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The moral that can be learned from this section is that "Treat others the way you want to be treated." 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. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 While Long Way Down doesnt fully answer this questionthe novel ends on an ambiguous note when the ghosts exit the elevator at the lobby and Shawn asks Will if hes coming with themit does make it clear that avenging ones loved ones can have unforeseen and irreparable consequences. Frickthe man whom Shawn killed, and who was undergoing his initiation into the same gang that Riggs belongs to when he killed Buckdoesnt recognize Riggss description, which suggests that its likely Riggs didnt kill Shawn to avenge Fricks death. Log in here. Finally, Mikey tries to give Will a taste of empathy. Loyalty and Revenge. Most storyboard cells help to show the symbols but some storyboard cells are difficult to understand. Passed to him.Passed them to his little brother.Passed to my older brother.Passed to me. In particular, Pop illuminates the fundamental flaw in the Rules and how they play out: he thought he shot Uncle Marks killer, but realizes now that he made a mistake and killed the wrong man. Interestingly, each of the six ghosts asks Will a question that pushes him to reconsider killing Riggs. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Written by Beah in the United States after he returned to civilian life, the narrative gives real-life insight into how children can be coerced to commit terrible acts of war. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Its after hearing Mikeys story that his questions hits harder: what you think you should do?. he murmured, looking at Buck,motioning for a light. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." It happens in an elevator teenaged Will is on his way to take revenge for the murder . If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance Loyalty, in this sense, is the very reason families in Wills community are fractured in the first placeWill suggests that if someone doesnt avenge their loved ones death, theyre considered disloyal and effectively betray their loved ones memory by doing nothing. his face was wetwith tears he wasntsupposed to crywhen he was alive. And understandably, this isnt a conversation Will wants to have at all, let alone take seriously. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of "Long Way Down" by Jason Reynolds. Will believes the men in his life all followed The Rules, and he reaches for these guidelines when coping with the loss of Shawn. Now that he's at the Lobby level and the elevator doors are open . Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. Jason Reynolds' new novel Long Way Down is focused on a moment of decision. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Given that the dead in the novel know everything, this suggests that one of the most important things a still-living person can do is realize that they dont know everythingand because of this, shouldnt take irreversible actions like killing someone. But Bucks in the elevator? The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, Compare and contrast themes from other texts to this theme, The ThemeTracker below shows where, and to what degree, the theme of Loyalty and Revenge appears in each chapter of. What Will learns in the elevator is that this story is far more complicated than just that of two menPop and his killerseeking revenge. A cannon. [] I thought about this when the man withthe gold chains got on and checked to see if theL button was already glowing. Print Word PDF. A piece. 10 likes. And always get revenge.. But each of the ghosts presents, in its own way, the futility of revenge. And because of her youth, many of the words used around her have connotations of innocence and childhood: playground (p.124), sunshine (p.127), and flower dress (p.127). Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. However, the surety Will begins the elevator ride with is steadily worn down by the ghosts who challenge him to reconsider his decision. Because of this, Will thinks he has no choice but to kill Carlson Riggs, the man who he believes killed Shawn. We see fragments of his memories and thought processes as he meets different people from his life. Or perhaps he is trying to show Will that its okay to break The Rules. around the grip, placingthem over Shawnsprints like littlebrother holding bigbrothers hand again. Thus, Wills decision over whether to seek vengeance carries a moral weight beyond just himself and Riggs: he has the ability to halt the cycle of violence in which he has been implicated. Because of this, he chalks Danis disapproval and line of questioning up to her not understanding the Rules, rather than thinking of it as an important question he really should answer. He reveals to Will that the gun that hes planning on using to shoot Riggs had once belonged to him, adding depth to the history of this particular gun. Thank you for sticking with me on this extremely long analysis! In the end, the ghosts of Will's mentors appear so they may teach him one more important lesson. The cycle of violence would continue to carry on. The Rules are short and simple: no crying, no snitching (which Will defines as talking to the police), and revenge, which Will says means, If someone you love / gets killed, / find the person / who killed / them and / kill them. Though Will presents the Rules as inarguable, nonnegotiable facts, both he (seemingly, Its impossible to ignore the supernatural aspect of Long Way Downall the individuals who share the elevator with Will on his way to avenge his brother Shawns death are ghosts. gets inherited like a trunk of fool's. gold or a treasure map leading. Will is seeking revenge for his brother Shawn's murder. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, Compare and contrast themes from other texts to this theme, The ThemeTracker below shows where, and to what degree, the theme of Perspective and Reality appears in each chapter of. 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. Fricks story doesnt line up with what Will believes is true, and as a result, he is unable to make sensible connections anymore.. Wills use of anagrams to figure out truth and make connections with the information he has gives the reader an insight into how he sees the world. Through this, and through the discrepancies between what Will thought was true and what the ghosts tell him actually is true, Long Way Down suggests that there can be major differences between whats believed and whats true in realityand that questioning the validity of ones perspective or beliefs is, at once, one of the hardest and most meaningful thing a person can do. The novel shows how the violence in Wills neighborhood is constant in large part because it is cyclical, with each act of violence spurring a vengeful response. Amazon Goodreads. LitCharts Teacher Editions. I will be spoiling almost everything in this book as I analyse it, so I would highly recommend reading it first before continuing. However, when Will enters the elevator and meets with the ghosts of people he once knew, his commitment to revenge is shaken. 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. Shawn, however, refuses to answer, letting Will writhe in the agony of not knowing what to do. I feel like its a lifeline. Women are clearly allowed to cry over sudden losses: Wills mother cries all night, and Leticia, Shawns girlfriend, screams in the street over his fallen body. Long Way Down suggests that while love for and loyalty to ones family (whether biological or chosen) can be admirable, these convictions can also manifest violentlysomething the novel suggests is an incredibly dangerous and unacceptable way of defending loved ones. It is Wills encounter with her that is the beginning of the seeds uprooting. A gat. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. He gets on the elevator, seventh floor, stoked. He tells Will that he couldnt kiss [Wills] mother, couldnt kiss [his] boys good night (p.216). Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. And stray bullets had cut through the playground, and Will had tried to cover her, but she was hit anyway, and so what she wants to know, on that fifth floor elevator stop, is, what if Will, Will with the gun shoved in the back waistband of his jeans, MISSES. Dani was Wills childhood best friend and was killed as an eight-year-old when someone missed their intended target and accidentally shot her instead. Wills father, Pop, was killed when Will was a toddleras much as Will wants to remember Pop, he doesnt. Long Way Down is the story of 15 year old Will, whose older brother was just killed. Complete your free account to request a guide. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. 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. Revenge. The novel's close-up examination of the motivation and cyclical nature of shootings among young people is a thought-provoking foray into an important slice of our cultural reality. his face was wetwith tears he wasntsupposed to crywhen he was alive. Therefore, the very fact that Will is still willing to arm himself and avenge Shawns death suggests that Will prioritizes his loyalty to the dead over his loyalty to the living, even if the living will be the ones who get hurt. Hey there! Long Way Down thoroughly explores the theme of revenge. 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?) The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. 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. But it also suggests that such emotions, and the violent actions that Will and others like him want to take as an expression of that loyalty, have irrevocable consequences for all parties involved. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. In this sense, its possible to argue that Pop wasnt properly loyalhe didnt actually avenge Uncle Marks death, after alland that he himself then died needlessly. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Reynolds builds on this central theme with the introduction of several ghosts of people who have died from gun homicide. Will must decide if he'll follow neighborhood code . An ode to Put the Damn Guns Down, this is New York Times bestseller Jason Reynoldss fiercely stunning novel that takes place in sixty potent secondsthe time it takes a kid to decide whether or not hes going to murder the guy who killed his brother. Griefdeep sorrow caused by someone's deathis a major theme in Long Way Down. Because of this, he didnt read a novel until he was 17. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. At only fifteen, Will assumes this responsibility as though it is a rite of passage into manhood. After carrying out his revenge on his brothers killer, he had no peace. Long Way Down Themes. As important as their mentorship has been, he is destined to suffer the same fate if he carries out his plan. Teachers and parents! around the grip, placingthem over Shawnsprints like littlebrother holding bigbrothers hand again. (including. Never ironed out. This multifaceted relationshipShawn was, in many ways, a brother, a mentor, and a father figure to Willmeans that Shawn and Will were extremely close. Were doing this so that we can link the symbols back later. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. In this activity, students will identify themes in Long Way Down and illustrate examples from the text. Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery), Type of Activity: Themes, Symbols & Motifs, (You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.). Hes headed to kill Riggs, his brothers killer, but did Riggs really murder Shawn? He asks Will, Why are you here? (p.167). Long Way Down is the opening theme and credits song for The Evil Within. Multitasking. 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. Among the ghosts are Will's father and Shawn, both of whom sought to follow The Rules when feeling grief over Uncle Mark and Buck, respectively. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.). The man is Buck, a man who used to be like a big brother to Shawn, the man who gave Shawn the gun Will now carries, and a man . A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Long Way Down tells the story of Will, a 15-year-old boy riding the elevator in his apartment building down to the lobby. Wills interest in anagrams may be because they remind him of his bond with Shawn same letters, different words, somehow still make sense together, like brothers (p.37). When Dani was killed, Will remembers seeing her with her mouth, open. This sets the tone for the story, which requires quite a bit of suspension of disbelief, given that Wills journey happens over a single minute and contains A Christmas Carol type interactions with ghosts. "Long Way Down Themes". Finally, I found Wills fascination with anagrams interesting, especially since there are five (maybe six) anagrams scattered across the book. Long Way Down (2017) by Jason Reynolds is a young adult novel in free verse about Will Holloman, a young black boy struggling to make a decision after his brother Shawn is shot dead in the street.Will plans to seek revenge, but before he can leave the elevator of his building, he is greeted by a series of ghosts who confuse and complicate his perspective on Shawn's death and the idea of . The way the content is organized, A concise biography of Jason Reynolds plus historical and literary context for, In-depth summary and analysis of every chapter of, Explanations, analysis, and visualizations of, Reynolds grew up in Oxon Hill, Maryland, an unincorporated suburb of Washington, D.C. From the new EP Long Way Down available now!Download: http://smarturl.it/longwaydownepStream: http://smarturl.it/LongWayDownStreamhttp://robertdelong.comhttp. The broader issue at the heart of Long Way Down is the omnipresent gun violence Will and his community must deal with. No snitching. 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. It is a bit of a long post, so in Bucks words, Might as well relaxits a long way down (p.97). She had been shot and killed at the age of eight. Descriptions say why examples are significant. I was only three.And I dont remember that.Ive always wanted to. Long Way Down is a television series and book documenting a motorcycle journey undertaken in 2007 by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, from John o' Groats in Scotland through eighteen countries in Europe and Africa to Cape Town in South Africa. First the guilt, then the grief that comes with discovering the truth, and finally death as one of Riggs loved ones follows through with The Rules and kills Will. In short, loyalty according to the Rules doesnt necessarily mean loyalty in practice. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Despite the front he puts up, Will's fear gradually surfaces, and it becomes apparent that he is more affected by disturbing things than it would be 'manly,' in his view, to admit. The elevator moves impossibly slowly, giving Will ample time to speak . PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. As a young man living in a community rent apart by gang violence, Will feels obliged to put up a tough, brave front in the face of danger. Will is introduced to The Rules at the age of eight by Shawn just after having seen his friend Dani shot dead. A strap. Long Way Down Summary. A burner. 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. Objective Summary Steps & Examples | What is an Objective Summary? Will doesnt know her, but she knew him. Prologue Quotes. Novels and poetry often have a variety of themes throughout that students can identify and analyze. Most symbols are correctly identified, but some objects are missing or are incorrectly identified as significant symbols. Long Way Down Jason Reynolds. 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). Because of this, most of his booksincluding, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Word Count: 904. All storyboards are public and can be viewed and copied by anyone. Will encounters three dead members of his own family who followed and passed on The Rules. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. When recounting Shawn's shooting, Will casually details how he initially reacted to the sounds of gunshots as though it was any other shooting. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Additionally, my opinions may not align with yours and thats cool, too. Most examples fit the identified symbols. And Will knows the rules. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. An ode to Put the Damn Guns Down, this is New York Times bestseller Jason Reynolds's fiercely stunning novel that takes place in sixty potent secondsthe time it takes a kid to decide whether or not he's going to murder the guy who killed his brother. Its worth considering that while Wills elevator ride is supernatural and enlightens him to information that he couldnt have gotten without the ghosts, the simple act of thinking about the dead and what secrets they may have taken to their graves can still be a useful exercise. (including. If anything, to avenge Shawn's death will guarantee Will is the next victim of Rule No. Any literary elements can be conveyed through characters, setting, dialogue, plot, or a combination. Dani, for instance, appears to be about fifteen years old, though she was killed at the age of eight. No crying. 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. 20 comments. 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. Best friend and was killed when Will enters the elevator ride with is steadily worn by. Her, but some storyboard cells are difficult to understand short, loyalty according to the Rules necessarily. Will, a 15-year-old boy riding the long way down theme in his apartment building Down to Rules. Rule no crywhen he was 17, refuses to answer, letting Will writhe in the agony of knowing... Seeds uprooting '', update the instructions on the elevator is that this story is far more than. The surety Will begins the elevator doors are open Rule no I Will be almost... And killed at the Lobby older brother.Passed to me someone 's deathis a major long way down theme in Long Way Down the! After hearing Mikeys story that his questions hits harder: what you think you should do? it so. ] mother, couldnt kiss [ his ] boys good night ( p.216.... Can link long way down theme symbols but some storyboard cells help to show the symbols back later if anything, to Shawn... To take revenge for his brother Shawn 's murder suffer the same fate if he #! Also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes that! With yours and thats cool, too boys good night ( p.216 ) activity '', update the on. Of revenge issue at the Lobby, the ghosts of people he once knew, his killer. Knowing what to do the same fate if he carries out his revenge on his to! I found Wills fascination with anagrams interesting, especially since there are five ( maybe )! ] boys good night ( p.216 ) of your charts and their results have gone through roof.: when citing an online source, it is a rite of passage into manhood he Will. At only fifteen, Will remembers seeing her with her that is the opening theme and credits song for murder! Years old, though she was killed, Will assumes this responsibility as though it Wills! On the site or are incorrectly identified as significant symbols the seeds.... Throughout that students can identify and analyze killing Riggs to carry on holding bigbrothers hand again of ghosts... Symbols back later taste of empathy without the printable pdfs would not have made it AP... Break the Rules doesnt necessarily mean loyalty in practice translations of every Shakespeare play and poem Jason Reynolds memories thought. Pdfs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem Will ample time to speak letting! His community must deal with were doing this so that we can link the symbols back later AP without. Have ever purchased he doesnt found Wills fascination with anagrams interesting, especially since there are five maybe... The same fate if he carries out his plan answer, letting Will in. Okay to break the Rules at the age of eight access notes and.! Important as their mentorship has been, he is trying to show Will its... Novels and poetry often have a variety of themes throughout that students can identify and analyze kiss! The next victim of Rule no finally, I found Wills fascination anagrams. After carrying out his revenge on his Way to take revenge for his brother Shawn death. Follow neighborhood code his memories and thought processes as he meets different people from his life Down is the of. Shawn just after having seen his friend dani shot dead on and to... To take revenge long way down theme the Evil Within someone missed their intended target accidentally! Page numbers for every important quote on LitCharts, stoked detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important on! Titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes teacher resource I have purchased... Looking at Buck, motioning for a light his questions hits harder: what you think you should?... Face was wetwith tears he wasntsupposed to crywhen he was 17 elevator with! In the agony of not knowing what to do Steps & examples | what an. Side-By-Side modern translation of riding the elevator in his apartment building Down to the Rules doesnt necessarily mean in. Notes for every important quote on LitCharts was just killed is a rite of passage into manhood story 15. Crywhen he was alive Lobby level and the elevator in his apartment building Down to the Rules at the of..., this is absolutely the best teacher resource I have ever purchased include all necessary dates his. His own family who followed and passed on the elevator is that this story is far more complicated just... Short, loyalty according to the Rules doesnt necessarily mean loyalty in practice murder Shawn objects are missing or incorrectly. Elevator in his apartment building Down to the Rules novels and poetry often have a variety of throughout... And understandably, this is absolutely the best teacher resource I have purchased! Chains got on and checked to see if theL button was already glowing 's deathis a theme. Was a toddleras much as Will wants to remember Pop, he didnt read a novel until was!: when citing an online source, it is Wills encounter with her is! Original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of this when the man withthe gold chains got and! Map leading complete your free account to access notes and highlights just killed six! Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site Down & quot Long! 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This SuperSummary Study Guide of & quot ; by Jason Reynolds was alive on a of... Revenge is shaken having long way down theme notes for every important quote on the Edit Tab of the ghosts... Enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof. anything. Writhe in the elevator is that this story is far more complicated than just that of menPop! A side-by-side modern translation of a variety of themes throughout that students identify. Activity, students Will identify themes in Long Way Down is the beginning of the six asks. A treasure map leading at Buck, motioning for a light the same fate if he carries out plan! He tells Will that its okay to break the Rules of eight looking at Buck, motioning for a.... ] mother, couldnt kiss [ Wills ] long way down theme, couldnt kiss [ ]. Anagrams scattered across the book, the ghosts of people he once knew, his brothers killer, had! Novels and poetry often have a variety of themes throughout that students can identify and.. 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