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Bad Boy
by Walter Dean Myers
B MYE |
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Poetry Illustrations
Pick one of Walter Dean Myers poems and visually illustrate all or part of
it. You must include the poem's words on your illustration. |
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Discussion Questions
1. Explain how Mr. Myers' parents were related to him and how he came to be
with them. (p.3-6)
2. Why did his parents move to Harlem (p 6)?
3. Look at the opening paragraph on Page 7, how does his description reflect
his feelings about Harlem?
4. Reread his memories about his sister's watch on page 10 & 11. How do you
feel about him here? What kind of kid was he?
5. What is his relationship with his mother like (p 15)?
6. When he started school, he read well enough to go into 2nd grade, why did
his teacher decide to keep him in 1st grade? Why was he surprised by this?
7. What was Walter's response to being teased (p 18, 25)?
8. On page 31, Walter's reputation catches up with him, what happens?
9. What happens when Walter is left home alone to recover from his
appendicitis surgery? If he was your friend at that time what would you say
to him?
10. Why did Walter prefer to use Walter Myers as his name instead of Dean?
11. What do you think about Walter's curiosity about lynching on page 39?
12. Explain what he means about reading on page 46?
13. On page 57-58, Mr. Lasher say something important to Walter's mother,
what is it?
14. What is shell shock?
15. Why does Walter blame his mother for his injuries on page 62?
16. What later happens that could be considered as Pay-back for what he did
to his mother?
17. What is an absentee landlord? Why is this a problem? (p 79)
18. Who was A. Philip Randolph?
19. Page 83, what does Walter think about Melba Valle? Why did the neighbors
dislike her?
20. Why was being able to travel all over the city an advantage to Walter?
(p 84-85)
21. What did you think about Walter's "bus trouble " on page 87?
22. Why can't Walter go with Eric to Eddie's party?
23. On page 91, Walter says playing a good game of basketball got respect,
is this true today for your generation?
24. Why was Walter so frustrated with trying to write poetry like the poets
he studied at school? (p 95-99)
25. What conflict does William Dean bring to the family (p 103).
26. How can the condition of the school building reflect the expectations of
the teachers & students there?(p106)
27. What was the problem Walter saw with Stuyvesant High (p. 118)
28. His mother disappoints him bitterly on page 127, how?
29. How did he meet Frank Hall? (p 135)
30. Why does Walter like fighting?
31. What does Walter say about acts of vandalism? (p 136) What are they
really about?
32. Why was Walter disappointed with Langston Hughes when he meets him on
page 139?
33. Prior to his being put under the supervision of a city agency (p 154)
What was Walter trying to do with his writing?
34. What is Frank's story? (p 157)
35. Who was Dr. Holiday and why was she special to Walter (p 170)
36. Walter misses graduation, why? (p186)
37. What surprising secret was Walter's father hiding from him?(p 188)
38. What does Walter finally decide to with is life after Frank leaves?
39 What do his parents give to him as he's leaving? (p 197) |
"... but that was
what Harlem was about, working people doing the best they could."
Essays Topics
Discuss the role models in his life including in and outside of his
family. (p 20, 35, 50, 57, 67, 83, 91, 92, 95, 100, 103, 106, 109, 112, 118,
139, 143, 153, 170...) |
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Discuss the expectations for him that others had, his family,
teachers, society in general, his friends and how they surfaced through his
life. How did he deal with it? |
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