No Promises in the Wind
Rules of Trashketball
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7.
Stay in your seats at ALL times.
You will have 30-60 seconds to ponder/discuss the answer
to a question AND
Write ONE response to the question on a sheet of paper.
All players/teams will hold up their answers.
If you are correct, you/your team will get the opportunity
to shoot the correct response into the trashcan from a
point line (or your seat).
If the shot is made, the player/team gets a point.
Shots will be made after ALL the questions have been
answered or shown.
Q1

There are many references to
music in this novel.
List them and explain, using
evidence from the text, their
significance, especially the banjo.
Q 1 ANSWER

 Josh felt best when he was able to play music at the
school with Howie - who owned the banjo - and his
teacher Miss Crowne.
 Without music and their ability to play and sing, Josh
and Joey wouldn’t have survived as well as they did on
their journey.
 The boys obtained jobs (and money) strictly because of
their musical aptitude.
 Music was a way to bring people together, create peace,
harmony, and serenity – a release from reality.
Q2

Explain how Josh and Joey
might be described as the lucky
ones from the “army of homeless
children” who roamed the
countryside in the winter of
1933?
Q2 ANSWER

 They might be considered lucky because they managed
to acquire some type of success and survive their
journey.
 Many families or couples gave Josh and Joey places to
stay, clothes to wear, food to eat.
 After obtaining a job at the carnival and at the restaurant
in Nebraska, they earned money. Some of which they
even sent home.
 They met Lonnie who cared for them like a father.
 Are there any other examples as to their “luck”?
Q3

How is Stefan’s behavior
pattern like Josh’s behavior
pattern?
Q3 ANSWER

Both Josh and Stefan are easily angered, take out
their anger in an ill way or on others they love.
Also Josh and Stefan do not show other
emotions such as affection or love towards
others.
Their pattern of behavior is extremely similar
even though Josh tries to convince himself it
isn’t.
Q4

Identify then justify at least
THREE different types of
conflicts in this book.
Q4 ANSWER

There are all FOUR types of
conflict within the novel, really:
Man vs Man –
Man vs Self –
Man vs Society –
Man vs Nature –
Q5

There is a lot of anger in this
book.
What are some of the
examples, give the situation
from the novel and who was
involved?
Q5 ANSWER

 Stefan again Josh for being a hungry and growing 15 year old.
 Josh and Joey because Joey “foolishly” gave away half of their
loaf of bread.
 Josh was angry at Emily and Pete for being together.
 The shoe shopkeeper angered Josh as he stole their $20 bill.
 Josh was angry after the group of boys beat up he and Joey,
stole their potatoes, and left them.
 Most of the book Josh was angry as can be at his father for
always being mad at him and for not loving him as much as he
did Joey.
 Are there any other examples of anger within the novel?
Q6

Describe the different kinds
of love depicted in this book.
Q6 ANSWER

 Josh and Joey’s mother loves them yet knows there isn’t
much at home for them.
 Joey loves Josh like a little brother loves his older brother,
and Joey loves Josh as a best friend.
 Josh thinks he loves Emily.
 Josh and Janey love each other yet must part in
uncertainty.
 Lonnie must love Josh and Joey as he treats them both as a
son, his son/s.
 Are there any other examples of love depicted within the
novel?
Q7

How was Stefan’s attitude
toward life affected by his
attitude toward his father?
Did Stefan make any of the
mistakes his father did?
Q7 ANSWER
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Q8

Through the many different
situations Josh endured, he was
forced to grow up quickly.
What are some of these situations?
What decisions did he make?
Q8 ANSWER
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Q9

Compare the characters of
Stefan and Lonnie.
Q9 ANSWER

Stephan and Lonnie are both
fathers, and both have in a sense
“lost” a child or children. They are
simply trying to do the best they
can or could with what they have.
Also …
Q10

Compare the characters of
Stefan and Josh.
Q10 ANSWER

Answers will vary but MUST be
justified well enough to be
accepted as correct!
Stefan and Josh have the same
emotional and behavior patterns
such as constricting affectionate
emotions but easily angered.
Q11

The title of the novel is No
Promises in the Wind.
How is the wind a metaphor
for life, especially in the lives
of Josh and Joey?
Q11 ANSWER

The wind is a metaphor for life because
the wind is completely unpredictable just
as life is; the wind is also able to destroy
nature or man-made structures, but it
could also assist situations like a cool
breeze on a hot summer day.
Simply put, the wind, like life, is
unpredictable.
Q12

Which is the most important
relationship in Josh’s life?
 Why?
Q12 ANSWER

The most important
relationship in Josh’s life
would be
__________________________
because
__________________________...
Q13

List the first and last name of
the author of No Promises in
the Wind?
Q13 ANSWER

The author of No Promises in
the Wind is Irene Hunt.
Q14

Tell of the major national
event happening during the
novel.
Q14 ANSWER

The major national event
during the time of the novel
was the Great Depression.
Q15

Give at least TWO pieces of
information telling of the
setting of the novel.
Q15 ANSWER

Two pieces of information
telling of the setting of the
novel would be the year 1933
and the city of Chicago, IL.
Q16

What is the name of Josh’s
high school in Chicago, IL?
Q16 ANSWER

Josh’s high school was Penn High
School.
Q17

Who became president of the
United States during the time No
Promises in the Wind was set?
Q17 ANSWER

Franklin Delano Roosevelt became
president during the setting of the
novel.