Post-Show Discussion Activity

Use these questions to reflect, discuss, or journal about your experience and reactions to Fences! Explore any of the questions that interest you.

If engaging in this activity independently, consider taking notes or writing your reflections down. If engaging in this activity with a class or group, decide if you would like to answer every question in order, skip around, or select certain questions to spend time on. 

Discussion Questions

1. Troy Maxon is a deeply revered figure in Fences, despite the many losses and disappointments in his life. What makes him so influential and legendary to his friends and family?
2. Why is Troy so insistent that Cory not play football?
3. What is the significance of the song that Raynell and Cory sing together? 
4. Gabriel is constantly fighting “hellhounds.” What does his fight against the hellhounds mean or stand for? How is there a parallel here to Troy’s struggles? 
5. Why does Rose agree to take care of Troy’s baby? They are distant when Troy dies. Why does she speak so well of him after his death?
6. There are several mentions to planting seeds and growing gardens in Fences, both figuratively and literally. What does this imagery lend to the themes of the play? 
7. What is the significance of the play’s title?
8. Compare and contrast Troy’s relationship with his children. 
9. How do family dynamics and historical trauma play out in the Maxon family? 

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• This activity aligns with the following standards:
  • Illinois Arts Learning Standards
    • Anchor Standard 7: Perceive and analyze artistic work.
    • Anchor Standard 8: Construct meaningful interpretations of artistic work.
    • Anchor Standard 11: Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding.
  • Common Core State Standards  
    • CCSS.ELA.SL.1 Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
    • CCSS.ELA.RL.3  Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.

Posted on July 1, 2026 in Uncategorized