialogue in this chapter. How do their different ways of speaking help shape our understandings of Mr. West, Brew and Piri?

answer

In this chapter, Mr. West speaks very eloquently, which leads us to believe that he is well educated. On the other hand, Brew speaks with a lot of slang and improper grammar, which leads us to believe that he is not well educated. Piri speaks in-between the levels of Mr. West and Brew since he uses slang but also uses proper grammar, leading us to believe that Piri is educated but has a lot of experience in the streets.

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What do Mr. West and Piri have in common?

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Mr. West and Piri both belong to one race but physically appear to belong to another.

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Do you think Mr. West has the right to discuss issues of a race that he does not belong to? Why or why not?

answer

Yes, I do think Mr. West has the right to discuss issues of a race he does not belong to because even though he may not belong to that particular race, he may be able to relate to the discrimination that particular race faces.

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Piri says, "I wish I could be like one of those lizards that change colors." What does he mean by this?

answer

When Piri says, "I wish I could be like one of those lizards that change colors", he means that he wishes that his skin color could change depending on who he is around.

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Why does Piri continually bring the chief mate cold coffee?

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Piri continually brings the chief mate cold coffee because the chief mate calls Piri a boy.

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How does Piri identify himself differently in the South than he does in Harlem?

answer

In the South, Piri identifies himself as black when he is with other blacks and when Piri is with other Puerto Ricans, he identifies as Puerto Rican. In Harlem, Piri simply identifies as Puerto Rican.

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Explain why Piri turns to drugs.

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Piri turns to drugs for "a way out". Piri loses a lot in his life-his family, his friends, his true home of Harlem- so to cope with that he turns to drugs. Piri also sells drugs eventually to make money. Piri turns to drugs because despite all of the bad things in his life, drugs make him feel better. Piri quickly becomes addicted to the "good" feelings that drugs give him so he becomes addicted.

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Where does Down These Mean Streets take place?

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Spanish Harlem

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Where is Piri when the book begins?

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Wandering the city

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Piri's father is of _____ descent?

answer

Cuban

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What historical event is still affecting the setting of the book in 1941?

answer

The Great Depression

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Piri's mother is of ______ descent?

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Puerto Rican

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Piri is seriously injured on what part of his body?

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Eyes

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Why does Piri go with his mother to the Home Relief Office?

answer

To translate

question

What major decision does Piri make in excerpt 5?

answer

Joins a gang

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