NOTES: MASTER HAROLD AND THE BOYS
1) There are three plots in this play: Hally and Sam, Hally's home life, and Willie's plan to win the ballroom dancing contest. Show how these three plots are dramatically linked.2) How is Sam a surrogate father for Hally?
3) What is Sam's relationship to Willie?
4) Show how the setting of the play is really a classroom and not a tea room.
5) How many teacher/student relationships exist in this play?
6) Examine all the "men of magnitude" named by Sam and Hally for the irony and the symbolism inherent in their choices.
7) How does the story of the kite effectively underscore the themes of the play?
8) Condemn Hally for being a selfish, spoiled, snobish brat.
9) Defend Hally as a good boy hopelessly victimized by his racist culture.
10) Show how Hally's formal education has failed him.
11) What lessons in particular is Sam trying to teach Hally?
12) Show how the upcoming ballroom dance serves as the play's vision for hope and understanding.
13) Describe Hally's relationship with his father. How does this effect the action and themes of the play?
14) Describe Hally's relationship with his mother?. How does this effect the action and themes of the play?
15) Why are there so many references in this play to children and the stuff of childhood like comic books, sodas, kites, etc.
16) Comment on the realistic qualities of the play. Are the Unities observed? What seems artificial or contrived, thus distracting from the "realism"?
17) How did you interpret the ending? What choice does Hally appear to make?.
18) No matter what Hally'schoice at the end, what truths must Hally still learn?
19) What are the life denying forces in the play?
20) What are the life-affirming forces in the play?
21) In what ways is this play similar to A Raisin in the Sun thematically?
22) In what ways is this play different from A Raisin in the Sun thematically?