Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Class discussion question


1. What advice does the warden give Jimmy just before Jimmy is released from prison? How does Jimmy respond to the warden?



2. What happens to Jimmy in front of the Elmore Bank?



3. Do you think Jimmy has a good chance of changing his life immediately after his release from prison? Why, or why not? What would make it easier for Jimmy to get an honest start?



4. What reasons does Jimmy give for his new and honest life in the letter he writes to Billy. Do the reasons seem genuine? Explain.

  
5. Identify what you think is the main or central conflict in "A Retrieved Reformation." Is the main conflict between Jimmy and the prison system? Jimmy's new life and his past life? Jimmy and Ben Price? Explain.

  
6. Based on your analysis of the central conflict in the story, what is the point in which that conflict gets resolved? In other words, what finally ends the conflict? Is it when Jimmy falls in love? When Jimmy writes the letter to Billy? When Ben Price pretends not to recognize Jimmy? Why does this event resolve the conflict?


7. What do you think Jimmy's relationship with Annabel offers him that he didn't have before? If Jimmy hadn't met Annabel, how else do you think he could have found the qualities that would make him want to live an honest life? Do you think he would have found them had he not met Annabel? Explain.

2 comments:

  1. Jimmy Valentine is a rather intricate man. His traits along the storyline seem to change, but somehow remain static. This ¨trait¨ Jimmy Valentine has is weird, and confusing, but when given enough thought, it is easy to understand.

    Jimmy Valentine has many traits that easily show. It is easy to know that he is an easygoing man, he is never in a hurry, and doesn't show desperation throughout the course of the story. He is also a good man, deep inside, who regrets his past. Even though he may look evil, he is a peaceful man, who is also a victim of true love.

    During his life, he made many choices, good and bad. Perhaps his most important choice was deciding to become a shoe maker. That and only that changed his life completely. His personal traits influenced him a lot when making choices, were they good or bad. A very memorable moment of the story is when he gets Agatha out of the bank's vault. It completely destroyed the status he got by working so hard to change himself, but it was a good choice. This shows that deep inside, Jimmy Valentine is a good man.

    From most of the books and stories I've, Jimmy Valentine is certainly a remarkable character, and is probably the most astounding character regarding personality that I have yet known. He is a man of truth, a man of lies, a man of good, and a man of bad. This character has a very memorable personality that is sure to surprise and astound anyone. Readers, I present to you Jimmy Valentine.





    Wheeew, that certainly took a lot of time to write.
    There you go, teacher.

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  2. Thanks for the questions... they were very useful for studying!!! :)

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