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Post by hollis on Jan 15, 2009 10:22:35 GMT
Some help for you third years and your homework.
For the last part of your homework, you have to contextualise the actions of Mama and Stacey in the Civil Rights movement. Below are some terms you should know and use.
Martin Luther King was an advocate of CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE. Civil disobedience is the active refusal to obey certain laws, demands and commands of a government, or of an occupying power, without resorting to physical violence. Think about Mama's actions - she is refusing to accept the County's grading system on books, and decided to cover them. Does this hurt anyone?
Malcolm X rejected the civil rights ideas of change through non-violence Malcolm X continued to hold the view that African-Americans were right to defend themselves from aggressors, arguing that if the government was unwilling or unable to protect black people, they should protect themselves "by whatever means necessary". He also continued to reject nonviolence as the only means for securing equality - in fact, he once stated that he was determined to win freedom, justice, and equality "by any means necessary" Think about how the incident with Little Man being soaked affected Stacey. He then sought to have equality for the white children travelling to school BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. Think - could someone have been hurt with Stacey's idea?
As Macfarlane would say - Hope this helps.
If you've any questions on the homework (FOR MONDAY, REMEMBER!) post them below.
Mr. H
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Post by cult-na-zan on Jan 22, 2009 19:29:31 GMT
how would you have introduced this piece because i had a little trouble starting it, but i think i got there?
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Post by hollis on Feb 3, 2009 20:22:46 GMT
How are you guys feeling about this novel?
Hopefully you can see we're not going for the basics with this one, but deeper meaning - it's time to challenge a CREDIT class and get some 1 pieces from you!
Remember - much of what you're looking at is SYMBOLIC of one of the three main eras of Black American History - this is done deliberately by Taylor.
If you'd like to ask any questions about symbols in the novel, or what you see as symbols, please ask here.
REMINDER -
Those who do not have H/W need to create a DIARY ENTRY BY CASSIE - this is her reaction to the news Mama told her about how 'the world works'. Ms. Ridley kindly photocopied all you need for this - no excuses.
Homework letters loom....
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Post by hollis on Feb 12, 2009 9:27:00 GMT
Here we go -
Chapter 1 School as a microcosm of inequalities of the time – 1. The Bus – the white pupils of Jefferson Davis have a bus. Blacks have to walk. This symbolises the fact that education was more accessible to whites than it was to blacks. The bus is personified as a ‘tormentor’. Cassie is somehow inferior. 2. Schools are separate, but not equal (Jim Crow!) – The schools are segregated. The white school has the flag of Mississippi above the US one. The Miss. Flag has the Confederate flag in it. Shows the white school holds the ideals of the Confederacy (inc. slavery) above the unity of the U.S 3. White contempt for blacks shown through books. The chart shows an equation between ‘Nigra’ and ‘very poor’. This is the condition that the books are deemed good enough for the black school. 4. Mama’s actions – covering up the books – are a non-violent form of protest. Echoes M.L.K’s beliefs of civil disobedience. 5. Stacey’s action – breaking the school bus – are potentially violent. Echoes Malcolm X’s beliefs of equality by ‘any means necessary.’
Chapter 2 The power of language – 1. In the Berry / lynching story – whites are not reprimanded for using derogatory terms. This implicitly condones the lynching. Because they are not punished, why should they be punished for any crimes against blacks? Slavery ideals carried on. 2. The source of the language is more important than the words. The whites had a ‘secondhand’ justification – they ‘heard’ he was flirting with a white woman. This becomes FACT in the mouths of whites. The power of language is determined by race, not the validity of the words.
Mr. Morrison – Has a history. He has been both physically AND economically attacked by whites.
Chapter 3 Significance of cars begins – 1. The car belonging to the Berrys is a symbol of progress and equality. Leads to real reason for their being attacked. 2. Cassie sees procession of ‘night riders’. Doesn’t need to see drivers to know they’re white. Nor do the readers.
Chapter 4 Adults / Children – 1. At the start of the chapter, Cassie falls over a stool. She’s still childlike. The falling over represents her inability to deal with the adult-sized secrets she daces. 2. TJ finds W.E.B. Dubois ‘The Negro’ while trying to cheat. Dubois believed that blacks would gain equality through education. TJ finding it while trying to cheat is an ironic allusion to the beliefs of Mama and Big Ma. 3. Big Ma’s history of Cassie’s grandfather follows real life tradition of African American oral story telling (slave narrative.) Land – 1. We find out the land was sold to Cassie’s grandfather by a white man – Taylor showing not all whites are bad (Civil Rights era – good in all people!) 2. Trees cut down – still literal threats to the Logans’ land.
Chapter 5 Strawberry – 1. Cassie’s journey to Strawberry is both literal and metaphorical. It is a journey out of safety into the realisation of attitudes towards blacks during the Jim Crow era. Shown in the shop when children are not served, and with Lillian Jean incident. 2. Big Ma, the figure of authority at home, has no authority here. She must bow to Lillian Jean’s father’s demands.
Chapter 6 Cars again. And Bridges – 1. Uncle Hammer’s car – symbol of equality. Very specifically the same model as Granger’s. 2. The passing of Soldier’s Bridge is symbolic for Taylor, writing in C. Rights era. The Confederate bridge is falling apart – it is symbolic of the old attitudes of the South (slavery etc.) eventually falling apart.
Chapter 7 (GREAT FOR ESSAY!) Mr. Morrison’s Story / Shared History 1. Mr. Morrison’s story is once again in the tradition of an oral slave narrative. Papa calls it ‘our history’ – this is a shared experience. Everyone in the room is descended from slaves. They all share the same history and are fighting the same injustices. 2. Mama’s boycott of the store is again a non-violent form of protest – fits within M.L.K’s Civil Right’s ideas again. 3. Papa warns Stacey that his friendship with Jeremy cannot be. Ties into Jim Crow’s ideals of ‘separate but equal.’ Separation can never also include equality.
Chapter 8 Cassie / Fight 1. Cassie’s actions echoes Malcolm X’s. Equality by any means necessary. Even fighting. 2. Cassie is careful not to touch Lillian Jean’s face – that way there are no questions. 3. Mama echoes M.L.K again by teaching black history not from white books. M.L.K believed education was important for freedom.
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Post by confuddled on Feb 12, 2009 16:45:38 GMT
mr hollis what are the questions to answer for chapter 10
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Post by Firrhill Admin on Feb 12, 2009 19:17:52 GMT
well at least you're not confusticated - there's no cure for that yet.
T
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Post by hollis on Feb 12, 2009 19:54:07 GMT
Shall post up tomorrow.
YOU'RE TOO EAGER TO LEARN KNOWLEDGE!
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Post by hollis on Feb 13, 2009 12:56:49 GMT
Questions for 'Roll of Thunder' For you wonderful S3s. These are to be done after reading the chapter. MUST BE DONE FOR WEDNESDAY 25TH FEBRUARY. NO EXCUSES!
1. Why does Mr. Morrison decide to stay even though it is so dangerous?
2. Why does Jeremy like to think that he can see over to the Logans' place from his tree house?
3. Historically, whites have always had economic power over their black slaves. How does Granger try to economically attack the Logans?
4. Hammer's car is a symbol of equality. Why does he decide to sell it? What does this show about the importance of 'family' and 'land'?
5. Why does T.J bring R.W and Melvin to the revival? How do you feel about T.J at the end of the chapter?
BON CHANCE!
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Post by not so cunfulled on Feb 22, 2009 9:24:18 GMT
thank you
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Post by hollis on Feb 24, 2009 20:18:32 GMT
Hopefully, you're all in the same boat and ready to go with this tomorrow! We're nearly at the end... time for ESSAY OF AWESOMENESS!
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Post by cult-na-zan on Mar 9, 2009 21:38:00 GMT
...
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Post by hollis on Mar 10, 2009 19:41:10 GMT
PRESACTLY.
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Post by hollis on Mar 11, 2009 11:17:40 GMT
HOMEWORK FOR THURSDAY 12/3
You must create a paragraph that effectively summarises the key ideas and events of the three eras of Black American history. This will be the second paragraph of your essay - where you explain the context of the novel.
You have had mucho history from us - you should KNOW this by now!!!
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Post by anonymous on Mar 11, 2009 16:12:24 GMT
So in this homework r we just meant to be explaining the 3 eras in a few sentences like saying that in the era of slavery, slavery was normal until the start of the civil war??
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Post by islandgirl on Mar 11, 2009 18:20:35 GMT
Im confused because it thought you only write three paragraphs on civil rights era, slavery era nad jim crow era .. :s
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