Worksheet: Fences - Race Relations in Sports
English
Year 9
9 questions
~18 mins
1 views0 downloads
About This Worksheet
A worksheet exploring themes of race relations through the lens of sports, focusing on the play Fences. Students will engage with a scene summary and analyze the author's technique, culminating in creative writing tasks.
Topics covered:
Worksheet Preview
Full preview • 9 questions
Worksheet: Fences - Race Relations in Sports
Subject: EnglishGrade: Year 9
Name:
Date:
TeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizzTeachWhizz
Untitled Worksheet
Grade Year 9
A
Scene Summary and Context Guide
In August Wilson's play Fences, the protagonist Troy Maxson is a former baseball player who now works as a garbage collector. The play explores themes of race, identity, and barriers in 1950s America, with sports serving as a powerful metaphor for racial limitations and personal ambitions. Troy's experiences in baseball symbolize both opportunity and betrayal, as racial discrimination prevented him from reaching the heights he once dreamed of. Sports, in this context, act as a reflection of societal struggles, highlighting the racial divisions that permeate everyday life. The line 'I seened the city pass me by' alludes to missed opportunities due to racial barriers. The play examines how these barriers impact personal relationships, aspirations, and identity, echoing wider societal conflicts.
B
Questions on Themes and Techniques
Answer the following questions based on the scene summary and your understanding of Fences.
1.
How does the play use sports as a metaphor for racial barriers?
[2 marks]2.
Identify a literary technique used in the line 'I seened the city pass me by' and explain its effect.
[3 marks]3.
Discuss how the character Troy's past as a baseball player influences his views on race and opportunity.
[4 marks]4.
Explain the significance of the title 'Fences' in relation to the play's themes.
[2 marks]5.
Identify the tone of the play's portrayal of racial discrimination and justify your answer.
[2 marks]6.
What role does the sport of baseball symbolise in Troy's life?
[2 marks]7.
How does Wilson contrast Troy's personal ambition with societal barriers using sports imagery?
[4 marks]8.
In your own words, describe how the play reflect the broader societal issues of race and opportunity.
[4 marks]C
Creative Writing Task: Reflective Essay
Write a short reflective essay exploring how sports can serve as a metaphor for personal and societal barriers. Use examples from Fences or other sports stories you know.
1.
Your essay should include at least the following points:
- How sports symbolize opportunity and limitation
- Examples of racial barriers in sports
- Personal reflection or a real-world example
Use the space below for your writing.
[15 marks]Unlock Full Worksheet & Answers
Get instant access to the complete worksheet, answer keys, and 1,899 others
Unlimited answer keys for all worksheets
Download clean, formatted PDFs
Customize and remix any worksheet
Cancel anytime • No commitment • Start today
Quick Actions
What is Remix?
Create a new worksheet based on this one. Change the grade level, topic, number of questions, or difficulty - then generate a fresh version.
- • Change grade level (Grade 6 → Grade 7)
- • Swap topics (Harry Potter → Macbeth)
- • Add more questions (10 → 15)
- • Adjust difficulty
Details
- Created
- 12/31/2025
- Updated
- 12/31/2025
- Type
- worksheet