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STUDY QUESTIONS #1

THE SOLOIST

 

Preface:

  1. How does the Preface prepare the reader for what is to come-the story of Nathaniel Ayers and Steve Lopez?
  2. Where are they when they meet?
  3. What do we learn about Lopez and Nathaniel Ayers in these few pages?
  4. What is Lopez' purpose in deciding to talk to Nathaniel Ayers?

 

Chapter 1:

  1. What does Lopez notice about Nathaniel Ayers' music the second time he sees him?
  2. When Lopez approaches how does Nathaniel Ayers react?
  3. What physical description do we get of Nathaniel Ayers on pages 4 and 5?
  4. Where does Nathaniel Ayers sleep and eat?
  5. When Lopez can't find Nathaniel Ayers, what is his main concern?
  6. Where does he find Nathaniel Ayers again, what happens, and how does Lopez describe the experienc?
  7. At that moment, what is Nathaniel Ayers' main goal?
  8. What is Juilliard and why is it so important that Lopez ends the chapter with that fact? (Look it up on the internet.)
  9. At the end of this chapter, how have the two men changed?

 

 

Chapter 2:

  1. What background information does Lopez give us on page 9?
  2. What does he tell us about his job at the beginning of Chapter 2?
  3. What happens when he contacts Juilliard?
  4. How does Lopez gather more details about Nathaniel Ayers' life?
  5. List at least five things that Lopez finds out about Nathaniel Ayers.
  6. Who does Lopez talk to about Nathaniel Ayers?
  7. What happened to Nathaniel Ayers at Juilliard?
  8. Why does Lopez stick with the story instead of backing off when Nathaniel Ayers asks him if he is flying the plane on page 16?
  9. What does Lopez find out about Nathaniel Ayers' early life?
  10. On page 20 Lopez brings Nathaniel Ayers two violin strings. How does this change his relationship with Nathaniel Ayers as a story subject?

 

Chapter 3:

  1. How do readers respond to Lopez' article when it appears in Sunday's paper?
  2. What do people want to send? Why? What is Nathaniel Ayers' response to this?
  3. Describe Nathaniel Ayers as he goes about his daily activities.
  4. What is Lopez' response to Nathaniel Ayers' "stream of consciousness"?
  5. What happens when the two people from Lamp show up? What did Lopez expect would happen?
  6. What does Lopez plan to get Nathaniel Ayers to go to Lamp?
  7. At the end of this chapter how have the two men changed?

 

 

Chapter 4:

  1. What happens when the instruments arrive?
  2. Before Nathaniel Ayers can play the cello, who arrives and what happens? Why do you think Lopez includes this scene in the book?
  3. How does Nathaniel Ayers play on the cello for the first time? What does Lopez tell us happens to Nathaniel Ayers as he plays?
  4. What happens when Lopez takes back the instruments?
  5. Describe Skid Row as Lopez sees it now, with fresh eyes.

 

Chapter 5:

  1. How long does it take Nathaniel Ayers to go to Lamp?
  2. Describe the Lamp courtyard where Nathaniel Ayers plays.
  3. Who is Carol and what is her story? Why do you think Lopez includes her?
  4. What did Mollie Lowery find and what did she do about it?
  5. What happens at the end of Nathaniel Ayers' second session with the instruments?

 

Chapter 6:

  1. Why does Lopez start writing columns? What is his purpose?
  2. Why is Lopez worried now?
  3. Why do the Von Horns say Nathaniel Ayers is important? What does it mean "to put a human face" on an idea?
  4. What is "The Village" and what does Lopez learn there?
  5. What does Ragins mean when he tells Lopez that his other workers "sat in the same chair as David"?

 

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Syllabus | Schedule | Study Questions #2