1. Pay It Forward Catherine Ryan Hyde
Chapter 5-Jerry

2. Characters
Jerry- He is the first person to participate in Trevor’s project. He takes it seriously and is trying really hard to continue the assignment of paying it forward despite all odds being against him. Trevor gave Jerry some money so Jerry is helping him with their worn down truck, which Arlene doesn’t like. Jerry helps open Arlene’s mind and question her prejudices.
Arlene- Arlene is a very pessimistic character, a single mom who is trying really hard to raise her son well. She is very self-conscious. Arlene provides some conflict as she is not fond of the idea of Jerry hanging around the house. She shares some family history that’s important to Trevor’s character.

3. Character Quotes Jerry: Arlene:
“I get my first paycheck today. And I’ll go get a cheap room. Be out of your hair. Your boy won’t be sorry he made the effort. I don’t think you will either. I’ll do just what I’m supposed to do. Pass it along, you know.” (Hyde, 50)
“I mean, what is the point, really? Why have a whole new world all caught up in rules? Where you can’t even feel good.” (Hyde, 52)
Arlene:
“I’m trying to raise that boy on my own. No help from nobody. I can’t watch him all the time.” (Hyde, 49)
“Look, Jerry. In a different world, who knows? We could have been friends even. It’s just that-” (Hyde, 50)

4. Summary
In this chapter, Arlene caught Jerry sleeping in the garage after working on her worn-down truck. She drives him “home”-to the shop that he works at in the middle of the night. Arlene isn’t pleased with Trevor being around Jerry and makes some condescending statements. Once at the shop, something lights up the night sky. Jerry talks about what he used to call it in his childhood and Arlene has a realization that Jerry might not be that different from her. Jerry explains his intentions and how he truly wants to pass it on and “pay it forward.” However, Arlene doesn’t know what the concept is about because she hasn’t talked to her son about the project, so he must explain it. After explaining the project, it was past midnight which meant it was payday for Jerry. His plan was to go buy some new work books but decided to stop at the bar for a beer first. He ended up being sucked back into the trap of drugs and addiction, waking up at the bar the next morning with no money left in his pockets.

5. Advancement of the Plot
This chapter introduces the first real life application of the project, including its good intentions and flaws. Through Trevor helping Jerry, we are exposed to the positive side and the potential of the assignment. Jerry’s relapse shows the uncertainty of the idea of paying it forward.
We learn more about Arlene and the fact that she’s struggling to raise Trevor and doesn’t know how to talk to him.

6. Setting
The chapter begins in the garage of Trevor and Arlene’s house late at night. The chapter then moves to Quicky Lube and Tune where Jerry works.

7. Conflict Man vs. Man Man vs. Society Man vs. Himself
Arlene questions Jerry and worries about him around her son. In turn, Jerry is offended because he truly doesn’t mean any harm to Trevor. There is a division of respect levels between the two and prejudice on Arlene’s part that leads to a minor disagreement.
Man vs. Society
The odds are not in Jerry’s favour. His task is quite difficult to pay it forward after the experiences he’s endured. People are betting against him and he proves them right when he couldn’t resist from the temptations of society.
Man vs. Himself
Jerry doubted himself saying, “Because people, they are no good. They won’t really pay it forward.” He wants to think he can do it but at the same time, he doesn’t truly believe he can and he does not receive any support from Arlene. When the time comes for him to prove himself, Jerry gives in to his addiction and old ways of life.

8. Themes Temptation We’re All the Same (Unity) Prejudice
“I know you looking to buy stuff. Don’t tell me you don’t got a taste for the stuff.” (Hyde, 53)
We’re All the Same (Unity)
“Don’t you hate moments like this?”
“What moments is those, ma’am?”
“When you get that feeling like we’re all just the same?”
Prejudice
Arlene judges Jerry and his way of life. She questions his intentions and influence on her son. She gave Jerry a pretty hard time.
Jerry says, “The way you been acting, I’da thought only one of us is people.”
Despite all of Jerry’s talk and wanting to pay it forward, when tempted by his old friend such as Tito, he couldn’t resist the temptation. These temptations exist in everyone’s every day life. Arlene gives in to her temptation every day with her alcohol addiction.
2. The biggest theme is Arlene showing a change in character. She was so against Jerry and weary of him being in their house or around her son.

9. Literary Devices Metaphor Simile Symbolism
“He was a bug and she didn’t want her damn place infested.” (Hyde, 47)
Simile
“Personality like an amazon, someone ten times her size.” (Hyde, 48)
Symbolism
“Meteor maybe, I don’t know. When I was a kid, we used to call that a falling star. I used to think if you saw one, you’d get your wish. You know, like all your dreams’d come true?” (Hyde, 50)
Referring to Jerry as a bug. How dehumanizing. Talk about prejudice.
Jerry talks about Arlene in a very positive light. He thinks she is absolutely beautiful and has an amazing, intricate, but very strong, demanding personality. At times, selfish, thinking about herself.
3. As a child, you’re taught to wish on stars and dream. Every child has a dream, no matter where you come from. This was the moment when Arlene realizes that her and Jerry are not all that different. She did the same thing as a kid. Now, they both have simple dreams- Jerry wants a job and to own a car and Arlene wants her husband to come home, as well as, to be strong enough to raise her son on her own. Not only did they see one, they saw multiple that night.

10. Chapter 6-Reuben

11. Characters Contributions
Reuben
He calms Arlene down and provides a sense of comfort for her because although they are two very different people, they are able to relate to each other.
Trevor
He is the one driving this chapter. He sets up the interaction between Arlene and Reuben.
Arlene
Arlene is the most doubtful and contradictory of the three of them. She doesn’t believe in the good of people, but she is also too scare to admit that to Trevor.

12. Characters Reuben Trevor Arlene
“When it comes to oversensitivity, I’m something of an expert.” (Hyde, 60)
“And that made me examine my own expectations and admit that perhaps in some small way I had been looking down on her. Though God knows I never meant to.” (Hyde, 61)
Trevor
“Mr. St. Clair? Are you married?” (Hyde, 55)
“It’s okay, I guess. Except I just have to start all over, is all. It’s okay, though. I already got other ideas.” (Hyde, 65)
Arlene
“You think I’m too stupid to see the way you look down on me? Well, I may not have your education and I may not talk good like you, but that don’t mean I’m stupid.” (Hyde, 60)
“Trevor, I know I gave you a hard time about Jerry, but then I had a long talk with him. And I might’ve been wrong about him. He’s a pretty nice guy.” (Hyde, 63)
1. Shows his self-consioucness and his self-protectiveness. He is careful to not put himself out there so he doesn’t get hurt. He’s used to being rejected and judged. Shows that he is aware when people are looking at his face and when things happen to him, he takes it personally.

13. Summary
In this chapter, Trevor’s curiosity plays a main role in the plot. He is curious about Mr. St. Clair’s life so he can set him up with Arlene. Both Arlene and Reuben are apprehensive about the idea as they are getting put out of their comfort zone, as well as, Arlene doesn’t want to admit that her husband is gone. At the dinner table, they discuss Trevor’s project, his optimism for the success of it and how he must start again after Jerry relapsed.

14. Advancement of the Plot
Introduces the potential romance or at least friendship between Reuben and Arlene.
Shows Trevor’s determination and that despite a setback, the project will continue and help more people.

15. Setting
The chapter opens in the classroom of Mr. St. Clair with a conversation between Reuben and Trevor. It is followed by a confrontation from Arlene about having Reuben over to her house. The chapter then moves to Trevor and Arlene’s house, specifically around the dinner table.

16. Conflict Man vs. Man Man vs. Society Internal Conflict
This conflict exists between Arlene and Reuben who view Trevor’s project differently. Arlene is very doubtful of it while Reuben is quite glad that Trevor is so optimistic.
Man vs. Society
Trevor has to work against the odds of society and the uncertainty of human beings who may have good intentions but fall victim to temptations. Trevor realizes he must his project again.
Internal Conflict
There is an internal conflict within Reuben and Arlene. Reuben is self-conscious and very bitter. He is worried about being judged as it has happened to him in the past. At the same time, Arlene is also worried about being judged. She thinks that Reuben is treating her like she is uneducated and stupid. At one point she even says, “I know you don’t like me.” (Hyde, 59)

17. Themes Determination/Optimism Expectation vs. Reality
Trevor’s determination to continue the project
Arlene’s change in perspective, thinking Jerry isn’t around as much because he’s found his own place to stay
Expectation vs. Reality
Reuben’s expectation of Arlene’s house and the reality are very different. This theme is very much connected to prejudice and the ideas we come up with in our head before knowing the true situations.

18. Themes Innocence Sensitivity
Trevor’s innocent view on the world, believing in the good of people and that the good will carry on his project
Thinking that he can just set his teacher and his mom up
Sensitivity
People are quite sensitive and we don’t realize that what we say might bother someone.
Also, the fact that people like Arlene are Jerry are so caught up in thinking about themselves, that they can’t see that majority of the time, people aren’t judging them. Everyone is more caught up in thinking about what others might be thinking about them than they are about judging others.
People already have pre-conceived notions about themselves, they automatically think people are thinking the same thing.

19. Literary Devices Foreshadowing Metaphor Simile
“Mr. St. Clair? Are you married?” (Hyde, 55)
Metaphor
“The following morning, early, just before his first class, it happened again. Lightning striking twice in the same place.” (Hyde, 57)
Simile
“A beam of morning sun slanting through the window caught Arlene and made her brighter than anything else in the room... Untanned, vulnerable skin, like a china’s doll’s. Something fragile, relegated to the shelf for fear of breakage in handling.” (Hyde, 59) (ironic because talks about how fragile her skin makes her look but she is so strong)
Foreshadowing- Shows that Trevor is probably planning something for Mr. St. Clair. We later figure out that he wants to set him up with his mom. We can assume that something will probably happen between them eventually.
2. Reuben is referring to Arlene charging into his class angrily for the second time. He refers to her as lightning because she comes out of no where and she’s fired up. The first time it happened, he thought it was a one-time thing, but it happened again.
3. Reuben refers to Arlene’s skin as fragile like a china’s doll. It’s ironic that he would say such a thing because she is actually very strong and independent. He does go on to say that she appears vulnerable until she opens her mouth.