Study Questions
Who is the protagonist of this story? What is his condition and what is he experiencing right at the opening of the story? What specific problems is he facing? Why does he note there would be a difference if he were in the "down South" (1977)? What does that imply? What is the historical process underlying that situation and those changes?
What is the significance of the movie, the screen projections, and the beam of light from the projector? What does the plot of the movie suggest? What is the significance of the audience's reaction to the film's situations? Why is it stated that the protagonist stepped "into a light so sharp and bright that for a moment it blinded him, and he felt that he had moved into the spell of some strange, mysterious power" (1979)? What does the light represent? What power is being alluded to?
What is the meaning and implications of the expressions, "But they had it all fixed. Everything was fixed" (1977)? What do they refer to? What is fixed? By whom?
What is the role and significance of the train images? Why does the train leave the tracks and try to run over the protagonist anfd his wife? Why are the white people laughing?
What does the Bingo game symbolize? Why is it suggested that the protagonist "had to have faith" (1978)? Why does he play the game? What does he need the money for? How much is the jackpot? Is that number significant or symbolic in any way? Why does the MC call the protagonist "one of the chosen people" (1979? Why do they all laugh? Why is it said that "he felt vaguely that his whole life was determined by the bingo wheel" (1979)? What do the divisions on the wheel represent? What is the meaning of the double zero? What does the image/concept of "double zero" suggest?
Why does the protagonist feel all alone up on the stage? What does he experience as he is handed over the button that controls the wheel? How does it feel? Why is it said that "as the wheel increased its speed it seemed to draw him more and more into its power, as though it held his fate; and with it came a deep need to submit, to whirl, to lose himself in its swirl of color" (1980)? What is this wheel? What about the button and the cord attached to it? What is the meaning of the protagonist running in circles while hanging on to the button?
What odd idea does the protagonist suddenly come up with concerning how to handle the wheel? Is this the way the game is supposed to be played? What is in the protagonist's mind? Why are the others angry at him? Why does he say "This is God! This is the really truly God!" (1981)? What does he mean? Is he crazy? Has he made some deep-meaning discovery? What is he trying to tell to the others? What is their reaction? Why does he say, "I'll show you how to win. I mean to show the whole world how it's got to be done" (1981)? What is the significance of his being described bleeding and as if "stretched and wound upon the bingo wheel" (1982)? What do those images suggest? How does that relate to his attempts to tell others about "God" and how to "win"? Why is he said to be "reborn"? Why does he change names? What/who has he become?
Why does the protagonist belive that ,as long as he holds on to the button, he controls the wheel instead of the wheel controlling him? Why does he feel empowered? What is the meaning and effects (literal and symbolic) of the wheel spinning endlessly? Visually, what happens to the divisions on the wheel as it spins? Theoretically, what happens to every point on the wheel (with reference to other points) as the wheel increases its speed? What happens to the double zero? What is the symbolic meaning of motion and speed in this context? What are their effects?
What is going on back stage as the protagonist refuses to let go of of the button? Why do the people who run the theatre hesitate at first to bring down the curtain? How is the spinning wheel related to the projector and its images? What does that suggest?
What happens at the end? Where does the wheel stop once the protagonist lets go of the button? Is that ironic? Why? What does that suggest? What does the narrator get? How is that connected to the concept of the double zero? Why does one of the men smile, bow his head, and wink? What is going on behind the scenes? What happens then? What is the meaning of the story's last words, "and he knew even as it slipped out of him that his luck had run out on the stage" (1984)?
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