Free write: The rookie season, what fun. Roy arrives for his first full day and his uniform has been knotted and soaked, his stockings are shredded, and much, much more. Back in 1952 when The Natural was published, hazing was a fairly common practice. Now, its illegal and quite controversial when it does happen.
Reflect on and write about a time when you were a newcomer, a rookie. Maybe it's when you joined a new team, when you arrived at a new school, or when you moved to a new neighborhood. What was it like for you as a newcomer and was there hazing involved?
Discussion
- p. 67: Roy has a dream during the hypnosis sessions with Doc Knobb. Is the dream an effectiveformat/tool for revealing Roy's shortcomings? Why? Why not?
- In what ways is Bump a failed hero? What kills Bump?
- Some literary critics assert that the Whammer, Roy and Bump are all hero's crafted in the same mold. Do you agree or disagree? If this is the case, what is Malamud telling us about heroes in society?
- What's the significance of the train?
- Roy waits for Memo & the chance to play. What do these to things have in common? What is Roy seeking from both?
- Roy's first at-bat. Read aloud. Significance of the "plummeted like a dead bird"?
- p. 79: bird imagery & warnings from Pop (what tragic flaw does Pop's warning reveal about Roy's character?)
- Role of wonderboy?
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