Fences Study Guide Act 1 & 2
According to the playwright (August Wilson), what is the difference in the treatment of European
immigrants and the treatment of those descendants if African slaves? - ANSThe job aspect
What was happening in 1957? - ANSImmigrants were working in factories for industrial powers,
war had been confronted and won, milwaukee braves won world series
Describe Troy and compare him to Bono. - ANS53 years old, thick hands, black
Bono is white and a little heavier
What is the ritual of Friday nights for Troy and Bono? - ANSThey drink, share stories, and catch
up on each others life
What do we learn about Troy and Bono from the story of the man "hiding" the watermelon from
Mr. Rand? - ANSThat they're garbage collectors and are upset about the differences in job
duties. Times at
the start of the book are racist.
What possible conflict for the entire play is set up in the beginning conversation between Troy
and Bono? - ANSTroy has been getting closer to a woman named Alberta. Troy is known for
chasing women.
What issue did Troy take up with the Union? (What does Troy do for a living?) - ANSHe wants to
drive the garbage truck. He wants them to change the job description so everyone can drive the
garbage truck
What does Troy say that he wants to see change? - ANSTroy wants to see African Americans
no longer denied working opportunities at his job
According to Bono, how does Troy's relationship with Alberta differ from the others? - ANSHe is
supposedly eyeing this girl
What do we learn about Troy from the conversation he has with Bono about Alberta? - ANSHe
is known for chasing women and he has a wife
Who is Rose and how is her relationship with Troy described? - ANSTroys wife is 10 years
younger than Troy, she ignores or forgives his faults
Describe the interaction between Rose and Troy—as they discuss how they met. - ANSTroy
meets her and said, "Baby I don't want to marry, but I want to be your man." She responds,
"***** you in my way..."
, What does Rose mean when she says, "There's a lot of people don't know they can do no better
than they doing now"? - ANSSome people don't know they can better themselves
What does Troy's decision to shop at Bella's (a grocery store owned by a single person) rather
than going to the A&P (a major grocery store—like Ralph's or Vons)? - ANSHe is treated right at
Bellas, he can buy a loaf of bread and pay later, Rose thinks she
overcharges
Who is Cory? And what do we learn about him (where he works and what he wants to do with
his life)? - ANSTroys youngest son, works at A & P, wants to be recruited by college football
team, hopes to
play for NFL
What does Troy want Cory to learn in order to make a living? - ANSLearn how to fix cars or
something else where he can make a living
What does Bono mean when he tells Troy: "Times have changed, Troy. You just come along too
early"? - ANSTroy was born to early, blacks didn't play in major leagues but since Jackie
Robinson, times
have changed, blacks have more of a chance to play sports with whites
When did Troy come close to experiencing death? What is ironic in Troy's description of Death?
- ANSWhen he had pneumonia at Mercy hospital, It parallels the Biblical story of Jacob, who
wrestled with an angel, and refused to give in even though the angel injured his thigh, and
insisted that the angel bless him.
Who is Lyons? Describe his relationship with his father, Troy. - ANSLyons is Troy's 34 year old
son from an earlier marriag. His relationship with his father is not pleasant because, Lyons asks
for money or $10, usually every friday because he can't make it on his own.
What does Troy's story of paying for the furniture tell you about Troy? (What is a characteristic
he exemplifies?) - ANSHe's honest and he likes to stretch and exaggerate. He has a sense of
responsibility. He makes
sure his family is provided for
According to Troy, why doesn't he have any extra money? - ANSTroy doesn't have any extra
money because, Gabe moved to Miss Pearl's and Troy has to pay for his rent.
Who physically gives Lyons the ten dollars he asks for? Why? - ANSRose physically gives
Lyons the ten dollars because, Troy won't give it to him
According to the playwright (August Wilson), what is the difference in the treatment of European
immigrants and the treatment of those descendants if African slaves? - ANSThe job aspect
What was happening in 1957? - ANSImmigrants were working in factories for industrial powers,
war had been confronted and won, milwaukee braves won world series
Describe Troy and compare him to Bono. - ANS53 years old, thick hands, black
Bono is white and a little heavier
What is the ritual of Friday nights for Troy and Bono? - ANSThey drink, share stories, and catch
up on each others life
What do we learn about Troy and Bono from the story of the man "hiding" the watermelon from
Mr. Rand? - ANSThat they're garbage collectors and are upset about the differences in job
duties. Times at
the start of the book are racist.
What possible conflict for the entire play is set up in the beginning conversation between Troy
and Bono? - ANSTroy has been getting closer to a woman named Alberta. Troy is known for
chasing women.
What issue did Troy take up with the Union? (What does Troy do for a living?) - ANSHe wants to
drive the garbage truck. He wants them to change the job description so everyone can drive the
garbage truck
What does Troy say that he wants to see change? - ANSTroy wants to see African Americans
no longer denied working opportunities at his job
According to Bono, how does Troy's relationship with Alberta differ from the others? - ANSHe is
supposedly eyeing this girl
What do we learn about Troy from the conversation he has with Bono about Alberta? - ANSHe
is known for chasing women and he has a wife
Who is Rose and how is her relationship with Troy described? - ANSTroys wife is 10 years
younger than Troy, she ignores or forgives his faults
Describe the interaction between Rose and Troy—as they discuss how they met. - ANSTroy
meets her and said, "Baby I don't want to marry, but I want to be your man." She responds,
"***** you in my way..."
, What does Rose mean when she says, "There's a lot of people don't know they can do no better
than they doing now"? - ANSSome people don't know they can better themselves
What does Troy's decision to shop at Bella's (a grocery store owned by a single person) rather
than going to the A&P (a major grocery store—like Ralph's or Vons)? - ANSHe is treated right at
Bellas, he can buy a loaf of bread and pay later, Rose thinks she
overcharges
Who is Cory? And what do we learn about him (where he works and what he wants to do with
his life)? - ANSTroys youngest son, works at A & P, wants to be recruited by college football
team, hopes to
play for NFL
What does Troy want Cory to learn in order to make a living? - ANSLearn how to fix cars or
something else where he can make a living
What does Bono mean when he tells Troy: "Times have changed, Troy. You just come along too
early"? - ANSTroy was born to early, blacks didn't play in major leagues but since Jackie
Robinson, times
have changed, blacks have more of a chance to play sports with whites
When did Troy come close to experiencing death? What is ironic in Troy's description of Death?
- ANSWhen he had pneumonia at Mercy hospital, It parallels the Biblical story of Jacob, who
wrestled with an angel, and refused to give in even though the angel injured his thigh, and
insisted that the angel bless him.
Who is Lyons? Describe his relationship with his father, Troy. - ANSLyons is Troy's 34 year old
son from an earlier marriag. His relationship with his father is not pleasant because, Lyons asks
for money or $10, usually every friday because he can't make it on his own.
What does Troy's story of paying for the furniture tell you about Troy? (What is a characteristic
he exemplifies?) - ANSHe's honest and he likes to stretch and exaggerate. He has a sense of
responsibility. He makes
sure his family is provided for
According to Troy, why doesn't he have any extra money? - ANSTroy doesn't have any extra
money because, Gabe moved to Miss Pearl's and Troy has to pay for his rent.
Who physically gives Lyons the ten dollars he asks for? Why? - ANSRose physically gives
Lyons the ten dollars because, Troy won't give it to him
