A Kestrel For A Knave

Compare and contrast Billy and Jud, who often act as foils. How do their differences serve the novel’s themes? What does it mean that they sleep in the same bed, even when furious with each other?

How does Hines characterize Billy’s mother? What does her characterization, and the way others treat her, convey about broader gender dynamics within working-class communities?

Analyze the relationship between class, education, and employment within the narrative. What does the novel convey about how schooling impacts The Difficulty of Escaping Class Oppression?

Why is MacDowell at odds with Billy, and why does he express his feelings through teasing and violence? What broader social conflicts are expressed in the personal conflict between these two boys?

What is the purpose of Billy’s violent outburst against the drunken Jud in his flashback? Why does he call him different words, including “bastard” and animal names, and what does it mean thematically that Billy immediately follows this outburst by running into the countryside?

Why is it important to Billy’s physical education teacher that the other boys participate in humiliating Billy by holding him in the ice-cold shower? What does this contribute to the theme of The Dangers of Equating Vulnerability With Weakness?

Why is the imagery on the pamphlet in Billy’s career planning meeting so important? How does this relate to Billy’s peek into a middle-class person’s house during his newspaper route?

Why does Billy’s mother rebuff him when he’s upset about Jud killing Kes? How does this reinforce standards of masculinity that Billy’s been socialized with?