The Wednesday Wars Questions on Allusion
The Wednesday Wars
How did Holling use his knowledge of curses from The Tempest in The Wednesday Wars?
Holling Hoodhood, the protagonist of The Wednesday Wars, uses his knowledge of Caliban's curses from Shakespeare's The Tempest as a form of expression and rebellion. He memorizes and practices these...
The Wednesday Wars
What role did Holling play in The Tempest and what was his main concern?
Holling plays the role of Ariel in "The Tempest," which is a source of anxiety for him because he fears ridicule from his peers. As a seventh-grader in 1960s New York, Holling already feels isolated,...
The Wednesday Wars
What does "The quality of mercy is not strained" mean in The Wednesday Wars?
In "The Wednesday Wars," "The quality of mercy is not strained" refers to the idea that true mercy cannot be forced and benefits both the giver and receiver. Holling Hoodhood reads this line in "The...
The Wednesday Wars
Why did Holling consider Romeo and Juliet to be stupid?
Holling initially considers "Romeo and Juliet" to be stupid because he believes the characters acted irrationally by killing themselves instead of defying their parents and running away together. His...
The Wednesday Wars
Why does Mrs. Baker tell Holling "The quality of Mercy is not strained" in relation to the pastry incident in...
Mrs. Baker tells Holling "The quality of mercy is not strained" to express her forgiveness after he accidentally ruins the cream puffs with chalk dust. This quote from The Merchant of Venice...