Track the narrator’s character development (Contexts of Coming of Age, Right of Passage, etc.) as the story progresses, pointing to specific lines / moments of realization.  How would you characterize the narrator and his friends when the story starts?  What do they want?  What do they eventually get?  Who do they become?  Do we sympathize with them despite their actions?  At what moments does the narrator begin to grasp the seriousness of the situation? 

The narrator is trying to present himself at “ bad” and “dangerous.” Digby represents the boys, he starts the trouble. Jeff does not have so much action, he is lazy, and uncertain. They become frightened during and after the situation and realize they did not want to be involved with any type of problem as that. The issue that they caused was there action and they had there consequence. I believe the situation may be a good thing because they then realized they did not want to be “bad” kids anymore. The narrator realized the seriousness of the situation when he was hiding from the man with the 57’ Chevy who they thought was Tony Lovett’s car.

In this story, the setting is central, playing a huge role in the plot and character development.  What do we know about Greasy Lake when the story begins?  How is it described and what tone is set by this description?   How has the setting changed for the narrator?  Why do you think Boyle repeats “this was nature” within the story?

Greasy lake was not and is not representative of nature. Why is the body in the water significant?  What is his initial reaction and how does it change after he leaves the water?  

When the narrator is out in the water near the dead man “Al” he breaks down. He realizes he does not want to be bad. The result of the situation makes the narrator want to go back ; back to the safety of his hope, and to his parents. The true dangers that leads up the dead body is not what the boys want.