Fences Act 1, Scene 1

What does Troy complain to the union about at his job?

• That white workers are the only ones who can drive the garbage trucks

• That black workers are being paid less than white workers

• That all garbage workers are working hours they are not being paid for

• That he is physically weak and in pain as a result of his work

How is Troy's job tragically symbolic for what he has experienced through his life?

• He is more successful now than before. He makes good money as a garbage collector.

• He could have been a more successful person because of his baseball skills, but now he just collects garbage due to the color barrier.

• He is trash, just like the garbage he collects.

• His job has no symbolic relationship to his life.

In the stage directions, how is Rose's opinion of her husband Troy described?

• She loves his charisma, forgives his faults, and admires his work ethic

• She is fearful of him, scared of his bad temper

• She is skeptical of Troy's loyalty and also of her own love for him

• She feels like she does not know Troy at all and that he is full of mystery and secrets

Why does Troy want Rose to go inside when he is talking to Bono?

• He is planning a surprise for Rose that he does not want her to hear

• He is engaging in "men talk" unfit for a woman's ears

• He has lost his job as garbage man and does not want Rose to know

• He is seeking advice from Bono about his relationship with his own wife

How is Rose's name symbolic?

• It represents the fact that loving her hurts, like a Rose's thorns.

• It represents her ability to grow and become better.

• It represents her undying love and loyalty to Troy, despite his faults.

• It represents her inability to speak up in the face of Troy's abuse.

Simply, why does Troy shop at Bella's (and not at the A&P)?

• He is treated well and respected there, despite the high price of the store goods

• Bella's is less expensive

• He has a crush on the store owner

• He wants to work there, instead of being a garbage man

What is Troy's opinion of his son Cory playing football?

• He believes it is a waste of time and that his son is at the mercy of the white man

• He fully supports it as a way for Cory to get into college

• He is nervous about the physical nature of the sport and is worried that Cory will get injured

• He wishes his son played baseball, like he did, instead of football

How does Troy compare himself to other black athletes, including Jackie Robinson?

• He considers himself talented and unfairly overlooked as an athlete; other athletes he considers overrated

• He admires all black athletes, including himself, for overcoming segregation and discrimination

• He fondly remembers the friendship and camaraderie he once had with his former teammates

• He considers himself smarter than other athletes for recognizing early on in life how frivolous and useless sports are

How does Troy characterize the devil when talking to Lyons?

• A white man who can give him credit for a loan

• The devil is the one thing that he fears most

• His nagging wife, Rose

• He intentionally avoids the topic and doesn't bring it up

What is Troy's son Lyons' job?

• Musician

• Garbage man

• Baseball player

• Nurse