DQ #2: Analysis of "Six" from Jason Reynold's novel in verse, Long Way Down.

3/3/2025

Primary Blog Post:
Select ONE of the following Discussion Questions. Respond to it in a brief paragraph that:

answers the question using examples from the text.
minimal errors in grammar and punctuation.
is at least 80 words long.
Label your Primary Blog Post with the NUMBER of your Question.
Use your Pen Name!

Rubric:
1. Topic sentence answers the prompt-25 %
2. Evidence supports the topic sentence (at least two pieces)-25%
3. Explanation shows how the evidence supports the topic sentence-25%
4. Closing sentence wraps up the paragraph-25%

How does the presence of the gun in the elevator symbolize the potential consequences of Will's decision to seek revenge?
In what ways do the interactions with the girl in the elevator challenge Will's perception of reality and his understanding of the situation?
How does the concept of mentorship and the passing down of behaviors influence Will's actions and decisions in the elevator?
What does Dani's presence in the elevator reveal about Will's emotional state and his struggle with the Rules?
How does the interaction between Will and Dani highlight the internal conflict Will faces regarding his desire for revenge and the potential consequences?

Finish by the END of the period TODAY!

Secondary Blog Responses:
Select 2 responses that answered a question different than your own. Respond to each with a brief paragraph that continues the conversation:

Agree/Disagree? Explain why.
Extend the response by offering your added ideas.
Offer an alternative view of the event.
Connect to another novel, film, or real life event.

Each Secondary Blog Response should:

respond the OP's ideas in a thoughtful and constructive manner.
minimal errors in grammar and punctuation.
is at least 50 words long.
Use your Pen Name!

Finish by 11:59 PM on the second night!

33 Comments

Rod Wave

3/3/2025 11:43:42 am

I think when I saw the girl in the elevator it made him question his actions for a little while. in the book it shows how Dani said "what If you miss". This shows how When Dani said this, this made Will rethink for a second and see what were the possible negative outcomes and what will he do if this happens.

3/4/2025 11:29:59 am

2. "he" instead if "I"

Dessa

3/3/2025 11:44:45 am

What does Dani's presence in the elevator reveal about Will's emotional state and his struggle with the Rules? Dani''s death was not supposed to happen. She was the victim of a revenge act gone wrong. This could imply Wills current plan to take revenge is facing resistance. Something inside him doesn't agree with what he is about to do.

Dani''s presence in the elevator, which represents Will's mental state. He has possibly reached psychosis that would explain his deceased friend coming to comfort him during a moment of weakness. On the verge of betraying what his older brother taught him, he craves revenge but feels a deep anguish.

Dani is a decisive person who follows the rules. She even scolds Buck for his smoking habits. As well ass Will for having a gun. In the moment when she gets on. She pushes Will to think about the possible consequences of killing Carlson Riggs. What better person to do this. If not a victim from an act of revenge done years ago. The same Will is about to commit.

3/4/2025 11:32:01 am

Mark Nepo

3/3/2025 11:45:29 am

In "Long Way Down," Will's interactions with Dani, the ghost of his childhood friend who was accidentally killed by a stray bullet, serve as a powerful mirror reflecting his internal conflict between the urge for revenge and the devastating consequences it could bring, as Dani's tragic death directly resulted from someone else's act of vengeance, forcing Will to confront the potential for similar harm in his own planned actions. Dani's presence challenges Will's unwavering belief in the "Rules" of revenge by asking pointed questions about the potential for mistakes and the impact on others, prompting him to confront the possibility of harming innocent people like he did to her, ultimately pushing him to grapple with the moral implications of his actions before he commits to violence.

J Ivy

3/4/2025 11:35:20 am

I highly agree that Dani's presence challenges Will's unwavering belief in the "Rules" of revenge by asking pointed questions about the potential for mistakes and the impact on others.

Joyce Angela Jellison

3/4/2025 11:59:33 am

I agree with this because Will, the main character, has been taught to live by the rules: don't cry, don't snitch, and take revenge. After his brother Shawn's murder, Will sets out to get revenge on the killer, Riggs.

GG Allin

3/3/2025 11:50:45 am

Dani's presence in the elevator shows that Will is deeply conflicted about the rules and cycle that has to be followed, particularly because she represents an innocent victim of that violence, forcing him to confront the potential consequences. It's like killing another one of her. Her presence in the elevator makes Will feel guilt and responsibility for the violence in the area and the setting.

David A romero

3/4/2025 11:27:38 am

I Strongly agree, Dani is definitely one of the victims of an accidental shooting, also Dani does make Will feel somewhat guilty or some type of shame in a way where Will feels the need to prove himself to Dani.

3/4/2025 11:42:38 am

I agree with this because this shows how he's going to feel guilty and regret taking someone's life. In real life we can relate because there's been multiple cases were somebody murdered someone for revenge and instantly regretted it.

Sister Soulja

3/4/2025 11:57:20 am

I agree with this and I feel like you made a very good point. I feel like Will is worried about killing an innocent person because Dani was an innocent person and she had a lot of potential. This is not just about violence its about taking a innocent person's life.

David A. Romero

3/3/2025 11:50:51 am

2) In what ways do the interactions with the girl in the elevator challenge Will's perception of reality and his understanding of the situation?
In chapter 6 page 142 The girl, Dani challenges Will's perception of reality by asking a simple question. "What if you miss?" (Reynolds) Will replies "but I won't". Dani asks one more question "how do you know?" and Will responds "I just know" (Reynolds 143). The way Will responds to Dani isn't very convincing and reliable, that he really knows who the killer of his brother Shawn is. After this conversation with Dani, Will's perception changes, and his understanding of this whole situation is different, Will thought he knew all the answers, but Dani changes his perception with a few questions.

3/3/2025 11:53:55 am

Q4

Dani's presence reveals that Will's emotional state is really sensitive to the point that it's taking him back to remember his pure and innocent childhood friend/crush whom he watched die right in front of him and his struggle with the rules are flimsy at best he doesn't know what to do as Dani continues to question him he is getting indecisive if he really wants to go through with it since he doesn't really know who really killed Shawn he only has a theory of who did it.

"THE WAY I FELT, when Dani was killed was a first. Never felt nothing like it. I stood in the shower the next morning after Shawn taught me the first rule, no crying, feeling I wanted to scratch my skin off scratch my eyes out punch through something, a wall, a face, anything, so something else could have a hole."(pg 136).
"THEN DANI ASKED, what if you miss? BUT I won't, I said. But what if you do? she asked. I won't, I said. But how you know? She asked. I just know, I said. But you ever even shot a gun? she asked. Don't matter, I said. Don't matter."(pg 143).

David A. romero

3/4/2025 11:32:55 am

very good point! I definitely agree that Will is getting indecisive to go through the plan, and I think one of the reasons and maybe the main one is Dani talking to him and make Will rethink his choices and make sure that's the right thing to do.

Patty

3/7/2025 12:05:03 pm

I agree Will's emotional conflict regarding Dani's situation. It highlights his deep sense of loss and the struggle he faces

Joyce Angela Jellison Hounkarin

3/3/2025 11:54:26 am

4. I feel Dani's presence felt like nothing happened to him in Will's opinion. It shows how Will can't control his feelings because he lost someone he trusts and a childhood friend which expresses how emotional he is. Moreover, Will couldn't follow The Rules, he explains that "and had I known The Rules when we were kids I would've done the same thing for her". One of The Rules included don't cry, take revenge and don't snitch! but Will explained he wished she knew the rules and would have done that for her. Will explains how he regrets not showing Dani The Rules.

3/4/2025 12:02:56 pm

I disagree I think that will did feel something and was second guessing. This can relate to real life because People second guess all the time when they are in a situation they don't know and think about what can go wrong.

3/4/2025 12:04:36 pm

I agree with this because Will actually does feel bad and he doesn't want to hurt an innocent person

Sharon Salzberg

3/7/2025 11:50:30 am

I agree Will's emotional conflict regarding Dani's situation. It highlights his deep sense of loss and the struggle he faces in reconciling his feelings with the expectations set by the rules.

LA DISPUTE:

3/3/2025 11:54:51 am

1. The presence of the gun that Will has on him symbolizes the consequences of Will's decision to seek revenge because, he is carrying the weight of having to take revenge. Carrying the weight of following this cycle that he was taught at a young age. Will wants to take revenge on the person he thinks killed his brother. He's not even sure if that's actually the person so he could be thinking about killing the wrong person. Dani also says, " What if you miss". It's a consequence Will is going to have to live with if he kills someone else. It could also be him ending up going to jail after or worst of all Will could end up dead. What he is carrying will take over his childhood and his innocence, he will not be the same person he once was if he goes through.

3/7/2025 11:46:21 am

I agree with the gun as a powerful symbol of Will's struggle and the heavy need of revenge that he feels compelled to carry. It highlights the cycle of violence that he’s caught in.

3/7/2025 12:04:19 pm

I agree will's emotional conflict regarding dani's situation. it highlights his deep sense of loss and the struggle he faces.

3/3/2025 12:34:58 pm

How does the presence of the gun in the elevator symbolize the potential consequences of Will's decision to seek revenge?
The gun in the elevator symbolizes the danger of will's revenge. It highlights the immediate risk and violence that can be caused by the anger that will have, this shows how a single moment can lead to irreversible actions.The thight space of the elevator mirrors will´s internal conflict, showcasing his struggle for the urge of revenge.

katastophre

3/3/2025 02:40:08 pm

Dani's presence in the elevator highlights Will's emotional turmoil and his internal conflict with the Rules. As he struggles with the desire for revenge following his brother's death, Dani serves as a reminder of a different path—one not defined by violence and vengeance. Her presence forces Will to confront his emotions, challenging his adherence to the Rules and pushing him to question whether following them is truly the only way to cope with his pain. The moment reveals Will’s struggle between the cycle of retaliation and the possibility of breaking free to find peace

3/4/2025 11:41:06 am

I agree that the moment reveals Will’s struggle between the cycle of retaliation and the possibility of breaking free to find peace connects with Dani's presence in the elevator highlights Will's emotional turmoil and his internal conflict with the Rules. As he struggles with the desire for revenge following his brother's death, Dani serves as a reminder of a different path—one not defined by violence and vengeance.

I don't remember my name

3/4/2025 08:10:46 am

#1. The elevator in Will’s building represents feeling trapped by “the Rules” of his violent neighborhood, and trapped in his grief over his brother Shawn’s death. Once he makes it down to the lobby of his apartment building, he plans to get revenge for Shawn’s death by shooting Carlson Riggs. A ghost from Will's past enters the elevator and ask Will an uncomfortable questions that he hasn’t considered: what if he misses? What if he’s after the wrong guy? This shows Will’s ability to choose what the ghost is saying and free himself or remain trapped. Should Will return to his apartment on the top floor without killing Carlson Riggs, the elevator ride back up could help WIll get a new future for him. But if he continues out of the lobby and goes to Riggs’s apartment then he's just killing someone and making the problem worse and he's going to end up a jail cell or a coffin—by shooting Riggs, Will is likely to either condemn himself to prison or trap himself in a life that will be cut short when someone else retaliates against him.

3/4/2025 11:44:07 am

I agree. Wills ability to reflect on what he is feeling and about to do. shows His capability to made a decision. Though his emotions have him in a weakened state he is still self conscious.

3/4/2025 11:48:53 am

I agree with this because Will couldn't get over his brother's death and wanted to take revenge by killing the murderer. Will enters the elevator in his building with Shawn's gun, prepared to take revenge for Shawn's death.

3/4/2025 03:52:41 pm

mentorship and the passing down of behaviors play a pivotal role in shaping Will's actions, particularly during the elevator scene. Will is heavily influenced by the lessons and values instilled in him by his older brother, Shawn, who taught him the codes of respect, loyalty, and retaliation within their community. In this moment, as Will faces the decision to avenge Shawn's death, the teachings Shawn passed down weigh heavily on him. The elevator becomes a symbol of Will's internal struggle, where he must decide whether to continue the cycle of violence and revenge or break free from it. This scene illustrates how mentorship shapes Will’s decisions, forcing him to confront the impact of following in Shawn’s footsteps versus forging his own path.

kit Yan

3/6/2025 07:46:10 am

The presence of the gun in the elevator symbolizes the potential consequence of him because he is shaking and already very nervous when people get around him. He wants to seek revenge but he is very young and does not understand everything. In the book it says that he was very nervous when the “ghost” got on the elevator because he has a gun on him and he knows that he is on his way to kill and get revenge for his brother. This means that the gun symbolizes envy and hate triage. Also when Dani was on the elevator she was just a innocent little girl who got shot by accident and he is scared that he might accidentally miss and kill someone by accident. This means that he is rethinking his action as he is going down the elevator. My main point is to stop the cycle or it will never end. Revenge is nothing but a cycle.

3/7/2025 12:02:00 pm

How does the interaction between Will and Dani highlight the internal conflict Will faces regarding his desire for revenge and the potential consequences?

presenting a voice of reason and morality that challenges his ingrained belief in the "code" of retaliation

Regie Cabico

3/24/2025 07:27:31 am

How does the interaction between Will and Dani highlight the internal conflict Will faces regarding his desire for revenge and the potential consequences?

The encounter with his friend dani on the elevator forces Will to think about the consequences of his revenge plan,and the cycle of violence.Dani his friend is like a symbol of violence because she was killed in a shooting , and when will Saw her in the elevator it reminded him of what happenens if he tries to get revenge.

kit yan

3/28/2025 12:21:45 pm

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DQ #2: Analysis of "Six" from Jason Reynold's novel in verse, Long Way Down.

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