Fences By August Wilson

What is heroic about Troy Maxson? What is not?

Describe the ways in which Troy is a hypocrite. Describe the ways he is a man of honor.

Describe the relationship of each of the other characters to Troy. How does he influence the life of each? Encourage each? Betray each?

In your opinion, what makes a “good father”? According to Troy (Act One, Scene 3), what are the duties of a father? Why does Troy think of himself as a good father? To what extend to you agree with him? Disagree? What is a parent’s responsibility to a child? A child’s responsibility to a parent? Why does Troy refuse to tell Cory that he loves him? What might be blocking his love and/or expression of love?

What kind of baseball player was Troy? What factors kept him from being famous? How does he respond to the successes of others?

Three of the scenes take place on Friday, Troy’s payday. Why is payday significant? Who besides Troy is paid, and for what? How does the status of each individual rise or fall because of payday?

Rose is the only female character who appears on stage. What does her character tell us about Troy and the other men?

What does Rose mean when she says she doesn’t want everyone in her family to be a “half”?

What does Rose value most? If the story were set in present day, how might her values be different?

Troy is a story-teller and loves having an audience. Why does Troy tell so many stories and go on and on about certain things when people are listening to him? Who seems to listen to him and who is not interested in "buying" his stories?