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The Soloist

Study Questions #4

 

Chapter 22: page 208

  1. How is Nathaniel Ayers different?
  2. What does Lopez want Ayers to do?
  3. What does Nathaniel Ayers say he'd like to be?
  4. What does Dr. Ragin advise Lopez to do instead of pushing Ayers into therapy?
  5. Does Lopez consider Nathaniel Ayers to be his friend? Explain

 

Chapter 23: page 215

  1. Why does Nathaniel Ayers resist going to Lopez' house?
  2. What is the cart's significance to Nathaniel Ayers?
  3. Where does Lopez live?
  4. What does Lopez' wife Allison think of Nathaniel Ayers when she hears him talk?
  5. How does Nathaniel Ayers act at Lopez' house?

 

Chapter 24: page 224

  1. How does Nathaniel Ayers behave at Disney Hall? How is this different from the first time?
  2. When people ask how Nathaniel Ayers is doing, what does Lopez NOT tell them?
  3. What "issues" does Nathaniel Ayers have with the other residents at Lamp?
  4. What does Lopez tell us is really needed to end homelessness?
  5. Who confronts Lopez at the meeting? Why?
  6. Do you think that Lopez has exploited Nathaniel Ayers?

 

Chapter 25: page 233

  1. What does Lopez plan to so Nathaniel Ayers will stop fighting at Lamp?
  2. When Dr. Prchal visits, how does Nathaniel Ayers act?

 

Chapter 26: page 240

  1. Describe Julliard Music School when Nathaniel Ayers attended it.
  2. How did Nathaniel Ayers do when he first studied at Julliard?
  3. When Nathaniel Ayers returned home after his first year at Julliard, what did his family notice?
  4. How does Nathaniel Ayers act in his second year at Julliard?
  5. When does he calm down?

 

Chapter 27: page 252

  1. What reality does Lopez have to face in the beginning of this chapter?
  2. What does Nathaniel Ayers ask to see?
  3. How does reading the columns affect Nathaniel Ayers?
  4. What is the significance of the names "Nathaniel" and "Mr. Lopez"? What is Ayers' point?
  5. What does Ayers tell Lopez?

 

Chapter 28: page 261

  1. How does Lopez feel? What does he think about? How does he comfort himself?
  2. What happens when Lopez sees Nathaniel Ayers again?
  3. How does Lopez feel on the ride home?

 

Chapter 29: page 265

  1. What does Jennifer Ayers-Moore tell Lopez about her brother?
  2. What does Lopez see in Skid Row when he takes Jennifer A-M there?
  3. What happens when Nathaniel Ayers sees his sister?
  4. What happens with the sister, that day and the next few days?
  5. What hopes do Lopez and the sister share for Nathaniel Ayers' future?

 

Chapter 30: page 271

  1. What does Ayers think of the studio?
  2. What happens at Yo-Yo Ma's concert?
  3. What is the curse that Lopez refers to?

 

Chapter 31: page 278

  1. What important event opens the chapter?
  2. What does Lopez realize at the concert?
  3. What are Ayers' hopes for the future?
  4. What is the significance of the last line?

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