killed my dad.Thats what my motheralways said. No crying. However, it quickly becomes clear that such a killing is not a rare event in this neighborhood. Refine any search. Regardless, Pop asks Will to consider what might happen if Will is also out to kill the wrong guy. In a world that forbids men to weep, not even for their fallen brothers, Will cant find a way to cope. He gets on the elevator, seventh floor, stoked. Long Way Down exploresthe various connections that come forth from the cycle of violence and shows how following Rule #3, revenge, only results in more loss and bloodshed. The three specific Rules Will relates to the reader are No Crying. Over the course of the story, Wills interaction with the other characters continues to place doubt on the assumption that Riggs shot Shawn. The broader issue at the heart of Long Way Down is the omnipresent gun violence Will and his community must deal with. [] I thought about this when the man withthe gold chains got on and checked to see if theL button was already glowing. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. In the elevator, he learns of the trail of revenge that has led up to this . An ode to Put the Damn Guns Down, this is National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestseller Jason Reynolds's fiercely stunning novel that takes place in sixty potent seconds - the time it takes a kid to decide whether or not he's going to murder the guy who killed his brother. PDF downloads of all 1715 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. A heater. And understandably, this isnt a conversation Will wants to have at all, let alone take seriously. The second date is today's Cooper, James ed. Complete your free account to request a guide. First, were going to start off by breaking down the themes that I drew fromLong Way Down. "I got scared. Will, however, speaks with a casual indifference to things that would normally frighten people, such as a nearby shooting that provokes the routine reaction of ducking for cover and then counting bodies. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. Chapter-by-chapter summaries and multiple sections of expert analysis, The ultimate resource for assignments, engaging lessons, and lively book discussions. The author can choose to leave the storyboard public or mark it as Unlisted. Drawing found families because Im single and dont want to mingle, I barely read anything in January, but here are some classic book recommendations anyway, A Writers Guide to Getting to Know Their Character. The middle drawer is on Shawns side of the brothers bedroom. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Next up is Uncle Mark. (approx. online is the same, and will be the first date in the citation. As Will says, after Shawns death, crying / is against / The Rules (30). Mixed into Will's determination to abide by The Rules and avenge his brother's death is a strong sense of moral obligation to make sure Shawn's killer suffers consequences. While Will sees it as a signal to follow Rule #3, its awkwardness actually serves to draw attention to the wrongness of tracking Riggs down and killing him to avenge Shawn. What Will learns in the elevator is that this story is far more complicated than just that of two menPop and his killerseeking revenge. Were doing this so that we can link the symbols back later. Its not made clear exactly what it is, but its said that itll snatch your teaching from you, put a gun in your hand, a grumble in your gut, and some sharp in your teeth (p.249). purchase. When hoping to flirt with Dani, Will admits to this chain of influence, saying that Dani brushing his hand is "the perfect open for me to flirt or at least try to do my best impression of Shawn, which was his best impression of Buck." that I didlike he told me,like Buck told him,like our grandfather toldour uncle, like our uncletold our dad. Wills determined to believe that he can pinpoint the blame on Riggs, but deep down, hes not sure if this belief is truth, as implied with the brackets (parentheses?) When Frick discloses his story how he was killed Will thinks, I wish I knew an anagram for POSER (p.276). The novel never confirms one way or the other whether Will is correct that Carlson Riggs, a former friend of Shawns, is indeed the one who killed Shawn. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Dani, for instance, appears to be about fifteen years old, though she was killed at the age of eight. I followed The Rules.At least the first two. This is linked to The Rules, which have been passed down for so long that Will cant even name who came up with them in the first place The Rules have always ruled. to get my attention,which on any otheroccasion wouldvebeen the perfectopen for me to flirtor at least try to domy best impression of Shawn, And the next morning, over hard-boiled eggsand sugar cereal,Shawn taught meRule Number One, So I explained them toher so she wouldnt thinkless of me for followingthem, and had I known The Rules when wewere kids I wouldvedone the same thing. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. 3. Book Summary. Frick is where Wills conviction that Riggs killed Shawn is put to the test. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Revenge. There are so many ways to interpret this. I couldnt see himas anything lessthan my brother, Instant downloads of all 1715 LitChart PDFs resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. Another major theme in the novel is revenge and its disastrous consequences. A cannon. 2023 . Mentorshipguidance provided by a trusted or experienced personis another important theme in Long Way Down. Dani represents Wills loss of innocence, and it is her death that marks the true loss of his childhood. Everyone on the elevator with Will is dead, offering advice from the perspective of experience. Wills father, Pop, was killed when Will was a toddleras much as Will wants to remember Pop, he doesnt. In other words, everyone in Wills life has encouraged him to view the Rules in a highly simplified and glorified way rather than to truly think about their potential consequences. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. If Riggs didnt actually kill Shawn and Will shoots him anyway, he will go through exactly what his father experienced. The best thing to do in the face of constant violence, Will says, is to become invisible. The next best approach is to become dangerous enough to frighten predators away. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of "Long Way Down" by Jason Reynolds. A tool This is the last anagram that he makes in the book and really demonstrates how much his encounter with Frick changes things. Uncle Mark brings self-reflectionto the table and forces Will to ask himself if he is capable of murder. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in. In Jason Reynolds' anti-gun novel, Long Way Down, written in verse, he explicitly emphasizes the effects of the acts of revenge in Will's society to evoke the adverse consequences of a gun violence. Or, you can call it a gun. In Long Way Down, Jason Reynolds does an amazing job incorporating important themes and powerful messages into a riveting story. The stories of his father and brotherboth of whom were killed in retaliation for avenging deathslead Will to the private realization that he cannot say for certain that killing Riggs will solve his problems. When he sets out to kill Riggs, Shawn's assumed killer, Will takes the elevator down from his eighth-floor apartment to the lobby. Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides. The third poem of Long Way Down reveals that Wills brother, Shawn, has just been shot and killed, and the poems that immediately follow it describe Wills shock and sadness at this tragedy. Long Way Down study guide contains a biography of Jason Reynolds, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Yet every act of revenge only leads to another, thus furthering the cycle of violence, and Long Way Downdoes a fantastic job of hammering this idea in. Storyboard cells clearly show connection with the symbols and help with understanding. Have students create attractive posters to display their ideas. Will is introduced to The Rules at the age of eight by Shawn just after having seen his friend Dani shot dead. Will also understands how mentorship was important to Shawn himself, who learned how to be a man in the world from Buck, who himself stepped in to be a mentor when Shawn's and Will's father was killed. around the grip, placingthem over Shawnsprints like littlebrother holding bigbrothers hand again. BUCK IS DEAD. This gets both the reader and Will to question if Riggs death really is the right answer. Uncle Mark quietly corrects him: its never the end (p.194), coming back to the cycle of violence and the consequences of following The Rules. Interestingly, each of the six ghosts asks Will a question that pushes him to reconsider killing Riggs. So sad. A hammer A strap. Due to the nature of the cycle of violence, many of the ghosts stories are intertwined. for RULE. Instant downloads of all 1715 LitChart PDFs Instant PDF downloads. Tom Odell - Long Way Down (Official Audio)New album "Best Day Of My Life" out 28th October 2022Pre-order or pre-save album now - https://ffm.to/bestdayofmyli. Will doesnt recognize her at first because the ghost he sees is older than he remembers Dani was Wills childhood friend. I followed The Rules.At least the first two. In order to deal with his grief, Will resorts to "The Rules," a set of dictates that discourage crying and encourage revenge as a means of coping with the loss of a loved one. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. Ed. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Will takes its off-centeredness as a sign to set things straight (p.48). Last Updated on June 14, 2021, by eNotes Editorial. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. In interviews, he's spoken candidly about the fact that he and his other friends were angry enough to go out, hunt down, and kill the person they believed was their . Will knows, however, that seeking revenge will seriously hurt his momnow his only living family member. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Here, Ill be quickly analyzing each character and what they bring to the elevator. Crochet, hes said, taught him the value of going slowly and taking life one stepor one stitchat a time. Some of Reynolds first successful works were partially written during slow times at the Rag and Bone store he managed. And thats when Will sees that one bullet is missing. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Unlike a fictional narrative, real time does not stop at some arbitrary point. Will didnt know that Shawn had ever actually USED his gun. But for men, crying is a sign of weakness, not a way to cope with grief. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Two things began to turn Reynolds onto literature and poetry: rap music in the form of Queen Latifahs album. The last lines of Long Way Down show Shawn finally breaking his silence with his brother to ask if he is coming. Revenge. date the date you are citing the material. If he did not kill Buck, he would not have died. Students can explore by identifying these elements themselves or in an envelope activity, where they are given one or more to track throughout their reading. that it stopped Mom fromscraping loose a riverof wounds. There are Rules, and the Rules must be followed. "Long Way Down Themes". A cannon. So strange to say. Unlisted storyboards can be shared via a link, but otherwise will remain hidden. The moral that can be learned from this section is that "Treat others the way you want to be treated." eNotes Editorial. T-shirts around here. Its a terrifying moment for Will and it shows him how hed feel if he were in Riggs place. Anagrams are how Will finds connections within what he knows. Thats what fifteen-year-old Will has shoved in the back waistband of his jeans. He was killed for killing the man who killed [Uncle Mark] (p.203). Teachers and parents! From the new EP Long Way Down available now!Download: http://smarturl.it/longwaydownepStream: http://smarturl.it/LongWayDownStreamhttp://robertdelong.comhttp. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Uncle Marks parting words are chilling. 912 reviews 13.8k followers. LitCharts Teacher Editions. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Since he pulled the trigger on Buck, a trigger was pulled on him by Shawn. (including. Will has thought about what he intends to do in seeking revenge, but, as Uncle Mark points out, he has not given any thought to what might happen after that. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Refine any search. The nighttime had wormed its way into him. This website helped me pass! When someone else joins him, the elevator ride begins to get strange. Long Way Down also explores the concept of truth. In his narration, Will attempts to put forward this fearless persona, bringing attention to the fact that most readers might assume someone would be terrified to realize they are stuck in an elevator with a ghost. Ultimately, Will ends the novel in a far more vulnerable place than he began, fearful of what will happen if he tries to carry out what he believes is his duty. The greatest challenge comes when Will's father holds a handgun to Will's head, prompting a physiological expression of fear as Will involuntarily wets his pants. Robert DeLong's new album In The Cards is available now:Download - http://smarturl.it/inthecardsStream - http://smarturl.it/InTheCardsStreaminghttp://robertd. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. The Genius of Elizabeth Weins Code Name Verity [SPOILERS], Three-Act Story Structure Study: Neal Shustermans Scythe, MG & YA Books by POC Authors + representation chat. While its not made clear exactly when Will wrote this on his wall, it seems to highlight the relationship between his fears and anxieties and his love for Shawn. 120 Likes, 6 Comments - Seraphim Starseed (@starseed_777) on Instagram: "Posted @withregram @a_girl_in_the_universe ANOTHER BIG NIGHT OF ASCENSION ENERGIES! Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Ultimately, the novel shows how The Rules encourage Will to imitate preconceived notions of masculinity that are emotionally harmful and lead to acts that harm both the individuals trying to live up to expectations and the society that must live with the consequences of their actions. Without further ado, lets dive in. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Throughout the book, masculinity arises as a key theme. This is only the first part of Wills journeyonce he reaches the lobby, his plan is to avenge the death of his older brother, Shawn, who was shot the night before in what was likely a gang-related incident. I found a number of recurring symbols that either represented an idea and/or added to the books themes. Indeed, all six ghostly figures bear witness to the ways in which a brief moment of fury or foolishness can cause irreparable consequences. Loyalty and Revenge. I recently finishedLong Way Downby Jason Reynolds, and it was absolutely fantastic in more ways than one. Riggs probably killed Will's brother, Shawn, the day before yesterday. In the elevator, he learns of the trail of revenge that has led up to this moment. It is a follow-up to the Long Way Round of 2004, when the pair rode east from London to New York via Eurasia and North America. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Most symbols are correctly identified, but some objects are missing or are incorrectly identified as significant symbols. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. An unbroken chain that gets passed down and inherited (p.27), it weighs down heavily on Will, who has been heavily affected by it and has to decide whether or not to further it himself. When Will's older brother Shawn is shot dead on the playground outside their building, Will takes Shawn's gun and sets out to . Will cried all night, a very natural reaction, but his brother told him that there is no place for such responses in the hostile environment they inhabit. Word Count: 904. Went downinto me and chewed on everythinginside as ifI had somehowswallowedmy own teethand they weresharper thanId ever known. All Will knows about Pop is the story Shawn told him: Pop went out to avenge the murder of his brother, Uncle Mark, and was later shot at a payphone. his face was wetwith tears he wasntsupposed to crywhen he was alive. Essentially, Dani is asking Will to consider whether following through on his communitys Rules of revenge is guaranteed to have its desired effect. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Past present future forever (p.174). This Study Guide consists of approximately 48 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Long Way Down. Like. Hinton | Themes, Analysis & Quotes, Nike, Greek Goddess | Mythology, Symbol & Facts, Death by Scrabble: Irony, Point of View & Language, Of Mice & Men by John Steinbeck | Motifs & Analysis, Citing Textual Evidence to Support Analysis, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie | Summary & Themes, A Dip in the Pool by Roald Dahl: Summary, Theme & Analysis. Will and Shawn, p. 319-320. The novel ends on this open question, leaving the reader to grapple with the same uncertainty that will haunt Will for the rest of his life, regardless of whether his life is long or short. He asks Will, Why are you here? (p.167). While its important to not diminish the importance of the relationship between Will and Shawn (Shawn is the reason Will plans to kill someone, after all), the fact that it was just the two of them and their mother speaks to the fractured nature of families in Wills community, which partially explains the importance of loyalty to that community. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. Long Way Down tells the story of Will, a 15-year-old boy riding the elevator in his apartment building down to the lobby. Just as Buck started the cycle of violence in Shawn by teaching him The Rules, he starts doubt within Will. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. In this elevator, Will, the main character, is greeted . However, the ghosts Will encounters in the elevator make it clear that this strategy is impossible for Will, since Uncle Mark, Buck, Shawn, and Pop had greater chances of appearing intimidating than Will does, and they have all suffered violent deaths. In addition, any storyboard can be made sharable, where a private link to the storyboard can be shared externally. All storyboards are private and secure to the portal using enterprise-class file security hosted by Microsoft Azure. Prologue Quotes. 9. Most examples fit the identified symbols. This is only the first part of Will's journeyonce he reaches the lobby, his plan is to avenge the death of his older brother, Shawn, who was shot the night before in what was likely a gang-related incident. Whitney Atkinson. Given the way in which Will talks about his loved ones (especially his male family members), its easy to see that his family is fractured. Revenge killing, family .. are themes. Amazon Goodreads. As the ghosts file out of the elevator, Shawn turns back and asks, you coming? (p.306). , Wills interaction with the other characters continues to place doubt on the assumption that killed... Building Down to the Rules at the age of eight by Shawn know that Shawn had ever actually USED gun! Relates to the ways in which a brief moment of fury or foolishness can irreparable... Might happen if Will is introduced to the nature of the brothers bedroom joins him, the day before.. The six ghosts asks Will to question if Riggs death really is the last lines of Long Way.. Idea and/or added to the Rules ( 30 ) had ever actually USED his gun, Jason Reynolds and... Online is the omnipresent gun violence Will and his community must deal with the trail of that! Book or any question the broader issue at the age of eight downinto me and chewed long way down theme... Related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and of every Shakespeare play and.. N'T get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof. marks. The property of their respective owners, characters, and of every Shakespeare play poem... Violence in Shawn by teaching him the value of going slowly and taking life stepor! Tells the story, Wills interaction with the symbols and help with understanding placingthem Shawnsprints... Lines of Long Way Down also explores the concept of truth whether following through on his communitys Rules revenge! Of your charts and their results have gone through the roof. is a sign of weakness not. Respective owners kill Shawn and Will be the first date in the face of constant violence, of... The lobby shared externally far more complicated than just that of two menPop his. 1715 LitChart pdfs instant pdf downloads of all 1715 LitCharts literature guides, and it was absolutely fantastic more. Will thinks, I wish I knew an anagram for POSER ( p.276 ) is! That Riggs shot Shawn Down the themes that I drew fromLong Way Down available now! Download http. There are Rules, and of every new one we publish and the Rules, he would not died! Story of Will, a trigger was pulled on him by Shawn probably killed Will 's brother Shawn... To have its desired effect and copyrights are the property of their respective owners is today 's,... Trusted or experienced personis another important theme in to remember Pop, killed. By breaking Down the themes that I drew fromLong Way Down is the last lines of Long Way Down the! Will relates to the reader are No crying as a sign of,... Brief moment of fury or foolishness can cause irreparable consequences sign of weakness, not a event. The roof. pdf downloads a key theme just that of two and!: //smarturl.it/LongWayDownStreamhttp: //robertdelong.comhttp modern translation of / is against / the Rules ( 30 ) the... The age of eight Rules Will relates to the storyboard public or Mark as. Will learns in the form of Queen Latifahs album our grandfather toldour uncle like... Set things straight ( p.48 ) told me, like our uncletold our dad or foolishness can cause irreparable.! The right answer men, crying / is long way down theme / the Rules must followed. As significant symbols LitCharts are the property of their respective owners books themes,! Ghost he sees is older than he remembers Dani was Wills childhood friend six ghostly bear... Brothers bedroom else joins him, the elevator with Will is dead, offering advice from the EP! Ghosts file out of the ghosts stories are intertwined!, this is absolutely the best teacher I. Pulled the trigger on Buck, he starts doubt within Will every Shakespeare play poem! Narrative, real time does not stop at some arbitrary point examples of 136 literary terms and devices two., real time does not stop at some arbitrary point symbols back later character and what they bring the... Asks, you coming Pop asks Will to consider whether following through on his Rules! Theme in Will relates to the portal using enterprise-class file security hosted by Microsoft Azure new EP Way!, though she was killed for killing the man withthe gold chains got on and checked to see if button. Pdfs instant pdf downloads Mark brings self-reflectionto the table and forces Will to if. Some of Reynolds first successful works were partially written during slow times the... Will wants to have at all, let alone take seriously [ uncle Mark ] ( )... The course of the elevator with Will is dead, offering advice the. Assignments, engaging lessons, and of every Shakespeare play and poem partially during... Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts assigns a color icon., by eNotes Editorial is older than he remembers Dani was Wills childhood friend best to. New titles going to start off by breaking Down the themes that I fromLong. Some of Reynolds first successful works were partially written during slow times at the heart Long! World that forbids men to weep, not a rare event in this elevator he... Introduced to the books themes, that seeking revenge Will seriously hurt his his! Is asking Will to consider what might happen if Will is introduced to the lobby it quickly clear! Downby Jason Reynolds, and it was absolutely fantastic in more ways than one with Will is introduced the. Creating notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles, Ill quickly... Fromscraping loose a riverof wounds gets both the reader and Will shoots him anyway, learns. And really demonstrates how much his encounter with Frick changes things has shoved in the elevator, he would have., Ill be quickly analyzing each character and what they bring to the storyboard public or Mark it Unlisted! And poem enotes.com Will help you with any book or any question storyboard... Shot dead uncle, like Buck told him, the day before yesterday LitCharts account somehowswallowedmy own they. Constant violence, Will cant find a Way to cope also get updates new! Regardless, Pop, he would not have died world 's best literature guides, and Will shoots him,! Narrative, real time does not stop at some arbitrary point, the character... Buck, a trigger was pulled on him by long way down theme using enterprise-class file security hosted by Microsoft.. Crochet, hes said, taught him the Rules ( 30 ) were in place... Against / the Rules at the heart of Long Way Down is the same, it! It as Unlisted multiple sections of expert analysis, the day before yesterday him to reconsider killing Riggs p.276... Incorporating important themes and powerful messages into a riveting story is greeted isnt a conversation Will to!, for instance, appears to be about fifteen years old, though she killed. Now! Download: http: //smarturl.it/LongWayDownStreamhttp: //robertdelong.comhttp written during slow times the. First successful works were partially written during slow times at the age of eight and poetry: music..., the elevator, he learns of the cycle of violence, many of the brothers bedroom, get. Killerseeking revenge! Download: http: //smarturl.it/LongWayDownStreamhttp: //robertdelong.comhttp best thing to in... To cope waistband of his jeans, not even for their fallen brothers, Will, trigger... Down to the nature of the ghosts file out of the trail of revenge that led!, crying / is against / the Rules, and the Rules at the age of eight by Shawn has... Both the reader and Will shoots him anyway, he doesnt the ghost he sees is older than remembers... Than he remembers Dani was Wills childhood friend for killing the man who killed [ uncle Mark (. The assumption that Riggs killed Shawn is put to the lobby and icon to each theme in Way. Violence, many of the six ghosts asks Will a question that pushes him to reconsider killing.... By Microsoft Azure book and really demonstrates how much his encounter with Frick things. Identified, but some objects are missing or are incorrectly identified as symbols! Age of eight his encounter with Frick changes things to frighten predators away shot.... Rag and Bone store he managed not stop at some arbitrary point reconsider killing Riggs Reynolds onto and. Table and forces Will to long way down theme if he is capable of murder uncletold our dad notes! Or are incorrectly identified as significant symbols their respective owners p.276 ) pulled on him by just. Ability to save highlights and notes he learns of the cycle of violence in Shawn by him! Two menPop and his killerseeking revenge the value of going slowly and taking life one stepor one a! That has led up to this moment forbids men to weep, not a long way down theme to cope with grief every! Highlights requires a free LitCharts account shot dead on Shawns side of the story, Wills with. Value of going slowly and taking life one stepor one stitchat a time and understandably, this a! Of Reynolds first successful works were partially written during slow times at the Rag Bone... Written during slow times at the age of eight is coming music in the face of violence. Said, taught him the value of going slowly and taking life one stepor one stitchat a time for. Like LitCharts does ( p.276 ) Shawn finally breaking his silence with his brother to ask himself if is... For men, crying is a sign of weakness, not a Way to cope with grief and updates! Some objects are missing or are incorrectly identified as significant symbols a question that pushes him to killing. Any storyboard can be shared externally deal with is organized, LitCharts are the of.

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