Theme - Cameron Tulloch

No Limit- Theme

                                    Cameron Tulloch                                     

Power and Authority

      The novel "No Limit" has the theme of power and authority.  All throughout the novel the main character  Dennis Doyle is only sixteen years old and has very little power over anyone in his life. "Like it was the most natural thing in the world. Like I was an adult," (page 11). Denn was a carefree teenager with little responsibilities except for his landscaping business.  Denn is introduced to poker by an older boy that lived on his street, when playing poker Denn felt more powerful than all others around him.  Denn continued to play poker becoming better and better  making him have the feeling of more authority than others when playing poker.  Eventually Denn made enough money that he felt more powerful even when he wasn't playing poker. "'I don't get it,' I said 'What's the problem if I'm winning,'" (page 145). Denn's parents eventually found out about his gambling addiction and tried to get him help.  Denn agreed to stop gambling for a while but played poker again to help his previous friend Murky. "I pulled out a roll of hundreds and slapped it on the table. 'deal me in,' I said," (page 192). Denn ended up winning a fancy restaurant in poker, he turned very rich and  had more power and authority than even his family. "'You damn well better do as your mother says!'  Instead, I hired a lawyer. That shut him up. It's amazing what you can do with money, even if you're only sixteen." (page 204). At the end of the novel Denn had all the power and authority that he wanted but he was completely miserable because he abandoned his friends and family until all he had left were cards.

Summary

      Dennis Doyle is an average teenager with his own business and problems, when a stroke of luck playing poker made it so much more real to him.  Denn skipped his responsibilities by playing and practicing poker. Denn was soon the best at poker of all of his friends, but it wasn't enough for him.  In Denn's mind his best friend Murky, girls, even his mom and dad were just distractions from poker.  Denn took his addiction to the next level by getting a false identification and playing poker at the local casino almost every day.  Eventually Denn's parents found out about his problem and told him that he had a gambling addiction, Denn agreed with his parents to stop gambling and join a gambling anonymous group. Denn was truthful to his word and stopped gambling until he heard that his best friend Murky (that he stopped talking to) was playing poker at "Marcel's", a fancy restaurant with a no limit poker table. Denn tried to reason with Murky out of playing poker but when Murky refused Denn broke his promise to stop gambling to help out his friend. Denn played against Murky and "The King"  (the best poker player in around and owner of Marcel's) in order to stop his friend from gambling. At the end of the big poker game Denn beat Murky and "The King" winning the whole restaurant "Marcel's" along with his prize money. Denn left Murky along with his parents, now he owns thousands of dollars and a very fancy restauant at the price of his friends and family.


Questions:

1.  Why do you think that Paul Hautman decided to make Dennis receive 60 dollars in the  mail every week?  What purpose do you think this served?

2.  Would you have changed the ending of the story if you could, what would you have changed it to, why?

3.  How is the mood at the end of the story different from the beginning?

4.  When you think that Denn thinks the most highly of himself, at the beginning, the middle or the end of the novel?  Provide an example with your answer.

5.  In the novel describe what swans represent for Denn and his mother.

6.   In chapter 3 called Flowers Mrs. Rollingate tells Denn "You could be anybody.  You could be the nicest man in the world, or you could become a heartless jerk." Denn replies "That won't happen." Why is this ironic?

7.  Why do you think that Denn called his dad by his first name 'Fred'?

8.  What type of car does Denn own, what does it symbolise in the novel?

9.  Describe the necklace that Denn gave to Kelly, what does it symbolize in the  novel?

10.  Describe how Denn felt when he was playing poker and finding tells.

Plot of novel

                                                            Noah Millar
                                                                  Plot
In the novel "No Limit", Denn is a 16 year old boy who has a small landscaping buisness. On his way home after Finishing Mrs. Pratts lawn, he was hit by a bus but only got a bruised shoulder from it, he was feeling pretty lucky to be alive. He was then invitdd to a poker game by Jason, he won every hand. The more Denn played poker, the more his friends and family move away from him, and the smaller his world becomes.

1.) What does Denn do at night when he can't sleep?
2.) When Denn was walking by the Hicks place, why was he surprised when Jason said "hi" to him?
3.) Why does Denn hate his father?
4.) Who was at Denns first poker game?
5.) List three things Denns father says on the subject of girls?
6.) What does Denn buy at the Booty Boutique for his mother and why?
7.) Which books does Denn read to learn about poker?
8.) Where did Murkey get the money for his first poker game with Denn, and what did he say he'd never do with that money?
9.) What did Fred suggest he and Denn do together sometime?
10.) If Denn was never hit by Mr. Bus, do you think Denn would have still played that first game of poker with Jason? Explain why.

Character

Michael DelMastro

Character

There are many interesting and complex characters in this novel. The main character, Dennis Doyle, is a miserly, young man who has a bitter relationship with his father. He also runs into trouble with gambling. Father Seamus Murray O'Gara is a father figure to Denn and constantly tries to get him to do the right thing. Mark "Murray" Stein is Denn's easily impressed, best friend. Fredrick Doyle Jr. is Denn's father who left home when Denn was only fourteen to work in Hollywood as a script writer, which is why Denn is upset with his dad. Kelly Rollingate is Denn's girlfriend, who is worried about his gambling situation. Her mother Mrs. Rollingate is currently unsure whether Dennis is right for her daughter. Jason Hicks is the person who introduced Denn into gambling. These characters provide an appealing narrative and make you care about their problems.

1. Describe Denn's relationship with his father.
2. How does Denn meet Gibby Newhouse?
3. Why does Denn save up his money?
4. Describe Murky's personality.
5. What does Mrs. Rollingate think of Denn?
6. What does Jason's father tell Jason when he sees them playing poker and smoking?
7. What kind of stand does Doughboy and his mom run?
8. What's Mr. Cigar's occupation?
9. Who gives Denn the $10 in the begging of the book and why does Seamus tell him to retun the money?
10. What do you think the end of the story will bring for Denn's friends and family?

Setting of the novel

BRODIE

The setting of the novel No Limit is based in north america, based in the fact that Denn's father has gone off to Hollywood and their family is reasonably poor before, so no expensive travel could be funded. Being based in southern north america and the fact that it follows Denn means there are going to be many shady locations. this all starts in Jason's house, where Denn starts his addiction  by winning a few hundred dollars. this  moves to "doughboy's" trailer. thereafter it moves from  poker table to poker table in different restaurants   making you forget that it is all in a small town somewhere down south.




Questions
1. What restaurant does Jason suggest to Denn as a good poker house and why does Jason do so?


2. What arcade does murky suggest that he and Denn go to "to waste some money"? And what occasion is he trying to celebrate?


3. where was Denn when he was hit by "Mr.Bus" , what was he on and what was he doing?

4.Where did Denn get presents for Kelly and His mother, what were the gifts and where were they given to them?

5.On what street was Denn robbed on who was he robbed by and what car were the culprits driving?

6.Where did Mr.cigar come into the book, what is his importance in the story and what is his real name?

7.where did Denn meet Sam Grant in the chapter "teeth"? Who was Sam With? What was Denn eating?

8.What lawn does Murky help take care of? what is murky being paid?

9.Where did Denn's father go? For what reason did he go, and what is Denn's fathers name?

10.What church is Seamus a preist at. What is his office like, and what drink does Denn grab in chapter 23?