Theatre 110/Introduction to Theater

Fall 2016
King Hedley II by August Wilson
Guided Reading #2: Act I, Sc. 3, Act II, Sc. 1
1. Early in scene three, we learn why Ruby sent King to live with Louise. What do we learn
and how does Ruby feel about her decision? (4 pts)
Elmore told Ruby to send King off to live with Louise so the two of the, could get married but he
bailed

2. What has King riled up when he enters in scene three? What advice does Elmore give
him? Do you think King is justified in his reaction? (4 pts.)
He had gone to Sears to get the pictures of Tonya but they couldn't find them.
Elmore's advice to King was to pick and choose his battles.
King's reaction was a little bit extra. I can understand getting angry at sears for not having his
pictures but he took to an unnecessary level.

3. How does Mister contribute to the conversation? Are his comments helpful? Hurtful?
What do his lines reveal to us about his character? (3 pts.)
He just repeats. Kind of like a hype man. His character seems younger than the rest

4. King keeps saying, I know right from wrong. (pp. 54-56) Does he? How do the stories
he is telling Mister and Elmore demonstrate his belief in what is right and/or wrong?
(4 pts.)
I believed King sort of knew "right from wrong" through pages 54 and 55 when we was talking
about getting a job to make a future for him and Neesi. That King just needed a chance. Then I
got to page 56 when King doesn't think he is wrong for killing Purnell because he cut his face
open and that is where I hopped off the King train.

5. The character of Stool Pigeon is similar to a shaman/wise man. In the beginning of Act II,
sc. 1 what does he bring on stage? What does he tell Tanya hes going to do with it?
(2 pts.)
He brings out a dead black cat and he tells Tanya that he is going to perform a ritual on the cat to
bring it back to life if it already hasn't exhausted all of its 9 lives.
6. Kings father murdered a man named Floyd over some money. What does Stool Pigeon
tell him about the motive? Does King hear him? (2 pts.)
Turns out it wasn't Hadley's money but money stolen by Floyd a and some guy named Poochie
who was killed mid-robbery. I don't think King really heard him.

7. Stool Pigeon gives King the machete his father used to murder Floyd and calls it the
machete of the Conquering Lion of Judea. What does this reference and how do you
think it is relevant to the play/character of King? (5 pts.)
This mythical reference with the Bible being most known to me. The lion of Judea is a reference
to Jesus making King out to be Jesus. This could lead us to think that King will make a sacrifice
for on behalf of another character(s).

8. At the end of Act II, sc. 1, what are King and Mister preparing for? (2 pts.)
Robbing the jewelry store

9. After giving the machete to King, Stool Pigeon tells him that if he can find a way to wash
that blood off, he can sit on top of the mountain. He also quotes the bible: Let him who
knoweth duty redeem the house of his fathers from its iniquities against the Lord. And if
he raise a cry and say he knoweth not the sins of his fathers, then he knoweth not duty for
even if the iniquities are great and his fathers house be scattered to the numberless
winds, if he shall gather it and raise it up then shall it stand even unto the end of time.
What is he telling King? (5 pts.
Cycle of violence and trying to break that
Washing symbolizes cleansing and leaving behind which could be connected to getting rid of
kings fathers sins