Raymond's+Run

=Raymond's Run= =by Toni Cade Bambara=

What's in a Name?
1. Choose three of the names given in class notes, and explain how their names are appropriate to the roles they play in the story. Give examples from the text. 2. Are any of the names ironic? Explain. 3. What are the importance of Cynthia's and Hazel's last names? 4. Did any of the names fit your expectations?

Important Relationships in "Raymond's Run"
Use the following questions to consider how the minor characters affect Squeaky. 1. What happens to Raymond when George is his caretaker? Why? 2. How could you characterize Cynthia Procter? Give supportive examples from the story. 3. How does Cynthia's relationship to Squeaky demonstrate the values Squeaky possesses? 4. Why is the remark, "I'm the fastest and that goes for Gretchen too," important? 5. What does the candy store incident reveal about Squeaky's personality? 6. Why does Squeaky insist on being called by her given name? 7. What does the quote "I sort of like her a little for the first time" indicate about Squeaky? 8. Why is winning of the race relatively unimportant to Squeaky, even though she is victorious?

Squeaky's Dominant Conflict
In "Raymond's Run" the character of Squeaky faces many conflicts. However, Toni Cade Babmara is selective in emphasizing the main conflict to create unity. Use the following questions to analyze the creation of conflict. 1. What internal conflict does Squeaky face concerning her brother? 2. What external conflict does she face with Gretchen? 3. How does competition create conflict? 4. What kind of conflict would you call Squeaky's meeting with Rosie? 5. What conflict did Squeaky face when she was in nursery school? 6. Why does the description of Gretchen "kicking her legs out like a pro" present a conflict to Squeaky? 7. Why is the setting of the story an effective basis for a conflict? 8. How does Squeaky's dream suggest a conflict? 9. What do you think is the most dominant conflict in the story? Is it person vs. nature, person vs. self or person vs. person? Defend your answer.

The Meaning
Answer the following questions to help you discover and state Toni Cade Bambara's theme in the story. 1. Examine paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 5, and describe Squeaky's personality and her relationship to her brother. 2. According to paragraph 4, how does she feel about running? 3. In paragraph 5, why does Raymond run? 4. What conflict do paragraphs 8 and 9 reveal? 5. What happens in paragraphs 10, 11, and 12? 6. In paragraph 22, why is Squeaky about to yell? 7. At the end of the race, there is confusion about the winner but Squeaky does not seem to care. In paragraph 24, she uses two similes to describe her brother. Quote them, and explain their significance. 8. In paragraph 24 how does she feel about her brother? 9. State the subject of the story in one word. 10. What is the theme of the story? Use a complete sentence to state it.