Worksheet: Fences - Troy Maxson and Sports Metaphors
English
Grade 7
9 questions
~18 mins
1 views0 downloads
About This Worksheet
A comprehension practice worksheet analyzing Troy Maxson’s character in August Wilson's Fences, focusing on sports metaphors and thematic elements within the context of baseball and athletic struggle.
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Worksheet: Fences - Troy Maxson and Sports Metaphors
Subject: EnglishGrade: Grade 7
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Untitled Worksheet
Grade Grade 7
A
Scene Summary and Context Guide
In August Wilson's play Fences, Troy Maxson is a former baseball player turned garbage collector who struggles with his past ambitions and present limitations. The play uses sports metaphors extensively to depict Troy's views on life, competition, and personal setbacks. For example, Troy often refers to life as a game or a race, emphasizing themes of struggle, opportunity, and perseverance. His interactions with family members reflect his bitterness and desire to protect his dignity, often drawing parallels between his experiences on the baseball field and his responsibilities at home. The character's complex relationship with his son Cory highlights contrasting outlooks: Troy’s skepticism of opportunity versus Cory’s hope for a better future. The play’s use of sports language frames Troy’s worldview, illustrating how his past as an athlete influences his attitude towards life's challenges and his relationships. Key phrases such as 'life ain’t no crystal stair' and 'you got to take the ball and run with it' reveal Troy’s belief that life is a constant fight, akin to a game of baseball or other competitive sports. This thematic framing helps deepen the audience’s understanding of Troy’s character and the broader themes of struggle, ambition, and the limits imposed by society.
B
Comprehension Questions
Answer the following questions based on the scene summary and context guide provided.
1.
What is Troy Maxson’s main profession in the play Fences?
[2 marks]2.
Describe in one sentence how sports metaphors are used to depict Troy’s worldview.
[2 marks]3.
Identify one phrase from the context guide that illustrates Troy’s view of life as a fight.
[2 marks]4.
What is the significance of Troy’s references to baseball and sports in understanding his character?
[4 marks]5.
Explain how Troy’s interactions with his son Cory reflect different attitudes towards opportunity.
[3 marks]6.
Identify and explain one literary device used in the phrase 'you got to take the ball and run with it.'
[3 marks]7.
In what ways does the use of sports language help to deepen the audience’s understanding of Troy’s character?
[4 marks]8.
Discuss the thematic significance of comparing life to sports within the play.
[4 marks]9.
Create a short paragraph (6-8 sentences) imagining Troy giving advice to a young athlete. Use sports metaphors discussed in the play.
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Details
- Created
- 12/31/2025
- Updated
- 12/31/2025
- Type
- worksheet