Question

Assignment for Act 2, scene 1 of Fences: reflection
Due Oct 8 by 11:59pm Points 10 Submitting a text entry box or a file upload File Types pdf, doc, and docx Available until Oct 31 at 11:59pm
Directions: After your group finishes reading Act 2, scene 1, complete this assignment. I want you to reflect and share your reaction to the scene. This is a reflection, so it's allowed to sound casual and say things like, "I was shocked," etc.

Your answer needs fit together and flow like a paragraph, not a list; if you answer a few questions, that means you need to transition between topics. Here are some helpful transition phrases:

I also was thinking about...
Another thing that struck me about this scene was ...
That made me realize that ...
Whichever and however many questions you answer, your total response should be at least 6 sentences long. -3 points if you don't hit that length requirement.

Reflection question menu:

What were you thinking about or feeling as you read this scene? How did it feel to you?
Do you think Troy is making excuses for his bad behavior or is he just being honest?
What do you think of Bono in this scene - is he being a good friend to Troy?
Did you see Cory as a hero in this moment or more of a kid who didn't understand the situation he saw? Something else?
What was your reaction to Rose's reaction? Do you see her differently now?
Do you think Troy's violence will turn Rose more against him?
Anything else you want to mention or share? Do it now! Make the reflection Humanized

Answer 1

I was honestly surprised at how tense and painful Act 2, scene 1 felt; reading Troy's anger up close made me uncomfortable and sad at the same time. I also was thinking about whether Troy is making excuses for his bad behavior or just being honest about his past — to me it felt like a mixture of both: he uses his hard life as a reason for his actions, but he also seems to believe what he says, which doesn't excuse the hurt it causes. Another thing that struck me about this scene was Bono; he comes across as a loyal friend who cares, but he also seems to let Troy off the hook too often and doesn't challenge him hard enough. That made me realize that friendship can sometimes enable someone as much as it can support them. When I looked at Cory in the scene, I saw him more as a kid who was confused and hurt rather than a clear-cut hero—he’s trying to push for his own future but doesn’t fully understand Troy’s complicated pain. Rose’s reaction surprised me because she shows deep loyalty mixed with quiet strength, and I found myself feeling more sympathetic to her than before. Whichever way you interpret Troy’s actions, I do think his violence and stubbornness will push Rose farther away over time, and that realization made the scene feel really heavy and inevitable. Overall, the scene left me thinking about how cycles of hurt get passed down and how hard it is for people to break out of their own stories.