Symbolism

‘On the Sidewalk Bleeding’By Evan

Hunter

• The danger of conformity, loss of being an individual

• The jacket is purple to imply the connotations of ‘royal’

• ‘THE ROYALS’ is across the back of the jacket in big letters, while the name ‘Andy’ “was written in black thread on the front of the jacket, just over the heart. Andy.” Does this show that ‘The Royals’ are more important than ‘Andy’?

• Symbolises conflict between both gangs.

The Jacket

Find quotes to support the symbolism of the jacket and write them in your course book.

• The alley is a symbol of death• It is also a symbol of life, if he could

make it to the end of the alley – ‘He watched the world passing at the other end of the alley.’

• ‘He could see the splash of neon at the other end of the alley. It was painting the pavement red and green.’

• Others walk out of the alley, but Andy never does.

The Alley

Find quotes that show the characters that make it out of the alley and write them in your course book.

People in the city

• They are portrayed as social stereotypes – a young couple who think only of themselves, a drunk man in an alley.

• These people symbolise and represent how the world perceives gang members.

• Both could have helped Andy, but didn’t – symbolises a loss of hope.

In your course book, explain how the cop is an example of a stereotype.