Below is a poem entitled Incident; it was written by Countee Cullen, one of America's best African American poets. Read the poem and then respond to the question below.
Incident by Countee Cullen
Once riding in old Baltimore,
Heart-filled, head-filled with glee,
I saw a Baltimorean
Keep looking straight at me.
Now I was eight and very small,
And he was no whit bigger,
And so I smiled, but he poked out
His tongue, and called me, "Nigger."
I saw the whole of Baltimore
From May until December;
Of all the things that happened there
That's all that I remember.
In A Lesson Before Dying, the first 4 chapters focus on the power of just one word as this poem does. Using only the first 4 chapters of the novel to support your claims, explain the power of the one word in the novel and how it is used as a catalyst for this novel. Who do you think is most affected by the word? Why? (The deadline to post a response to this question is midnight June 18,2011. Remember use only your initials when posting a response. )
9 comments:
Throughout the first chapter, Miss Emma was described as immovable and that "she did hear one word-one word, for sure: hog." Miss Emma hangs on to this one word as the basis for getting Grant to talk to the boy and getting Mr. Pichot to speak to the sheriff. She is most affected by this word because the word was used to describe her godchild and it has turned her into an immovable woman bent on seeing her godson believe he is a man.
-- B. E.
In the first four chapters, the word "hog" has tremendous power. During Jefferson's trial, he is called a hog and, therefore, loses all dignity. He feels unworthy of living because of what one person decided to say. This one word is the basis for the novel because Miss Emma is determined to see her godson die as a man.
"Hog" is a powerful word in the beginning. The defense attorney uses it as a comparison to Jefferson, and basically the attorney was stating Jefferson was as worthless as a hog. Miss Emma was most affected by Jefferson being called a "hog". Her whole world was him, so naturally she would be the most disturbed. the word "hog" was a catalyst because Miss Emma is prepared to do everything in her power to make sure her godchild dies as a man instead of a hog.
-DL
In the first four chapters of this novel, the word hog is very important. When Jefferson is called a hog during his trial, Miss Emma was hooked on this word. She does not want her grandson to be known as a worthless hog. This word helps to develop the entire novel. It leads Miss Emma to ask Grant Wiggins to go to the jail to teach Jefferson so that he can gain his dignity and die a man instead of a worthless hog.
In A Lesson Before Dying, the word 'hog' has an enormous impact. In the trial, Jefferson is called a hog, an animal, not worthy of dignity or respect or pity. However, Miss Emma knows that this is not true and starts moving the plot of this book through her crusade to have Jefferson recognized as a man when he goes to die.
The word "Hog" is used throught the first four chapters. It is a powerful word because it describes how people think that Jefferson is unworthy of life,and that there would be no justice to put him in the electric chair than a hog. This word affects Miss Emma,and makes her seek help from Grant to make her godson a man before he dies.
Within the first four chapters of this novel, Jefferson is called a hog by his defense. This word strikes home with Jefferson and he begins to see himself as a true hog. His dignity and self-respect slowly start to fade away and Miss Emma sees this. Her godchild is being described as being a simple minded hog and all she can do is sit back and watch. She thus realizes that she must do whatever she can do to make sure Jefferson dies knowing he is a man and not a hog.
Throughout the first four chapters Jefferson is repeatedly referred to as a hog. This causes him to lose every bit of self worth he had and make Miss Emma determined to have a man, not a hog, sit in the chair.
- J.F.
In the beginning chapters of the book, Jefferson is called a "hog". It portrays him to be less equal, less sensible, and animalistic or instinct-driven. He is seen as lowly and is degraded to a status below human. Thus, Miss Emma, who cares more for Jefferson than anything else in the world, decides to change this view and rescue Jefferson's image and honor. She wants to make Jefferson a man, and through the aid of Grant, she changes the course of the story, using "hog" as her motivation...
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