Symbolism in "Long Way Down"

“Thought when the doors opened the smoke would rush out. But instead it became a still cloud trapped in a steel cube.” (p. 149).

What does Uncle Mark represent in "Long Way Down"?

• Regret

• How violence and bad decisions can destroy good people and their dreams.

• Innocence of Children

• Darkness and Danger

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“The middle drawer was the only thing ever out of place on Shawn’s side of the room, like a random, jagged tooth in a perfect mouth, jammed tight between the top drawer of shirts folded into neat rectangles stacked like project floors, and the bottom drawer of socks and underwear.” (p. 38)

What does the middle drawer symbolize?

• The darkness and danger inside of Shawn

• The final decision of Will and which direction his life will take

• The cycle of death and violence

• Regret and loss

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What object or person symbolizes the feeling of being trapped in a hard choice?

• The Monkey Bars

• Childhood

• Dani

• The Elevator

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Who or what symbolizes regret, the negative effect of murder on the killer, and the possibility that Will could kill the wrong guy?

• Dani

• Uncle Mark

• Innocence of Children

• Pop

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“Checked to make sure the L button was lit. Going down too.” (p. 74)

What does the L (Lobby) button symbolize?

• The darkness and danger inside of Shawn

• The final decision of Will and which direction his life will take

• The cycle of death and violence

• Regret and loss

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What symbolizes childhood in Jason Reynolds' "Long Way Down"?

• Pop

• The Monkey Bars

• Nighttime

• Uncle Mark

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“My eyes got big. Dani? This was Dani. Dani. Standing in front of me. The flower dress the same. Her face eight years older than eight years old but still the same.” (p. 129)

What concept does Dani represent?

• Cycle of Death and Violence

• Innocent children who are killed and traumatized by gang and gun violence

• Childhood

• The Elevator

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What object, person, or idea represents the cycle of death and violence passed down from generation to generation?

• The Gun

• The Monkey Bars

• Dani

• The "L" (lobby) Button

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“I’m about to do what

I gotta do. What you

woulda done.

I squared.

Follow The Rules.” (p. 95)

What do The Rules in "Long Way Down" signify?

• The darkness and danger inside of Shawn

• The cycle of death and violence

• The way that people often accept and follow ideas taught to them by older generations, even if they don't agree or if they have negative results

• Regret and loss

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What symbolizes the suffocation Will feels about the situation with no clear path forward?

• Cycle of Death and Violence

• Pop

• The Elevator

• The Smoke

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