“The Rockpile
By James Baldwin
Question #1
Does this story call to mind any of
your own childhood experiences?
Explain
Answer #1
Yes, because when Jorge was little, he
used to break his mom’s porcelain
decorations just for fun; even though his
mom told him not to touch them
“””Question #2
If you were in Roy's place, would
you have sneaked down to the
rockpile? Explain. What would you
have done if you were in John's
place? Why?
Answer #2
a)Jose says yes, because he thinks that it would be
sick to go play and kick some butt. b) Jose
would tell him that if he goes he would kick his
butt.
a)Jorge says no, he would not go down to the
rockpile because he would prefer to break stuff
than to be broken. b) He would’ve told him not to
go, or else he’ll break him before he even gets
there.
a)Yesenia says yes, because she doesn’t listen to
her mom just like Roy. b) She would not ell him
anything because she’s not the one getting beaten.
Question #3
Do you think that Gabriel
overreacts to Roy's injury? Why or
Why not?
Answer #3
Yes, because its not a big deal its just
a small scratch above his eye. If Roy
would've died then it would’ve been
understandable.
Question #4
What draws Roy to the Rockpile?
Answer #4
The boys that were playing at the
rockpile called him over and asked
him to play with him.
“Some friends of Roy passed beneath
the fire escape and called
him”(pg.846)
Question #5
(a) Whom does Gabriel blame for
Roy's injury? (b) Whom does
Elizabeth blame?
Answer #5
a) Gabriel blames John for letting Roy go
and play with his friends at the
rockpile. But he mostly puts blame on
Elizabeth for not payin attention to her
sons.
b) Elizabeth blames Gabriel because he
babies Roy too much and lets him get
away with stuff.
Question #6
a) What role does John serve in
his family? Support your answer.
(b) What evidence is there that his
relationship with Gabriel is
different from that of the other
children?
Answer#6
a)
His role is being a older brother that has to
look over his younger siblings. He was
nameless and a stranger, living, unalterable
testimony to his mother’s sins
b) Gabriel babies Roy after the incident and
quickly blames Elizabeth and John for not
keeping an eye on him. So Gabriel prefer Roy
even over his own wife, so obviously he
would prefer Roy over John.
“ He ain’t got your big eyes for nothing…”Gabriel
aint no sense for trying to blame
Johnnie”(pg.850)
Question #7
(a) How would you characterize
Gabriel? Support you answer. (b)
Why is he so upset by Roy's
injury? Explain
Answer #7
a)He is very rash and decides too
quickly on important issues that need
time. b) He’s upset with Roy’s injury
because he’s his baby boy and Roy is
all that really matters to him.
Question #8
(a) What conclusions can you
draw about Gabriel's relationship
with Elizabeth? Explain. (b) Why
do his feelings toward Elizabeth
soften towards the end of the
story?
Answer #8
(a) Elizabeth and Gabriel have a love hate
relationship. At then of the book
Gabriel sees the mother of his children,
his other half, yet he loses interest
because she doesn’t say what he wants
to hear, or do what he says.
“his eyes were struck with malovence…his
longing to witness her perdition.”
(850)
Question #9
What lessons could you learn
from this story that you could
apply to you own life? Explain.
Answer #9
To take care of your little brother, pay
attention to your elders, and don’t do
things that you are told not to do.
Parents try to protect you more then
half of the time, and if you disobey
them, at least one time it will come
back to get you.