Whirligig Questions and Answers
Whirligig
How does the whirligig affect Stephanie in Chapter 2?
In chapter two, Stephanie, a girl of thirteen or fourteen, is the narrator. Her best friend, Alexandra, is taking her to the whirligig to teach her about the power of thoughts and visualization....
Whirligig
In "Apprentices" in Whirligig, what is Brent and how is he able to fulfill this? Why is the chapter called...
In the chapter, Brent arrives in Beale Beach, Florida. After settling in, he begins work at one of three picnic tables near a boarded-up ice cream shop. The beach area is empty, and Brent works...
Whirligig
In chapter 3, "The Afterlife," of the book "Whirligig," how does Brent seem to be changing?
Chapter three is called “The Afterlife.” Here we learn that Brent wasn’t sentenced to jail time or to a stint in a detention center, as a result of causing the car accident that killed Lea Zamora....
Whirligig
What does the whirligig symbolize in chapter 6, "Bellevue, Washington," in the book "Whirligig?"
The whirligig comes to symbolize, at first, the constant pressure to succeed that Tony feels from his parents, and then, later, the need for rest. Tony, a Korean boy, feels under tremendous...
Whirligig
What is the significance in Ch. 4 of Whirligig? It makes no reference to either building or seeing a whirligig, and I...
While this chapter doesn't come right out and point out the whirligig, when the man gets off the boat and walks down the pier, he stops to look at the "wooden marching band." This is the whirligig...
Whirligig
In Whirligig, how does Jenny change over the course of chapter 8?
There are nine chapters in the novel Whirligig. Chapter Eight is titled San Diego, California. As the chapter begins, Jenny is portrayed as a typical fifteen year old teenager. It is her task to...
Whirligig
In Whirligig by Paul Fleischman, how does the whirligig affect Flaco?
The Florida whirligig takes the shape of a marching band. Flaco is instantly struck by the message it seems to convey. For a long time, he's been profoundly dissatisfied with his life. He toils...
Whirligig
In chapter seven of "Whirligig," what whirligig does Brent make?
This chapter is called “Apprentices.” Brent has made his way by bus from California to Tampa, on Florida’s Gulf coast. On a beach, he finds “a boarded-up ice cream shop” that is closed for the...
Whirligig
Where did Jenny and her grandmother go in Chapter 8 of the book Whirligig?
In Chapter Eight, Jenny takes her grandmother for a drive. Although Jenny is anxious about driving a manual car, her grandmother seems to be oblivious to Jenny's discomfort. Before long, Jenny...
Whirligig
How does Brent change from beginning to end of Whirligig by Paul Fleischman?
In the beginning of the book, Brent is just like any normal teenager who struggles to find his place among his high school peers. He is perhaps a little self-conscious, but he knows that he has to...
Whirligig
In Chapter 5, is there evidence that Brent has never before had to take care of himself? Explain.
In Chapter 5, titled "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," Brent realizes that he hasn't packed any long-sleeved shirts, nor has he remembered to pack shampoo. As a result, he's too cold, and his hair is...
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How does the chess game in the first chapter symbolize Brent’s understanding of his life?
Brent turns up to a chess-themed party despite not having been invited. At that party, the host Chaz plans a giant chess game, and wants Brent to be one of the pieces. Brent is none too pleased at...
Whirligig
In Chapter 9 of Whirligig, what are the five comparisons of whirligigs to other objects/people?
In Chapter 9, I actually found seven references comparing whirligigs to other objects and people. I've listed them below in the order in which they appear in the chapter. 1. The final whirligig...
Whirligig
What did Flaco want most in the book Whirligig?
What Flaco wants more than anything is peace. He wants to be like the shearwater, a bird whom he imagines "live(s) alone, far away from land...no other birds around...very peaceful". Flaco's whole...
Whirligig
In Whirligig by Paul Fleischman, what does Brent learn when making the whirligig in Maine?
The whirligig Brent builds in Maine is the largest and most intricate of the four. He stays at a campsite which is described as peaceful and calm. By this point in the novel, Brent is ready to face...
Whirligig
In Chapter 9, what is the name of the woman who helps Brent build the whirligig?
If you are referring to the female artist Brent met in Weeksboro, Maine, the answer is that the author never reveals the name of the woman. Both Brent and the artist share an intimate...
Whirligig
Why is the chapter called "Twinkle Twinkle little Star"?
In chapter 5 of Whirligig, Brent's on his way to San Diego after having had a pretty unpleasant time of it in San Francisco. The experience hasn't been a dead loss, however, as he's bought himself...
Whirligig
Describe Brent's homelife, including his relationship with his parents, before he goes to the party in the book...
Brent is an only child. His family is materially well-off, and his life is comfortable, although his parents seem to be emotionally distant. Brent and his family have been in Chicago for only a few...
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What do the characters in Whirligig have in common with Brent?
Throughout his journey, Brent meets a variety of people who he connects with. When Brent meets Emil, Brent imagines him as some sort of smarter, better version of himself, since they look similar...
Whirligig
In Chapter 6 of Whirligig, what does Tony ask for on his birthday? What does he receive? Also, what pledge does he...
For his birthday, Tony asks "for a new baseball mitt, a remote-control car, a Nintendo, and a gift certificate to Sam's Sports Cards". He receives "...two shirts, a microscope, a new music...
Whirligig
In chapter 8 of Whirligig, with reference to Brent’s journey so far and the experience of the grandmother, discuss...
In “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” (chapter 5), Brent builds the whale whirligig that Jenny and her grandmother visit in “San Diego” (chapter 8). A comparison of the two chapters is necessary to...
Whirligig
What are six quotes from Whirligig by Paul Fleischman that show Brent's immaturity?
Brent fortunately gains maturity throughout the course of Whirligig. He is, after all, only a junior in high school. And his penance for the accident causes him to grow up and to develop his own...
Whirligig
Where do the characters encounter the whirligigs? What is the importance of the symbolism?
More about the whirligigs: In Weeksboro, Maine, two eighth graders Stephanie and Alexandra encounter a whirligig. On a trip to the coast, the two discuss their romantic inclinations but disagree...
Whirligig
What similes appear in chapter 5 of "Whirligig"?
Another simile in chapter 5 of Whirligig comes when Brent leaves the hostel to walk to the park he'd glimpsed the day before. There he hopes to be able to work on his next whirligig without being...
Whirligig
In the "Miami, Florida" chapter of Whirligig by Paul Fleischman, what is the character's main conflict? How does the...
In the "Miami, Florida" chapter, the main conflict is person versus person. The character's main conflict is that he can't find lasting peace in society, no matter where he goes. Inevitably,...
Whirligig
Who are Brent's apprentices in Chapter 7 of the book Whirligig by Paul Fleischman?
Brent's apprentices in Chapter 7 are a group of young children who happen to come around as he is constructing his whirligig on the beach near the small town of Beale Beach, Florida. At first...
Whirligig
In Fleischman's Whirligig, how does Brent know Jonathan?
Jonathan is a friend of Brent's from school. Brent gives him a ride to the party, which is hosted by a friend of Jonathan's. When Jonathan comes out and gets in Brent's car, he explains that his...
Whirligig
Why does Alexandra feel that the spot by the whirligig is the perfect place to visualize good things?
Alexandra feels that the spot by the whirligig is a good place to visualize things because the whirligig itself exemplifies the tenets of guided imagery. According to Alexandra, guided imagery is a...
Whirligig
In Whirligig by Paul Fleischman, what is Alexandra trying to do for Steph?
Alexandra and Steph show up in the second chapter, titled “Weeksboro, Maine.” They’re eighth graders, and it’s Christmas time, so a lot of snow is on the ground. Alexandra thinks Steph should get a...
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How did Brent change dramatically in Whirligig?
Brent Bishop appears to us as an aimless teenager in the first chapter of the book. He just goes along with what life deals to him, even though he often doesn’t agree with it. Part of his negative...
Whirligig
Legally, what happened to Brent?
Because he was driving under the influence when he caused Lea Zamora's death, Brent is charged with DUI (Driving Under the Influence) and manslaughter. Brent's parents hire a lawyer and a...
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What are three instances when music influenced or affected Brent in Whirligig by Paul Fleischman?
At the beginning of the book, Brent listens to music to get himself in the right mood to deal with going to the party. Fleischman writes of Brent, "And keeping the right music flowing, using...
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In Fleischman's Whirligig, what is the real reason the strange man asks Brent for directions?
The real reason that the strange man asks Brent for directions is to distract him. The man wants to occupy Brent's attention so that he will be less likely to detect any suspicious movements in his...
Whirligig
What does Brent consider at the end of Paul Fleischman's novel Whirligig?
At the end of the novel, Brent considers traveling before going home. With his whirligig project finished, Brent believes that he can confidently face his parents and Lea's mother again. He is also...
Whirligig
In Whirligig by Paul Fleischman, where does Brent live now, and why has he moved four times?
Brent Bishop is a junior in high school in Whirligig. He and his parents now live in the Chicago area, where Brent goes to a private school called Montfort. They had previously lived in...
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Who is Jenny from whirligig?
In the book, Jenny is a teenager who discovers one of Brent's whirligigs in San Diego. According to the story, she lives with her parents and ailing grandmother. One day, Jenny's grandmother asks...
Whirligig
In Whirligig, why does Brent begin to forgive himself for Lea's death?
Brent begins to forgive himself for Lea's death because he realizes, first, that it's possible for someone else to truly forgive him; second, that he can still be a good person even though he did...
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How does building the whirligig affect Brent in Washington?
In the third chapter, “The Afterlife,” we follow Brent’s first attempt to build a whirligig at a park in Washington state. He has an old instruction book on how to make them. But he’s not a natural...
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In Whirligig's Chapter 3, what is a symbol (other than the whirligig) appearing in that chapter and what effect does...
When you re-read a chapter with a specific focus in mind – like searching for a symbol – you may surprise yourself by what you discover the second or third time around. I found three potentially...
Whirligig
What is Alexandra's main conflict in chapter 2 of Whirligig?
Whirligig is a young adult novel. It was written by American author Paul Fleischmann and published in 1998. It tells the story of Brent Bishop who embarks on a journey of atonement across America,...
Whirligig
In Whirligig, why did Flaco get the name Flaco?
Flaco gets his nickname because of his skinny body. Flaco is the man who finds Brent's whirligig in Miami, Florida. When Paul Fleischman writes about his life, he explains that Flaco is a nickname...
Whirligig
What were the Zamoras' goals for having Brent complete the task with the whirligig?
Mrs. Zamora was actually the only one who consented to meet with Brent; her husband, still reeling from Lea's death and still upset about Brent's part in it, had refused to meet with the teenager....
Whirligig
Why did Flaco and his family move to the US in Whirligig?
Flaco has been living in Miami since he was eleven. He originally came to Florida with his family from Puerto Rico. Once upon a time, they used to live in the mountains there, until Flaco's father...
Whirligig
Who is Chaz?
Chaz, in Paul Fleischman's Whirligig is one of the most popular people at Montford, the private school our main character attends. Chaz is known for throwing large elaborate parties, and this night...
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What are the main themes of Whirligig by Paul Fleischman?
Actions have consequences, often very serious ones. Most of us are all too aware of this, especially if the consequences in question happen to be very bad. But what we don't often realize, or...
Whirligig
How do the whirligigs positively affect the people who see them?
The chapters of Whirligig alternate between the events and actions in Brent Bishop’s life and those of the people who encounter the four whirligigs he has installed. In “Weeksboro, Maine,” we meet...
Whirligig
Although he continues to seek anonymity, what does Brent learn about community in Whirligig?
Brent begins the book as the new kid; he always is the new kid, as his family frequently moves states. Brent tries to assimilate to each new community. After Brent kills Lea Zamora, he falls into a...
Whirligig
Who is Flaco in the book Whirligig by Paul Fleischman?
In Paul Fleischman's novel, Whirligig, teenager Brent Bishop travels around the United States building wooden whirligigs as restitution for killing a young woman in a car accident. In each of the...
Whirligig
What hobbies does Brent pick up while on his trip?
In Paul Fleishman's novel Whirligig, seventeen-year-old Brent Bishop travels across the country to atone for accidentally killing a teenage girl, Lea, while driving home drunk one night. Lea’s...
Whirligig
In Paul Fleischman's Whirligig, where is Brent heading, and from where is he coming?
In Paul Fleischman's novel Whirligig, the main character, Brent Bishop, has recently moved with his family to Chicago. It is from there that he sets out on his peculiar trek in an effort to atone...
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