2. What fearful elements in stories does the "Dark Angel" prey upon? Do you think he is really the devil?
1. Describe some of the fears associated with the "Dark Angel." Would he frighten you?
2. What fearful elements in stories does the "Dark Angel" prey upon? Do you think he is really the devil?
3 Comments
1. Why did the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) first enlist the help of ADAPT with the homeless tunnel dwellers?
2. Why did MTA stop their relationship with ADAPT in favor of Project HELP? What is your opinion about that move? 3. Are their behaviors that can manifest themselves just by living in the tunnels in addition to the personality of the individual? What is the difficulty in discerning between the two, according to Tsemberis (p. 155)? 4. The most beneficial program for homeless would include three different individuals, according to Tsemberis. What are these individuals? 5. Fewer than 15% of individuals make it above ground after tunnel dwelling. What does Bethea (of ADAPT) say should be a focus of intervention? 6. Describe some of the findings of ADAPT. What have they learned from working in the tunnels? 7. According to ADAPT members, Deamues and Bethea, are some tunnel dwellers too far gone? What do they think? Do you agree? Why or why not? 1. Describe the "runaway's hole." What do you think defines a runaway for this chapter? What type of individuals are drawn to the runaway hole?
2. Of all the runaway stories (Monica and Felicia, Teddy, Carlos, Frank, Jimmy, Dolly, etc.), which story is most interesting to you? Why? 3. Who took over for the runaways after Frederick passed away? How did he die? 4. How are the runaways different from other tunnel dwellers? 5. After a really poignant discussion with all the runaways at the Brooklyn Bridge, Toth says that the group disbanded not long after. Why do you think they disbanded? What do you think happened to them all? 1. What is the strange encounter Toth first has when going to meet Bernard?
2. What has Bernard passed on to live in the tunnels? Why? 3. What is the story that made Bernard legendary, and actually began the community that is now along these particular tracks? 4. What are some of the rules and duties of being a member of Bernard's camp? 5. What, according to Bernard, is the biggest problem in the tunnels? (p. 103.) Do you agree? Why or why not? 6. Explain why Bernard is wary of homeless advocacy groups and politicians. 7. Why is Bob allowed to be in Bernard's community, despite his drug use? What type of character is Bob? 8. Why does Don get kicked out of the tunnel? 9. What other characters are not welcome in Bernard's tunnel? Why? 10. How did John live within the tunnels? What happened when he was given the chance to live above ground? 11. How does 17 year old Tom end up in the tunnels? Who supports him? 12. How do tunnel dwellers seem to deal with different stories about people? Does it matter if the stories are true? What does matter, according to Bernard? 1. Do you think Sergeant Henry is good or bad? Explain your reasons.
2. How do you think one should deal with the homeless situation: through building trust, like ADAPT, or through force like the police officers? Why do you think this is the right way? What might be roadblocks to dealing with the situation that way? 3. What happens to families in the tunnels? Do you think this is right? 4. Why are women and their children the fastest growing homeless group? Why would they seek tunnels to live in? 5. Do you think that the social worker is right, "that no child can live a normal, healthy life in a tunnel?" (p. 69) 6. How can people be "like a cancer?" 1. "There is a city beneath the streets." What does Sergeant Henry mean by this quote?
2. Why is it difficult to find a map of the New York underground? What are some of the details that make it hard to find? 3. In the past, people working underground feared cave-ins and water flows. What are transit workers fearful of today? 4. What do some homeless people do to earn some extra money during rush hour? 1. What are some examples of the history of homeless people? Is it a new phenomenon? Create a basic timeline of homeless according to Toth.
2. What cities have underground homeless populations? 3. Why do people end up living in the tunnels? Do you think it is all the individual's fault? What does Toth think it is? (p. 38) 4. What is the population of the New York underground? Is there controversy surrounding that number? 5. What issues do the majority of homeless people deal with? (p. 40) 6. Where do homeless live underground, and what do they typically die from? What is their life expectancy underground? 7. What would cause the New York underground homeless population to shrink? 1. Describe how Mac captured the rats.
2. Mac carries around a copy of Walden by Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau was someone who believed that you could more fully be yourself by abandoning society for nature. Do you think there is something romantic about living in the tunnel and that it is much like Thoreau's idea of abandoning society? What's different? 3. What does Mac say when asked about his relationship to Transcendentalism (Thoreau's concepts)? (p. 31) 4. What kind of character is Smidge? Do you think he is real? 5. What is "Mac's War?" What is he doing to prepare for this war? 6. How many levels down is Mac? Do you think this affects how he perceives the world? Why? 1. Describe some of the ways that Seville uses humor to help him through situations.
2. Some of Seville's acquaintances think his humor is inappropriate, that it is demeaning. Seville thinks that through humor, he can get to know people better. To him, humor is actually "humanizing." So, what do you think: is humor "demeaning" or "humanizing" in the way that Seville must use it to survive? 3. What does Seville say is bad about beginning to live as a homeless person, "couch surfing" from place to place? 4. Describe the changes that occur in tunnel life the deeper one goes. 5. What does Seville say the tunnels rob you of? Do you agree? Are there any other examples of ways one can lose his/her life? 1. Describe why "he" goes into the tunnel. Do you think you could make a similar choice? Why or why not?
2. What does it mean to "survive" according to this man? (p. 9) |
Teacher NoteYou should be responding in complete sentences for these questions. If you have not on your older posts, please start from here on out. All questions are due by 8/16/10 to earn credit. Categories |