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The
Who
Randy
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| GUIDE 3:
Character Analysis You will continue to fill out this worksheet as you study about Randy. Turn the page over and record the data you collect for Randy. This page must be completed before writing your article. |
| Congratualtions! You've made a great second choice. Continue on with your iAdventure by reading the story further. Last, choose the conclusion to finish your iAdventure. |   |
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| You soon find out
that Randy is one tough cookie to crack. He saunters around
school with a swagger that says, "Don't even bother tryin'." It's
like he's an untouchable or something. He's the most popular guy;
he's good looking; he's a Soc. Use the
following
links to help you get to know who Randy is, and who he has become since
Bob's death. |
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| Randy
drowns out life by playing The Who music over and over again. What do his favorite songs tell us about him? |
My
Generation (video; lyrics) I Can't Explain (video; lyrics) Behind Blue Eyes (video; lyrics) |
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| It
must be rough having a tuff car, being popular, being a star athlete,
having parents who have high expectations for your future? How do these expectations cause Randy to feel? |
Body Image Body Image 2 Popularity (What it's really like.) Parental Pressure |
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| Randy
says to Ponyboy, "You can't win, even if you whip us. You'll
still be where you were before--at the bottom. And we'll still be
the
lucky ones with all the breaks. So it doesn't do any good, the
fighting and the killing...I think I'm going to leave town. Take
my
little old Mustang and all the dough I can carry and get out..." Randy's actually thinking about enlisting into the service. Maybe life will have a point then. Randy thinks that he will be on an equal playing field, all soldiers are the same. |
The
Draft If Randy were born november 7, 1950, what chance would he have of being drafted? |
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The Circle Game
by Margaret Atwood The children on the lawn
joined hand to hand
go round and round
each arm going into
the next arm, around
full circle
until it comes
back into each of the
single
bodies again
They are singing, but
not to each other:
their feet move
almost in time to the
singing
We can see
the concentration on
their faces, their eyes
fixed on the empty
moving spaces just in
front of them.
We might mistake this
tranced moving for joy
but there is no joy in it
continue next column |
We can see (arm in arm)
as we watch them go
round and round
intent, almost
studious (the grass
underfoot ignored, the
trees
circling the lawn
ignored, the lake
ignored)
that the whole point
for them
of going round and round
is (faster
slower)
going round and round
*****
Although Randy knows how this poem is but one in a series and its symbolism is about something else, he hears more than what his English teacher discussed in class last month. He sees a greater connection to his own life and feels like he is in his own circle game. What circle game is Randy in? Why does he feel trapped in this game? |
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| Randy
has become a mere shell of a human; he's lost in his head
thinking about the reasons we're all here. He recently found
Ponyboy to try to talk to him about Bob, Johnny, and the rumble. Read about depression with the TeensHealth link. Do you think Randy is depressed? What signs does he exhibit? |
TeensHealth Teen Depression |
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| Although
Randy is a good looking guy who is trapped in his head, he's not so
great at math. However, you are, and it doesn't take Randy long
to see that you are acing the advanced math class. He approaches
you nonchallantly and says, "Hey, I'm only pulling a C- by the skin of
my teeth, and my parents are raggin' me to get an A. Could you
tutor
me? I can pay you." You act leary, "I don't know." Randy says, "Come on, you're getting 100% and not even breaking a sweat." "Well, I guess; it's not like you're failing or and way behind--should be easy money; I'll meet you at the library at 4:00 tonight." You get to the library a couple of minutes late to not come on too strong. Randy has his legs propped up on the chair and is reading a Hot Rod magazine. You pull up a chair and ask if he's ready to start the assignment. Much to your surprize he has the text open and a pencil on his notebook. He actually wants to learn this. You jump right in, and after about a half an hour Randy says, "Did you know Bob Sheldon? He was awesome at math." "No, is that the kid who died not too long ago?" "Yeah, he was a good guy; he always helped me with my math. Our parents have crazy expectations." "Mine too, but at least we'll get into good colleges." "Not me, I'm outta here just as soon as I can. I can't stay in this town another minute. It's my fault Bob is dead. You look at him with shock and ask how. "We went out cruizin' around trying to sober up before going home, and I saw those Greaser kids in the park. It was just natural to go raz 'em. That's what we do. But things got out of hand; someone put the little one's head under water for like ever. And then Bob went after the other one. The kid went crazy talkin' 'bout how no one would hurt him again. Then the kid pulled a blade out. Before anyone could say anything, Bob was laying on the ground. His eyes were vacant; I saw life leave his body. I can still see his eyes...I can still hear his last cry...I just left; we all left. The kid with the knife was shakin' all over and the kid in the fountain was gasping for air. The guys and I piled in my car and got out of there. I left my friend all alone...all my fault..." Randy's voice trails off, and he is silent for a long time. When he finally comes to you say, "I think you have what you need to finish this assignment; maybe we should stop." The weird part is that he wants to stay. You help him with the rest of the homework and then head back to the house. You've got all of the details; you can write your article. The choice is yours on how to tell Randy's side of the story. Click on the conclusion to finish your iAdventure. |
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| Communication
Arts Class Where you can find all the room 708 details for 7th Grade CA |
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