Vocabulary and Questions for Discussion

Source: http://www.teachwithmovies.org/guides/west-side-story.html

Puerto Rico

"social worker"

social disease

hoodlum

junkie

drunk

turf

zip gun

rumble

"dig this"

"throw you in the can."
 
 

Discussion Questions

Answer the following discussion questions on the back of the page:
 

1. Was Tony right to kill Bernardo to get back at him for killing his lifelong friend?
2. Was Maria right to love Tony no matter what he did?
3. Why were the boys in gangs?
4. Why did the girls tolerate the boys' gang affiliations?
5. What was Tony's attitude toward the gangs?
6. Why couldn't the police talk to either gang?
7. What did Action mean when he said to Doc: "When you was my age? ... You was never my age!"
8. What did the police officer mean when he said to Doc: "You try keeping hoodlums in line and see what it does to you." What did Doc mean when he said: "He wouldn't give me a mouth like his."
9. Why were the police officers against the Puerto Ricans?