Character traits The main character in the book is Jeffrey Lionel Magee, (Maniac Magee
Maniac Magee
Maniac Magee is a novel written by American author Jerry Spinelli and published in 1990. Exploring themes of racism and homelessness, it follows the story of an orphan boy looking for a home in the fictional Pennsylvania town of Two Mills. He becomes a local legend for feats of athl…
What are some characteristics of Maniac Magee?
Maniac Magee Character List
- "Maniac" Magee (Jeffery Lionel Magee)
- Amanda Beale (and Mrs. Beale, Hester Beale, and Lester Beale)
- Mars Bar Thompson
- John, Piper, and Russell McNab
- Earl Grayson
- James "Hands" Down
- The Pickwells
- Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan
What is the moral of Maniac Magee?
The moral of Maniac Magee seems to be that increased communication between people of different races, separated by social constructs like segregated neighborhoods as well as social boundaries and stereotypes passed down from adults to children, could lead to a more positive United States. Spinelli also shows that the actions and beliefs of even one person can begin to lead others toward this understanding.
What is the funniest part in Maniac Magee?
Spinelli creates a deliberately humorous picture of two people who are unhappy in their marriage but do not want to separate due to religion by describing how they split all their possessions and refuse to speak. Some would believe it ironic that Jeffery experienced discrimination (including bullying and graffiti) due to his skin color.
What is Amanda Beales traits from Maniac Magee?
Amanda Beale
- She's Taken. All joking aside though, she's the perfect entry into friendship for Maniac. ...
- Nose In a Book. Look, we here at Shmoop like books. (Obviously). But Amanda loves books. ...
- Amanda vs. the Baby Buffalo. Not just any girl (or boy) will hop into a buffalo pen, even if it's for a really important reason. ...
What is the description of Maniac Magee?
Maniac Magee is a novel written by American author Jerry Spinelli and published in 1990 Exploring themes of racism and inequality, it follows the story of an orphan boy looking for a home in the fictional town of Two Mills. Two Mills is harshly segregated between the East and West, blacks and whites.
Who dies in Maniac Magee?
They happily spend the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays together, and five days after Christmas, Grayson dies in his sleep. Maniac is alone again. To deal with his grief, Maniac runs wherever his legs will take him. Depressed and lonely, Maniac ends up at Valley Forge where he decides to die.
What does Maniac Magee like?
Throughout the novel, Maniac's love for books and learning is evident. Even though he doesn't attend school, he understands the importance of it. He borrows a book from Amanda Beale, buys books from the library, teaches Grayson to read, and performs amazing feats to bribe Russell and Piper to go to school.
What is Grayson's personality in Maniac Magee?
Generous, old, loving, and likable are all words that could be used to describe Grayson. Grayson was an old man who worked at the park. He found Maniac in the buffalo pen and took him to the band shell.
Is Maniac Magee a real story?
Maniac Magee is not a true story. It is a novel, and novels are fictional. They can sometimes be based on true characters or involve events that...
Is there a Maniac Magee movie?
Maniac Magee is a television film made for the Nickelodeon network, based on the novel of the same name by Jerry Spinelli. The story follows twelve-year-old Jeffrey Lionel "Maniac" Magee, an orphaned runaway with many extraordinary and athletic talents, who arrives in a town divided with racial conflict.
How old is Maniac Magee at the end of the book?
11-years-oldWhen he's 11-years-old, he's finally had enough, and takes off running. Yup, literally running. He runs for a couple hundred miles and a year, and ends up in Two Mills, Pennsylvania. Maniac doesn't know it yet, but Two Mills is a divided town.
What is Maniac Magee's real name?
Jeffrey Lionel MageeHe wasn't born with the name Maniac Magee. He came into this world named Jeffrey Lionel Magee, but when his parents died and his life changed, so did his name. And Maniac Magee became a legend.
How old was Maniac Magee when he ran away?
When Jeffrey Lionel Magee was 3 years old his parents took the high-speed P&W trolley to the city, on the way back the P&W had its famous crash. Jeffery was sent to live with his Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan who had 2 of everything and never talked. After 8 years of that Jeffrey ran away.
What are some characteristic traits?
Some character traits reveal positive aspects of a person's underlying values or beliefs.generosity.integrity.loyalty.devoted.loving.kindness.sincerity.self-control.More items...
What are John McNab character traits?
He's big, he's strong, he's more than a little mean: "He was like a shark. He had the blood lust. The victims were hunched and trembling, walking the gangplank" (7.7). And you should see him throw a baseball.
Who was hands down in Maniac Magee?
Maniac plays away the summer just like the rest of the kids in the East End, eventually running into Hands Down. (Hands Down is the guy he snatched the pass from when he first came to town.)
Who is George McNab?
George McNab. George is the father of Giant John and Piper and Russell McNab. He is rarely home, is covered with tattoos, and appears to be an alcoholic. George has very hostile and paranoid racist beliefs… read analysis of George McNab.
How old is Giant John McNab?
Giant John McNab. Giant John McNab is a huge 12-year-old, the pitcher for Two Mills’ Little League baseball team. He’s also a bully, part of a gang called the Cobras. Maniac Magee breaks Giant John’s strikeout record the… read analysis of Giant John McNab.
Who is Amanda in Two Mills?
Amanda Beale. Amanda is the first person who talks to Maniac in Two Mills. She is a kind, studious, spirited girl. Amanda carries her entire book collection around town in a suitcase so that her younger siblings… read analysis of Amanda Beale.
What are the characteristics of Maniac Magee?
The main character in the book is Jeffrey Lionel Magee, (Maniac Magee) He is very brave, helpful, and courageous. He is quite the risk taker since he crossed over to the East End, but on the inside he is a different person. On the inside he is very sweet, caring, polite, kind, ...
Who is the main character in Maniac Magee?
People also ask, what are the main characters of Maniac Magee? Amanda Beale Mars Bar Thompson Maniac (Jeffrey Lionel) Magee Mrs. Beale John McNab. Who is McNab in Maniac Magee? John McNab John is the West End's star pitcher, who strikes out everyone with his fastball.
Who is Maniac Magee?
Jeffrey 'Maniac' Magee is a friendly orphan who is oblivious, or unaware, of the divisions between black and white people in Two Mills, Pennsylvania. Maniac is also a smart boy who accomplishes some legendary feats, values books, and feels a strong longing for a forever home. Secondly, is Maniac Magee black or white?
What is Maniac's purpose in Spinelli's book?
Maniac is a catalyst used by Spinelli to try to unite the East End and the West End. Maniac is oblivious to discrimination and prejudice. The Beales, a black family, invite him to live with them. Maniac loves his life with the Beales and "can't see this color business.". Color means nothing to Maniac.
What is the name of the character in Maniac Magee?
In Maniac Magee, Spinelli has created a legendary character. When Maniac arrives in Two Mills, he performs extraordinary feats that amaze everyone, making him "cool times ten.". With a book in one hand, he catches a football and punts it perfectly. Unafraid, he rescues a young boy from Finsterwald's yard.
What does Maniac do in the book?
Maniac's goal is to have a home — an address — a place to go where people love and talk to each other.
How does Amanda protect Maniac from discrimination?
Amanda tries to protect Maniac from the cruelty of discrimination by preventing him from seeing the racial epithet that is written on the side of the Beales' house. She is hurt when Maniac leaves. At the conclusion of the novel, Amanda accompanies Mars Bar to the zoo (where Maniac is sleeping) to urge Maniac to return to the Beales' house to live. She tells Maniac that he is going home with her and he is "going to sleep there tonight and tomorrow night and the night after that and every night. . . ."
What does Maniac realize when he reads the racial epithet on the Beales?
When a racial epithet is written on the Beales' house, Maniac realizes that his presence is causing them pain, so he gives up his new home. Maniac educates Grayson and the McNabs about black people, and he educates Mars Bar about white people. He realizes that prejudice and discrimination stem from ignorance.
Why is Maniac so naive?
He is somewhat naïve because he is "blind" to the dividing line, Hector Street, which separates the East End where the blacks live and the West End where the whites live. Maniac is a catalyst used by Spinelli to try to unite the East End and the West End. Maniac is oblivious to discrimination and prejudice.
Why does Maniac stay at the McNabs?
Maniac meets John's father and feels uneasy because John's father appears to be a racist. He also observes the McNabs and the Cobras building a fortress (a "pillbox") out of cement blocks — in the living room of the house.
Why does Grayson ask Maniac to teach him to read?
Because he trusts Maniac, he asks Maniac to teach him to read. Grayson is also a character who is ignorant about black people. He asks Maniac questions about the Beales, and when Maniac tells him that, "they're just regular people like us," Grayson responds, in disbelief, "ain't that somethin'. . . .".
Who is Maniac's sister?
Her suitcase piques Maniac’s curiosity when he arrives in town, and when he convinces Amanda to lend him a book, they soon become friends. Amanda is a loyal sister and friend who fiercely defends Maniac, even when others in the East End question whether Maniac belongs in a black neighborhood and give the Beale family a hard time as a result.
What happens to Maniac at the end of the book?
When Maniac resorts to living in a buffalo pen at the end of the book, Amanda climbs in and scolds Maniac in a sisterly way until he agrees to move in with the Beales once more.
What did Maniac say to Amanda?
Maniac said nothing. He was quite content to let Amanda do the talking, for he knew that behind her grumbling was all that he had ever wanted. He knew that finally, truly, at long last, someone was calling him home.
Who is the first person to talk to Maniac?
The first person who talks with Maniac is Amanda Beale, and that happens by accident. It’s around eight in the morning, and Maniac sees... (full context) ...books. There are all kinds, including an encyclopedia volume, the one for the letter A. Amanda proudly explains that it’s her library.
Who is the woman who yells at Maniac?
Maniac is awakened by someone wrenching his ear. It’s Amanda, angrily flinging straw at him. She yells at Maniac that he has a lot to... (full context)
What chapter does Amanda convince Maniac to untie the knot?
Chapter 19. Amanda convinces Maniac that if he successfully unties the knot, he’ll become a hero, and nobody... (full context) Chapter 20. ...the knot within moments, the gathered spectators eventually grow bored and wander off, everyone except Amanda.
