DQ #3: Analysis of "Five" from Jason Reynold's novel-in-verse, Long Way Down.

3/10/2025

BEFORE reading the blog prompt, consider:

Do you believe in FATE or FREE WILL? Do you think that Will is destined to succumb to the same end as Shawn, Buck, and the others in the novel?

Primary Blog Post: 20-point Quiz Grade
What doe the quote, "[...]that's never the end" suggest about fate and cyclical violence in Long Way Down? How does the imagery of the smoke in the elevator in "Floor Five: reinforce the idea that violence and its consequences continue beyond a single moment or action?

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.
Use your Pen Name!

Rubric:
1. Topic sentence answers the prompt-5 points
2. Evidence supports the topic sentence (at least two pieces)-5 points
3. Explanation shows how the evidence supports the topic sentence-5 points
4. Closing sentence wraps up the paragraph-5 points

Finish by the END of the period Monday!

Secondary Blog Responses (on Monday):100-point Practice Assignment
Select 2 responses and 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 the END of the period on Tuesday!

37 Comments

Rod Wave

3/10/2025 10:27:30 am

I Believe in Free will because I feel like every action has a reaction and that's how things happen. The quote "that's never the end". Shows how even when you think somethings gone or is going to end it keeps going. In the text buck says this because he knows violence never ends.

Patti

3/11/2025 11:39:59 am

I agree because whatever you cause there's always an effect to it

Jewel Rodgers

3/11/2025 11:40:50 am

I agree with this because Will does have the power on his hands to stop the cycle and actually create and end, uncle Mark tries to make him understand that even do they live by the rules, sometimes the rules should be broken in order for change.

sista soulja

3/11/2025 01:00:37 pm

I agree with this because every action does have a reaction because of course when you do something there is either going to be a good outcome or a bad outcome the quote saying that's never the end can show that reactions are repeated

J Ivy

3/10/2025 10:27:36 am

In Long Way Down the quote "... that's never the end" suggest fate and cyclical violence because as the rules suggest there is always revenge being taken and someone is always dying just like how Dani died because someone tried killing Shawn because Shawn took revenge for probably Buck after he died revenge is a endless blood lust.

The Imagery of the smoke in the elevator in "Floor Five" reinforces the idea that violence and its consequences continue beyond a single moment of action, because the smoke is like the blood lust and darkness consuming someone and just engulfing them for death.

Joyce Angela Jellison

3/11/2025 11:38:43 am

I agree that the quote "that's never the end" explains how revenge is always taken and people don't forgive in life sometimes. I also agree on how you explained your point by saying the imagery of the smoke explains the consequences that would be faced by if the cation is continued. I wanted to relate this to a story but I don't have one in mind.

David A. Romero

3/11/2025 11:50:17 am

I completely agree with a very good point talking about dani's accidental killing.

Dessa

3/10/2025 10:27:46 am

Do you believe in FATE or FREE WILL? Do you think that Will is destined to succumb to the same end as Shawn, Buck, and the others in the novel?

I believe in fate though we have free will to make that choice. There are multiple realities for one person. Each action we take free will or not shapes our future. One bad decision can lead you to your downfall. I like to think of it as if there are multiple versions of us living at the same time; and we can channel ourselves to one of those versions by changing our actions and making the choices that align with that version we desire.

Malik Yusef

3/11/2025 11:42:58 am

I 100% agree with this statement as we can believe in fate but at the end of the day our future is based on our actions whether good or bad actions.

3/11/2025 11:57:49 am

I disagree with the comment that, "fate though we have free will to make that choice, there are multiple realities for one person". I believe that everyone has their own choice and nobody has a path set for them, what you do has consequences and you do what you want.

sista Soulja

3/11/2025 01:02:16 pm

I also agree with this because One bad decision can definitely lead you to your downfall. You make think in the moment it won't affect you but later on it can come back to haunt you.

Sharon Salzberg

3/10/2025 10:29:35 am

Uncle Mark’s comment, “It’s never the end,” conveys a friendly reminder that life and stories are often about new beginnings rather than final conclusions. Even though Will’s scene seems to end with the shooting of Riggs, the emotions and consequences will continue to unfold. Uncle Mark encourages Will to think about how actions impact the future, highlighting that while things may seem finished, there’s always more to explore ahead!

3/11/2025 11:45:32 am

I disagree, I personally think Uncle Mark is talking about the cycle of murdering instead of talking about a "friendly reminder that life and stories are often about new beginnings rather than final conclusions." as this is not what Uncle Mark was referring too.

David A. romero

3/13/2025 10:51:16 am

I agree with this because often stories and a "new life" is about new beginning but I also think "the end" can mean a end of a life or way.

GG Allin

3/10/2025 10:30:50 am

In Long Way Down, "that is never the end" represents that violence, is a continuous cycle, causing and making a never-ending chain of suffering and brutality within the community, essentially implying that an act of violence will lead to further acts of retaliation, violence and trapping people in a cycle favor for a favor or just plain revenge.

Regie Cabico

3/11/2025 11:52:48 am

I agree Because the violence wont stop until someone gets revenge because people will want to get revenge but with the cost of hurting other people

3/11/2025 11:59:55 am

I agree that "In Long Way Down, "that is never the end" represents that violence, is a continuous cycle, causing and making a never-ending chain of suffering and brutality within the community", because I had a similar response in my own comment to the question I like to see that others have a similar thought process to me.

LA DISPUTE

3/12/2025 01:49:49 pm

I agree with this response because violence and revenge will continue to be a cycle. As soon as someone you love gets killed and these rules are basically forced into your mind since you were young. That is all you're going to think about to kill the person who did this. Who killed who you loved most.

Dessa Part 2

Going off what I said earlier. Free will and fate go hand in hand. Wills perspective on the situation is constantly being defied with imaginary characters who vividly come back to life to warn Will about what he is about to do. The revenge seeking cycle has to come to an end- this represents fate. Though Wills uncle Mark could symbolize free will.

3/11/2025 11:34:36 am

I agree with your view on how free will and fate play a role in Will's situation. The imaginary characters warning him represent the struggle between his choices and the consequences, highlighting fate's influence in the cycle of violence.

Patty

3/11/2025 11:44:33 am

I agree because it views how free will and fate play a role in Will's life. The imaginary characters is warning him represent the struggle between his choices and the consequences that will affect him in the end.

patty

3/10/2025 10:32:32 am

Coming back to the cycle of violence and the consequences of following The Rules. If everyone followed The Rules, there would be no end to the bloodshed. The cycle of violence would continue to carry on.

Jewel rodgers

3/10/2025 10:33:01 am

the phrase "its never the end" its a symbolical phrase that uncle Mark tells will when will say "he end" after he shoots Riggs, is a cycle that will be repeated again the same way Will's father had to avenge uncle Mark when uncle Mark was killed and then Will's father was killed, which means that Will has the power to end the cycle or continue it.

3/11/2025 11:33:22 am

The phrase "it's never the end" is a symbolic line that Uncle Mark tells Will when he talks about "the end" after shooting Riggs. It points to a cycle that keeps playing out, just like when Will's dad had to take revenge for Uncle Mark's death and then ended up getting killed himself. This means Will has the choice to either keep the cycle going or put a stop to it.

3/10/2025 10:33:56 am

The quote "that's never the end" suggests that anything about violence and addiction is something that never ends in life. People get addicted to something that never ends. It emphasizes violent people and involves not just random people but their families too.In Floor Five,the imagery of smoke in the elevator signifies that effects of violence,even after the violence, there are consequences that impact people.This highlights how violence goes on in neighborhoods and how difficult it is to escape the cycle of violence and its effects on how it impacts individuals and its communities.

3/11/2025 11:32:19 am

I Believe in Free will because I feel like every action you make has a reaction. for example if Will kills his brothers killer, someone will come after him. The quote "that's never the end, Uncle Mark talks about the violence and how its an on going cycle again as if Will kills his brothers killer, someone will come after him and the cycle will continue over and over as it won't end.

Joyce Angela Jellsion

3/11/2025 11:43:07 am

I agree with this and like how you explained this in a detailed form. I agree with how you explained that if people are given free will in life, they also take advantages.Your statement is understandable but you could have added more on how the imagery of smoke relates to the quote :)

3/12/2025 01:51:55 pm

I agree that if Will goes through with killing his brother killer, someone will come after him and then someone else of Will family will come after the person who got Will. The cycle will never truly end.

3/11/2025 11:38:51 am

I think the quote "its never the end" means that there is a vicious cycle of death and vengeance that never completely comes to an end to it.

katastophre

3/16/2025 07:30:01 pm

I agree because it is a never ending cycle of death that I dont think it will ever ends

Rod wave

3/11/2025 11:43:19 am

I think that If will keeps going for revenge he will end up like Shawn and the others. I can relate these to other shows I watched because every time people go for revenge it always comes back and if it's not him it's going to be someone he loves. This shows how the cycle just keeps repeating.

Katastophre

3/16/2025 07:30:59 pm

I think that it is a never ending cycle of revenge and will keep trying to get revenge and not stop .

3/11/2025 11:49:37 am

In "Long Way Down," the phrase "that's never the end" signifies that violence within the community is not a singular event. coupled with the smoke imagery, paints a bleak picture of a community trapped in a relentless cycle of violence, where the consequences of each act linger long after the moment of action,

Mark nepo

3/11/2025 11:55:56 am

I Believe in Fate because it it offers us comfort and security. When something terrible happens, fate tells us this is all part of a greater plan. Will does not explicitly believe in a predetermined fate, but he initially acts as if his path is set by the "Rules" of his community, which dictate that he must seek revenge for his brother's death, essentially acting as if his course is already laid out for him; however, as he encounters various people on the elevator ride, he begins to question this notion and ultimately chooses to break free from the cycle of violence, suggesting a shift away from a strict belief in fate.

Sista Soulja

3/11/2025 11:57:34 am

The quote"that's never gonna end" is saying that violence is never ending and it's basically a pattern that is always being repeated no matter what. When will was going to shoot Riggs he understood that it can effect an innocent person and that the killing is just going to be repeated. In Floor Five,the imagery of smoke in the elevator signifies that effects of violence,even after the violence, there are consequences that impact people.This highlights how violence goes on in neighborhoods and how difficult it is to escape the cycle of violence and its effects on how it impacts individuals and its communities.

3/11/2025 11:58:56 am

I believe in fate because it's just something that has been happening for so long that it just hasn't stopped and I don't think it will ever stop even if Will tries to stop by not going through with it. In Long Way Down the quote "... that's never the end" what it suggests about fate and cyclical violence is that people always think that's what is done "normally" what's the norm that you should continue it. Only because that's what everyone else does. You don't want to feel like the odd person for not following the cycle. Like in the book Will and Uncle Mark go back and forth saying, " Look they killed Shawn.. And " Will said, " and the reason why is because for the first time in your life you realize, ..... kill someone right? " Uncle Mark said. While this conversation was going on Will kept saying right right just going with what Uncle Mark said not being sure if he really wants to go with it. Saying that the rules are the rules. That implies that Will just wants to do what's normal. He is not really sure but he wants to follow the rules.

3/16/2025 07:26:44 pm

speaks to the idea that fate and violence are cyclical, suggesting that each act of violence triggers a chain reaction with lasting consequences that are never truly over. The cyclical nature of violence is reinforced throughout the novel, as each character the protagonist, Will, encounters in the elevator has a history tied to the violence that continues to impact the present. The imagery of smoke in "Floor Five" enhances this theme, as it represents the lingering effects of violence—like smoke that continues to hang in the air long after the source has been extinguished. Just as smoke is impossible to fully escape, the consequences of violence in Will's world continue to haunt him, implying that violence doesn't end with a single moment but spirals, leaving an ongoing imprint on lives, decisions, and fates. This reinforces the idea that the past and its violence are never truly gone; they live on, shaping the future.

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DQ #3: Analysis of "Five" from Jason Reynold's novel-in-verse, Long Way Down.

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