Vocabulary: write ONE synonym for every word you are able, and look up the rest. profession glanced barkeep reformatory chicks complicated solitary flipped out clenched vacant rumble(-ing) hacked off cue cautious allies
audience
pestered
Discussion Questions
1.
Where does the story begin?
cat
rep
sincere
2.
What differences do you notice between Steve Hayes and the narrator? Who is the narrator?
3.
When did Steve and Rusty know each other? How old does that make them now?
4.
What seems to be the narrator’s mood? Steve’s mood?
2

5.
How do you picture Rusty-James? How do picture Steve?
6.
What is Benny’s? What news does Rusty-James get while he’s playing pool there?
7.
Do you think Rusty-James feels as cool as he tries to act about Biff?
8.
What things do you find out about Steve in Chapter Two? How do you find out this information?
9.
What does Rusty-James mean when he says, “He was my best friend.
That was his rep.”?
3

10.
Have gang fights been common lately in Steve and Rusty-James’s neighborhood? Could the planned fight between Biff and Rusty-James trigger a return of the gang fights?
11.
The mention of who seems to make Rusty-James angry? Who is he?
Why might Rusty-James be mad at him?
12.
Does it seem odd to you that Steve and Rusty-James are best friends?
Do they seem to have much in common? Do you know of any friendships in which the same agreement seems to have been made, i.e., protection in exchange for homework?
13.
What animal does Rusty-James say Steve looks like? How does he act like one as well?
14.
What does Rusty-James say his bad habit is?
4

Vocabulary: write ONE synonym for every word you are able, and look up the rest. swig pug-ugly edgy wiry self-control hopped up husky doped-up switchblade title expelled tinge jimmied suspended
tensed maniac expressionless concussions panther depressing
List the terms from above that might be used to describe a person.
1. 4. 7.
2.
3.
5.
6.
Discussion Questions
1.
Who is Patty, and why is she mad at Rusty-James?
2.
Why does Patty begin crying when Rusty-James wakes up?
3.
What can you tell about Patty from this chapter?
4.
How do Smokey and Rusty-James act and feel differently before they fight?
5

5.
What has Biff been doing prior to the fight?
6.
What does the “warm up” portion of the fight consist of?
7.
How does Biff break the rules of the fight? Does breaking the rules help Biff win the fight?
8.
Whose arrival lets everyone know the fight is over? What do you learn about him in this chapter?
9.
What do you know about the apartment where Rusty-James lives?
What details can you add from your own imagination?
10.
Why does the Motorcycle Boy say he got expelled from school? Do you think he’s kidding, or did he get those scores fairly?
6

11.
What does Steve say is the main difference between Rusty-James and the Motorcycle Boy?
12.
Why does Rusty-James want Steve to stay? Who is there when Rusty-
James wakes up?
13.
Who does Rusty-James say he loves? Who does he feel he can count on?
14.
List 2 similarities and 2 differences for each character listed below.
Rusty-James
Sims: Sims:
Steve Motorcycle Boy
Sims: Sims:
Biff
Diffs: Diffs: Diffs: Diffs
7

Vocabulary: write ONE synonym for every word you are able, and look up the rest. weird obnoxious mags toehold sassy writing exercise:
Discussion Questions hood bribed desperate keel over junkie vicious scrounging gap hick mouthy simulated ledge super elite
1.
Rusty-James thinks Steve’s parents are weird. Do you think it’s weird for parents to object to their 14-year-old son sneaking out to get involved in a fight? What does think tell you about Steve’s parents may be different from Rusty-James’s Father?
2.
Why is it so easy for B.J. and Smokey to win when they played poker with Rusty-James?
3.
What does Coach Ryan offer Rusty-James?
8

4.
Why does Rusty-James like English? Do you think Rusty-James belongs in the lower-level class? Is he there because of low ability or lack of effort – or some other reason? How do you think he feels being in the
“dumb” classes?
5.
Patty’s mother doesn’t like Rusty-James. What would you be worried about if you were Patty’s mother? How does Rusty-James solve the problem?
6.
Why is Steve so quiet? How does Rusty-James try to help him? What else might he have done to help Steve?
7.
What does Rusty-James’s father do with the money he gets from the government? Does Rusty-James seem concerned or upset that his father obviously has a problem?
9

8.
How does Rusty-James decide to get some money? What is the result?
9.
Who is Cassandra, and what is her problem? Does this seem like something that could really happen? Why or why not?
10.
Why does Rusty-James’s father speak in an educated way? How are he and his sons different?
Writing exercise:
10

Vocabulary: write ONE synonym for every word you are able, and look up the rest. bargained turf novelty valuable intention tolerate spacey equipped horse
Discussion questions
1.
Why is Rusty-James called to Mr. Harrigan’s office? Why does the news upset Rusty James?
2.
What worries occupy Rusty James?
3.
Does Rusty James plan to go to a new school? What will happen if he doesn’t?
4.
Do you think Rusty-James is right in his opinion that Coach Ryan hopes that Rusty-James’s reputation will ‘rub off on him” – or is the coach expressing his genuine concern over Rusty-James’s situation?
11

5.
Why does Patty break up with Rusty James? What is Rusty-James’s reaction?
6.
What does the Motorcycle Boy show Rusty-James at the drug store?
7.
Why does the Motorcycle Boy compare himself to Jesse James, Robin
Hood, and the Pied Piper?
8.
Rusty James is scared when the Motorcycle Boy smiles. What do you usually think of when you see scary smiles?
12

Group Activity:
13

Vocabulary: hound doggedly raided slumming peculiar scowling bail plastered recklessness prophecy chameleon abandoned
Discussion Questions – chapter 7
1.
What changes does Rusty-James notice in Steve? stride openmouthed suburbs fidgeting
2.
Steve and the Motorcycle Boy have a good laugh at the expense of
Rusty-James. Explain.
3.
What does Rusty-James like about the downtown area where they boys go?
4.
What lessons does Steve learn about life in this chapter?
14

5.
How does the Motorcycle Boy explain Rusty-James’s fear of being alone?
6.
Who did the Motorcycle Boy see while he was in California?
7.
What is the real reason for Rusty-James pushing the drunk against the wall?
8.
What new information have you learned about the Motorcycle Boy in this chapter?
15

Vocabulary: write ONE synonym for every word you are able, and look up the rest. royalty bristle vice exile gauging primitive staggered toneless innate legend apparently persist
Discussion Questions:
1.
What do you think of an older brother who leaves his younger brother and friend in a dangerous pool hall late at night without explaining that he’s leaving? Does he seem to care very much about Rusty-James?
Why do you think he feels like that?
2.
Why do Rusty-James and Steve walk down the middle of the street?
3.
What had happened before the boys got very far? How could they have avoided this situation? What would you have done when the
Motorcycle Boy left the pool hall?
16

4.
What was the Motorcycle Boy’s reaction to his brother being almost killed?
5.
What did Rusty-James hear “behind” the Motorcycle Boy’s words?
6.
To “idealize” something means to think of it as much better than it really was or is. Has Rusty-James idealized the days of the gangs?
Has he idealized his older brother?
7.
What do you think the Motorcycle Boy means by”… loyalty is his only vice”?
8.
What does Rusty-James realize is scary about his brother? What is the Motorcycle Boy saying about himself at the end of this chapter?
Do you think he’s serious? Do you think he’s right?
17

Vocabulary: write ONE synonym for every word you are able, and look up the rest.
D.T.’s legit lecturing brainwashed swiped mugging downers hassle
Discussion Questions:
1.
What advice did the doctor at the clinic give to Rusty-James? Do you think it is wise for Rusty-James to ignore his advice? How did Rusty-
James deal with the pain?
2.
What happened to Steve when he got home? Do you see any evidence that this has happened before?
3.
Why do you think Rusty-James feels the Motorcycle Boy should be watched? Why doesn’t Steve want to help?
4.
Why is Rusty-James having so much difficulty dealing with what the
Motorcycle Boy told him the night before?
18

5.
At the end of chapter 9, what does Rusty-James state are his goals?
6.
What enjoyment did Rusty-James get out of the mugging?
7.
How does Smokey insult Rusty-James?
8.
What message did Cassandra send to Rusty-James? To what do you think she is referring? What might she be foretelling, if anything?
9.
Where does the title of the book come from? Is this an appropriate title? Why or why not?
19

Vocabulary: atheist acute pagan practitioner perception era
Discussion Questions: resemblance contrary precedent miscast
1.
What do we learn happened at the last gang fight? Why do you think that was the last rumble?
2.
What does Rust-James ask his father? Why do you think he asks this?
3.
Explain in your own words what happened in the boys’ parents’ marriage.
4.
What does the boys’ father say about people who see the world more clearly than others? Do you agree?
20

5.
Why do you think Rusty-James’s father calls him a “poor child…poor baby”?
6.
Why did the Motorcycle Boy break into the pet store? What happened?
7.
In the arrest scene Hinton includes the fact that Rusty-James lost his ability to see colors and hear. Why does she include this?
8.
What changes are do you see in Steve in Chapter 12?
9.
What changes, if any, do you notice in Rusty-James? Do you think
Rusty-James got his wish – to be like his brother?
21

10.
What do the rumble fish symbolize at the end of the story?
11.
What do you think the theme of this story is? Why?
12.
The central conflict of the story is the main struggle of the protagonist. What is the central conflict of Rumble Fish?
22