Fences
Study Guide Questions
Act One: Scene One
1. What issue does Troy address at work? What is the significance of his inquiry?
2. Bono questions that he didn't know he could "do no better than having an outhouse". What
does his statement reveal about the expectations of black people during the 1950s?
3. Rose believes that time has changed since Troy played baseball. What are the changes that
Rose points out?
4. What does Troy believe the 1950s has to offer the black man?
5. Lyon says to his father, "You and me is two different people." Why does he say this? What
is different about this father and son?
6. What observations do you have about each of the characters so far and their relationships
with the other characters in the play? Use adjectives to describe each character and their
relationships.
Act One: Scene Two
7. What is Rose singing about in the opening of Scene Two? How do the lyrics of this song
connect
with the title of this play?
8. What does Troy tell Rose is foolish to do? Why? What examples does he give?
9. Rose says to Troy "… you ain't right this morning?" What does she think is wrong with Troy?
Why?
10. Who is Gabriel? What is unique about him? How did he get this way?
11. How has Troy benefited from Gabriel's condition? How does Troy feel about this?
Act One: Scene Three
12. Describe the first conversation between Cory and Troy while they mend the fence. What do
they talk about? State both of their opinions. What compromise do they agree upon?
13. What does Troy mean when he tells Cory, "All them teams the same," referring to the Pirate
Baseball team?
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14. Why is Troy opposed to Cory's involvement in sports? What personal experiences does
Troy give for his oppostion?
15. What does Troy say to Cory when Cory asks him if his father liked him or not? What does
Troy's answer reveal about his character?
16. Why does Troy say he doesn't want Cory to be like him? What past personal experience
does Troy reveal?
Act One: Scene Four
17. What does the commissioner's office offer Troy?
18. Why does Gabriel think Troy is mad at him? What are Troy's feelings for Gabriel?
19. Summarize Troy's impressions of his father and the traumatic confrontation between the
two men.
20. What does Troy do after he leaves his father? What trouble does he get into and how does
it affect his life?
21. What does Troy do at the end of Act One that mirrors his own father's treatment of him?
Act Two: Scene One
22. Troy insists on using hard wood instead of soft pine for building his outside fence. What
does this signify about Troy's character?
23. Who wants the fence built and why?
24. What does Bono find out about Troy? What does Bono encourage Troy to do?
25. What does Troy mean when he tells Rose that he thought "he just might be able to steal
second?" Why does he feel this way?
26. What happens at the end of Scene One between Troy, Rose, and Cory? Describe the
conflict.
Act Two: Scene Two
27.. What does Rose discover in the papers about Troy? How does she respond to Troy?
28.. Summarize Troy's monologue at he end of Scene Two. How is he feeling at this point? Why
does he feel this way?
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Act Two: Scene Three
29. What does Rose decide to do about Troy's little girl? How does it affect their relationship?
Act Two: Scene Four
30. What does Troy say he gave Cory? How does Cory reply?
31. What happens to Troy and Cory at the end of Scene Four? How is their relationship similar
and/or different to Troy and his father's relationship?
Act Two: Scene Five
32. What event is everyone getting ready for at the beginning of this scene? Who attends this
event?
33. What happened to Lyon and Cory in the last seven years?
34. Why doesn't Cory want to go to the funeral?
35. Summarize Rose's monologue to Cory about his relationship with Troy. What does she feel
was "her first mistake"? What resolve does she come to with regards to her relationship with
Troy?
36. What is significant about the final scene with Gabriel? What do his actions symbolize?
37. Has Rose made her peace with her marriage? Has Cory made his peace with his
relationship with his father? Explain and use evidence from the play to back up your response.
38. In the play’s final scene Rose tells Cory, “You Troy Maxson all over again.” In what respects
does she seem to be correct? incorrect? Could the same be said of Troy, i.e., that he is his father
all over again? How might the comparison be accurate, and where would it break down?
39. Is Rose a sucker for staying with Troy? Why or why not?
40. Who was Troy a better father to, Lyons or Cory? Why?
41. Is Cory in your opinion successful? Who can you attribute his success or failure to?
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