This was a tough section of reading. How are you doing with it? I really see Whi
This was a tough section of reading. How are you doing with it? I really see Whitehead exploring the role of white characters in this last section. How does Whitehead distinguish different white characters, for example Martin vs Ethel vs Ridgeway? How do the white characters rebel, and how do they endure? What does that say to us about these themes from their perspective?
Just some food for thought. But really, below is what we’ll be doing for this discussion. You will find a passage and follow the directions below. Please respond to one classmate for full credit.
Choose a quote or brief passage from these pages (196-235 or so) that connects to what you are most drawn to, something you might even pursue in your final project. For example, another aspect of the novel I personally am interested in is the idea of what it means to be an American, specifically how each character holds a unique definition and many characters fight to claim their definition as true. In this case, I’d likely choose one or two characters and find a scene where they discuss this. Perhaps I would start with Cora and some of her ruminations on p.182 or perhaps I would look closely at Ethel and how she was raised in that chapter at the end. Explore an idea that you’re connecting with. Not sure? Maybe explore that idea above or any of the themes.
Before providing the quote here, write a few sentences to introduce and provide some context for the quote.Set the scene within the context of the chapter. Also include the details we need to set us within this part of the novel.
Also include a bit of personal voice to express what has drawn you to the passage you are quoting from, and why you chose it. Then introduce the quote with a signal phrase to tell us who said it (i.e. Cora thinks, “…” or Ethel states, “…”)
Provide the quote using quotation marks and the correct format. Be sure you get the words and spelling exactly as they are in the novel.
Follow the quote with an in-text citation with author’s name and page number, such as (Whitehead 182). Then, write a sentence or two where you explain what you think the speaker is saying. This is like a paraphrase, but not the analysis part yet.
Finally, get into the close reading (analysis) using your critical lens(es) to respond and dig into your quote. Add the connections you see this quote making to a theme or a combination of themes to help you discover more of what you think and feel. Use the guides from Week 9 and Week 10 to help.
At the end of these steps you should have a meat-y paragraph exploring a theme that you’re connecting to.