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Tears of a Tiger Study Guide 

Pages 1-22

1. What does the newspaper article report in the first chapter?

2. What are the four friends going to do after the game? Why?

3. Who does not drink alcohol? Why?

4. Which member of the team decides to go home after the game instead of going with the

guys? Why?

5. Who calls Keisha to inform her about the accident?

6. Why does Keisha assume that it was Andy involved in the accident?

7. Who was the only person admitted to the hospital?

8. Who had the most to drink, according to Tyrone?

9. How was Rob positioned in the car?

10. Why did B.J. sit behind Rob?

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11. Who was the first to escape from the car?

12. Who did Rob call to for help?  Why?

13. Why does B.J. decide to go back to church?

14. Which of the boys had the idea of getting the alcohol, according to Rhonda?

15. What is ironic about Andy being appointed as the new team captain for the basketball

team?

Journal: Respond to one of the two prompts

1. Tears of a Tiger begins with a tragic accident--a fatal car crash caused by drinking and driving. The story is then told from the points of view of the group of friends involved. How does this method of telling the story affect the reader's response? What advantages and disadvantages does this method of narrative offer?

2. Many teenagers drink and then drive with no thought of the consequences. How is Andy like many young people today? How is he different? What makes this book more that just a moral warning to young readers about alcohol and vehicles?

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Tears of a Tiger Study GuidePages 23-34

1. How does everyone treat Andy after the accident occurs?

2. How is Andy dealing with the tragedy? Do you agree or disagree with his method of

coping?

3. Who was Rob closest to out of the three boys?

4. How had Andy become friends with Rob?

5. Why is B.J. so determined to play on the basketball team?

6. What could Andy have done to avoid the accident?

7. Why did Andy cry when he was in court?

8. What sentence did the judge give to Andy?

9. What does Andy have to do in order to be eligible to play basketball?

10. How does Rhonda feel about the grief counselors who visit the school? Why do you think

she feels that way?

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11. Who is Rhonda dating?

12. Why does Gerald hate peanut butter?

13. What are the things that Gerald says a five-dollar bill can buy?  Why does Gerald

mention these things?

Debate:Do you believe that the punishment Andy received fit the crime he committed? Write 4-6 sentences on why or why not.

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Tears of a Tiger Study GuidePages 35-49 

1.    Why is Andy late to the basketball game?

2.    Who has replaced Rob as captain on the basketball team?

3.    Who do you think should have replaced Rob in this position?

4.    Why do you think Andy played better than ever for his first game back?

5.    How does the author let you know that Andy is unhappy with his parents?

6.    How would you describe Andy’s coach as a person?  Do you think he helps Andy?

7.    What impresses Andy about Dr. Carrothers?

8.    Why does Andy feel that Rob wouldn’t blame him for the accident?

9.    Why do you think Andy says he is not a killer?

10 Why do you think Andy didn’t want to role play with Dr. Carrothers?

11 How does Andy describe his parents to Dr. Carrothers?  Explain.

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12 How does Andy feel about his brother, Monty?

13 Why does Andy feel both guilty and proud about taking Rob’s position in basketball?

Debate: Blame

Who’s fault is it most that the accident happened? Andy, who drove and was the most drunk; Rob, who got the alcohol, Tyrone, who participated in drinking; or B.J., who was sober. Write 5-6 sentences.

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Tears of a Tiger Study GuidePages 50-70

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 1. Why is Andy finally in a good mood?

2. How is Andy reacting to Keisha not spending enough time with him?

3. What is happening to Andy’s grades? Why?

4. How did Gerald get that scar on his face?

5. What excuse does Andy give for not making straight “A’s”?  What do you think about

that?

6. According to Andy, how does his dad communicate with him?

7. Why doesn’t Andy talk to the guidance counselor at school?

8. Why do you think Keisha is frustrated with Andy?

9. Describe the poem that Andy wrote.  How does it make you feel?  How do you think

Andy felt when he wrote it?

10. Why do you think Andy doesn’t turn in the poem he wrote?

Analyze and Opinion: What does Dr. Carrothers mean when he states, “It’s like the system

is set up so you don’t succeed”?  Do you agree or disagree with his statement?  Why?

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Pages 71-88

1. Why did Andy feel like he and Rob were being watched at the store?

2. How does Andy feel about his relationship with Keisha?

3. Why is Andy cynical about Christmas?

4. Why do you think Andy would like school to be cancelled because of snow?

5. How does Gerald react to the poem, “One Thousand Nine Hundred and Sixty-Eight

Winters”?

6. What does the snow in the poem refer to?

7. What is the teacher’s reasoning for using references of black and white in poetry?

8. Why would Andy wonder if Rob’s feet were cold like his own?

Tears of a Tiger Study GuidePages 89-105

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1. How did the winter weather reflect Andy’s emotional state?

2. Why is Andy afraid to call Rob’s parents?

3. Character Analysis: In what ways is Andy out of touch with reality?

4. Infer: Why would the retaining wall seem bigger that it really is on the night of the accident?

5. How does Andy describe his sadness and depression?

6. How does Dr. Carrothers respond when Andy says, “It seems like bein’ dead is the only way I’ll ever feel alive again”?

7. What does Dr. C suggest Andy do in place for contemplating suicide?

8. What does Andy tell Keisha he sees in his future?  What event does this foreshadow?

9. Why does Monty sleep with the light on?

10. Infer: Why would Andy feel that it would be a nightmare to be in a rich white neighborhood after midnight?

11. Character Analysis: Why does Andy dream of Rob blaming him for his death?

12. What does Rob’s family have that Andy believes his family doesn’t have?

Tears of a Tiger Study GuidePages 106-122 

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1. Why does Ms. Blackwell think that Macbeth’s death was inevitable?

2. Compare and Contrast: How does Macbeth’s emotional state compare to Andy’s emotional state?

3. Infer: Why did Andy run out of his English class?

4. Infer: Why does Andy get so upset when B.J. and Tyrone bring up Rob’s name at lunch?

5. What happens when Andy’s friends try to talk to the counselor about Andy?

6. Opinion: Do you feel that Dr. Carrothers was right to end Andy’s weekly visits so quickly?  Why or why not?

7. Why does Ms. Blackwell call Andy’s parents?

8. How does Andy’s father react to Ms. Blackwell’s call? Do you feel like he is being too harsh on Andy or that he is treating him firmly because he loves him? Why or why not?

 

Tears of a Tiger Study GuidePages 123-135 

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1. Infer: Why is Andy upset that Monty only likes blond-haired girls?

2. Why did Monty put tears on his picture of a tiger?

3. Infer: Why would Monty compare Andy to a tiger?

4. What types of comments do the teachers make in “Hidden Openings”?

5. How have Keisha’s feelings changed about dating Andy?

6. Why does Andy snap at Keisha during the talent show?

7. Why does Keisha feel that it is time to break up with Andy?

Comparison:

1. What do you know of Hazelwood High School from the descriptions given in the text? How would you describe the building itself, the teachers, the students, the administration, the "feel" of the school? Compare and contrast our high school culture and culture to that of the one in this book._______________________________________________________________________

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Tears of a Tiger Study GuidePages 136-154

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1. Infer: Why does Andy feel he doesn’t deserve to have Keisha in his life?

2. When talking to his mom what incident from his childhood does Andy compare his pain

to?

3. Why won’t Andy’s mother do more to console Andy?

4. Opinion: Do you think Keisha had the right to break up with Andy in his time of need?

Was she being cruel to him, or good to herself?

5. What is the bad news Coach Ripley has for Andy?

6. At the end of the later chapters such as “Private Pain” and “Slipping Away,” who is

Andy talking to? What do you think is happening to Andy as he hides his emotional

problems and his fears from everyone?

7. What reason does Andy’s father give for calling him “Andrew”?

8. Opinion: Do you feel Andy’s father did the right thing by approaching Andy in the

manner he did?  Why or why not?

 

Tears of a Tiger Study Guide

Pages 155-165

Name ____________________________ Date___________________________

1. Why does Andy suddenly feel the need to talk to someone?

2. Why won’t Andy talk to Dr. Carrothers’ associate, Dr. Kelly?

3. How does Keisha feel about her breakup with Andy?

4. How is a caged tiger similar to Andy at this time?

5. Why is Andy feeling so cold and empty?

6. What other time in the story has Andy felt trapped this way?

Describe Andy's gradual deterioration. Discuss all of the factors that contributed to Andy's suicide. Could Andy's death been prevented? How? What are the reactions of Andy's friends to his death and how do those reactions clarify that life is always a better solution than death?

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Tears of a Tiger Study GuidePages 166-180

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 1. Who was the first to notice that something was wrong at Andy’s house?

2. Why do B.J. and Tyrone feel that the counselors cannot help them deal with the

situation?

3. Why does Tyrone say that Andy was stupid?

4. Who believes Andy is a coward for his actions?

5. Why is Gerald angry at Andy?

6. What has Marcus learned from this experience?

7. What will Rhonda never be able to forget?

8. What does Keisha mean when she states, “You (Andy) had so much to live for”? What

did he have to live for?

9. What does B.J. say has kept him sane all of this time?

10. What is B.J.’s tone in his prayer about Andy?

11. What has changed in Andy’s family now that he is gone?

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12. Infer: What is one thing Monty says he will miss about Andy?

Analyze:

What is the effect of Monty's final words to Andy in the last chapter? What does it say about the

choice between life and death?

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2. What do the poems and essays written by the various students reflect about their lives and personalities? Why are the poems and essays an easy way to explain complicated feelings? How can self-expression be used as a tool for helping or healing?

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3. The teenagers in the novel are honest, realistic, and able to express themselves comfortably to each other and to the adults around them. Do teenagers speak two "languages"-- one for themselves and one for adults? Discuss.

4. Many people have asked the author why Andy was allowed to die at the end of the novel. What would have been the effect on the novel if Andy had lived?

5. Why is tragedy more memorable and more powerful than happiness in a novel?