Essay Questions

Why is Eric Bittle hiding his sexual relationship with Jack from the public?

The primary reason why Bittle is downplaying his sexual relationship is to protect the reputation of Jack. Jack is Bittle's lover and a professional player in the Falcon's hockey team. Bittle does not want Jack to be dropped from the team he has worked so hard to build. If Jack's teammates discover he is gay, he will be dropped from the team, thus destroying his career as a professional hockey player. Consequently, Bittle must keep his sexual relationship with Jack a top secret.

How does Ngozi Ukazu explore the theme of self-identity in Check, Please!: Sticks and Scones?

Throughout the novel, Bittle struggles with his sexual identity. Bittle is a male student but does not have sexual feelings for the opposite sex. Bittle loves associating with men, particularly Jack, his lover. However, Bittle is not ready to tell his parents and friends about his sexual orientation because he fears ridicule, stigma, and bullying associated with the LBTQ community. In society, same-sex relationships are considered evil and detrimental to societal values and norms. Therefore, people like Bittle and Jack are viewed as a disgrace to society.

What is the primary irony in the novel?

The primary paradox in the book is that Bittle and Jack are having a long-distance relationship despite living close to each other and studying at the same university. The author says that Bittle and Jack have a long-distance relationship because they rarely express their love for each other. Bittle tells people around him that Jack is his regular friend and hockey teammate. Ironically, Bittle and Jack are a couple, and they love each other deeply, but they are too distant because they fear what people will say about them if they come out to the public.