Think you’ve got your head wrapped around Bert Breen's Barn? Put your knowledge to
the test. Good luck — the Stickman is counting on you!
Q. What does Bert Breen's barn symbolize BEFORE Tom buys it?
Hopes and dreams
Devotion to family
A love of animals
Nothing—it's a barn
Q. What does Bert Breen's barn symbolize AFTER Tom buys it?
Vengeance
The fulfillment of his father's legacy
The rewards of hard work
Really, it's still just a barn
Q. Tom's experience walking home from work in a dangerous snowstorm teaches him that:
Life is full of hardships, and there's nothing you can do to change that
You'd better not leave home without your coat in winter
Listening to authority figures can help you avoid mistakes
You can't change the circumstances you're born into, but you can overcome them
Q. The text often uses what kind of imagery to describe people?
Biblical
Animal
Images of light and darkness
Floral
Q. While some critics argue that Tom's discovery of Bert Breen's money is a distraction in the novel, we could also argue that it is an important symbol of Tom's:
Optimism
Secret family history
Destiny
Success