The Big Field

The novel references three baseball movies, Major League, The Natural, and Field of Dreams. Watch at least one of the movies and compare it to The Big Field. Why does the team in Major League initially lack pressure and hope? What do Roy Hobbs, the main character in The Natural, and Carl have in common? How does Son Versus Father manifest in Field of Dreams?

Trace the progression of Darryl and Hutch’s relationship. Why don’t they get along at first? Who is to blame? What softens the antagonism? How does Hutch help bring peace? What role does Darryl play in the de-escalation?

How does Hutch and Carl’s relationship support the theme of Son Versus Father? Who is mainly responsible for the conflict? What keeps the tension going, and what stops it?

Put Carl’s experience with baseball in conversation with the theme of The Hopes and Pressures of Young Athletes. What were Carl’s hopes, and why didn’t they come to fruition? How did pressure add to Carl’s disappointment?

Hutch idolizes shortstops, particularly Derek Jeter. Why does Hutch declare, “[A] great shortstop was worth his weight in gold” (15)? What makes shortstops heroic and valuable?

How does the media impact and distort the reader’s understanding of baseball? How does it take a team game and make it seem like it’s about one player? In the story, does the media have good, bad, or neutral influence on the characters?

Detail the layers of Darryl’s character. How does he change throughout the novel? What traits make him sympathetic, and what elements make him antagonistic?

How does baseball symbolize life? What can baseball teach a person about life in terms of teamwork, confronting pressure, working with surprises, and overcoming mistakes?