EQ: WHAT IS FIRST PERSON NARRATION AND WHY DID JORDAN CHOOSE TO USE IT FOR MUDBOUND WITH 6 DIFFERENT VOICES?
HMWK: for Wednesday, read through pg. 82
THINK, PAIR, SHARE:
Having read the first two chapters of Mudbound, work with a partner to answer the following questions and discuss your answers.
Level 1 questions Close Reading for text details
1. How are Jamie and Henry related?
2. What is Jamie doing at the beginning of the book
?3. Why is Jamie rushing in what he is doing at the beginning of the book
?4. How deep does Henry dig the grave at the beginning of the book
?5. Why does Henry dig so deep at the beginning of the book?
6. Who is Henry digging a grave for at the beginning of the book?
7. How is the coffin described at the beginning of the book?
8. What did Laura decide on her 30th birthday?
9. What is Henry's last name?
10. What is Henry's occupation?
11. Who introduced Laura and Henry?
12. Who encouraged Henry to pursue Laura?
13. Why did Henry leave town while courting Laura?
14. What did Henry do when he returned to town while courting Laura?
15. How did Laura describe Jamie when she met him?
16. How much older than Jamie is Henry?
17. When did Laura meet most of Henry's family?
18. How did Laura describe Henry's family when she met them?
19. Where was Laura married?
20. How long did Laura have bliss in her marriage?
What can you infer from your answers about the characters and their relationships?
What kind of foreshadowing of the plot can you infer from what Laura says on the bottom of pg. 13-the top of pg. 14?
Level 2 questions Interpretation of Literary Strategy
Discuss some of the reasons for choosing this kind of first person narration. How does seeing
these events through many different character's eyes affect the story? How does this kind of narration make you feel as a reader? Do you like it? Do you think it will enhance the plot? Why or why not? What do all the different viewpoints do to the narrative? Why is this not through the eyes of one main character?
POST A COMMENT OF YOUR OBSERVATIONS AS A TEAM CITING EVIDENCE FROM THE TEXT TO SUPPORT YOUR CLAIMS.
Style
Point of View
The novel is written in the first person point of view. The narrating character changes from section to section with the writer alerting the reader to the change in narrating character by placing the character's name at the beginning of the chapter section.
The use of the first person point of view is an intimate choice, allowing the writer to speak directly to the reader through the voice of her characters. In most first person point of view novels, the narrating character is the main character of the novel and the entire novel is told through that character's eyes. However, in this novel the writer uses all the major characters in her novel as her narrating characters, giving the reader a well-rounded story while still keeping the intimacy of the first person point of view. It is a new and unique way to use the first person point of view and is handled with great skill.
Setting
The majority of the novel takes place at Mudbound, a moderate sized farm on the Mississippi Delta. The farm is primitive, lacking some of the basic comforts such as electricity and running water. The farm is constantly covered in mud from the frequent storms that pass over the area and dust when the rains are kept at bay. As a part of the south in the1940s, the setting of the novel is also a hotbed of racial tensions, leaving the black characters of the novel in danger of the lawlessness of the time toward blacks.
The setting of this novel is important because the time and place sets up some of the tensions that propel the plot. The uncomfortable accommodations of the farm create a situation that allows Laura to feel neglected by her husband and opens her to an inappropriate relationship with her brother-in-law. At the same time, the setting also places a great burden on the Jackson family, a black tenant family on Mudbound who face many obstacles in their attempts to raise a family and live a comfortable life. With the return of their son from the war, these obstacles grow substantially as he finds himself a target of racial hatred. For these reasons, the setting of the novel is deeply essential to the tensions that drive the plot to its climax.
Language and Meaning
The language of the novel is basic English. The author has created characters who are living in a time period and place that has its own unique uses of language. The author does not delve deeply into the slang that characterizes this time period, but she does use some basic grammar choices that makes the characters come to life and feel authentic to their time period.
The language of this novel is basic, simple English that is not filled with too many difficult words or phrases or unique grammar and spellings. However, some of the language is a little more complicated than the reader might expect in order to reflect the high education level of two of the main characters. The writer does not slip into stereotypes to express the thoughts and opinions of some of the main characters, moving slightly away from authenticity, but making her novel easy for the average reader to enjoy.
Structure
The novel is divided into three parts. Each part is filled with sections that tell a story from the narrative point of view of more than six characters. These characters tell their story in the first person point of view, each giving their own vision of a series of events that lead to tragedy for two families. The story is told in the past tense, beginning in the present and moving into the past to explain how the characters got to that point in their lives.
The novel contains multiple plots, including one main plot and multiple subplots. The main plot tells the story of how the Jackson and McAllan families became involved in the maiming of one young man. Some of the subplots describe the relationships between all the main characters, the romance between Laura and Jamie, and the difficulties Pappy causes for all those around him. Each plot comes to a satisfying conclusion at the end of the novel.
WRITING PRACTICE:
Test 1 from Natalie Goldberg's Old Friend from Far Away
Choose one paragraph and write it in 3rd person. How does this change the paragraph?
"Cuz he's black," really struck a nerve for me. Mostly because I have a three year old nephew who I say that about all the time. For example, we were at the library there was him, two little white girls, and a white boy. My nephew sneezed and they looked at him like he's disgusting and literally two minutes later, the white boy sneezes & they both looked up and said, "bless you". That pissed me off so much because he doesn't yet understand what the future will be like for him as a young black male. I really doubt the stereotypes and prejudice ways towards black males will ever end in our country. It seems that the only way they are noticed is if they do something bad, we never hear about the good accomplishments they have. Honestly with all that's been happening lately with cops murdering innocent black men scares me because you never know, it could be someone in your family getting treated the same way. It's ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteThis summer I was shocked by what happened in Ferguson, Missouri to Michael Brown. I watched the television all day for news. Into the night, I listened to radio talk shows where people discussed how hard it was to be a black male in America. I was angry for days about the injustice, and excessive use of police force against unarmed black males. And I kept wondering if anything could/would change what is happening in our country. It is hard for me to come to terms with the concept of "white privilege" and to acknowledge that I do not have to worry about how to act, what to do in order to survive.
ReplyDeleteThe slam poem " Cuz he's black" was extremely powerful and truly displayed the hardships of African American males. It is so heartbreaking that we live in a world where people have to learn how to defend themselves against racial profiling before they can read.
ReplyDeleteThe video displayed today was a powerful and emotional messaged brought out to us. It emphasized how we as normal citizens look up to cops, who serve and protect, as bad people and the enemy. How citizens who live everyday life's feel the need to fear a cop rather than feel safe around one due the brutality and inequality they display. Not just black males, but all minorities are at war for protection against cops.
ReplyDeleteI've seen this video before and it's still very powerful. The way he shows his emotions and gets into it is amazing. He talks about a subject that not many people like to acknowledge and wows the audience.
ReplyDeleteThis was an interesting piece because of the rapid change of tone, an reference to terrorism. I thought is was very well written and managed to capture the best of two worlds. For instance, the opening was very relaxed,even relatable. It changed completely in a matter of two line which i thought was very well transitioned. It was very powerful with a serious subject matter.
ReplyDeleteThe slam poetry video Radezia shared this morning was very powerful. It connected with a lot that is going on in modern American society regarding race, most recently the murder of Mike Brown in Missiouri. I find it both ironic and unfortunate that America was built on the back-breaking work of many of our black ancestors, yet we are treated as if we were a threat, as if we will destory everything.
ReplyDeleteI liked the slam poetry. It is an extremely meaningful message that young black boys need to know, so they can understand what is going on in the world. They need to understand that because you are black and a boy, then you will have to face so much more than others. I agree with the speaker when he says that the boys are preparing for war at such a young age. It's an unsettling truth that needs to be addressed.
ReplyDeleteRadezia's morning reflection was very moving. It tied in with current day topics such as Ferguson and the riots happening in Missouri. The man speaking got so moved by his own work that he began to choke up and almost cry, and to me that showed the importance of this to him and it made me connect to the message more. It's sad thinking about how African-American boys are construed to be such troubled kids and even if segregation is no longer in tact there's still subliminal injustice towards colored people. It worries me because I'm half black myself and it's not fair that I feel half of my family, half of my roots are in danger or still continuing to be oppressed.
ReplyDeleteThis made me realize how racist the world can be. It's terrible that children have to develop in this kind of environment and learn these kinds of things. We as a society should be doing more to protect the minds of children so they don't have to learn these stereotypes. I was talking to my good friend who I've known since I was very young, and he told me about how he was jumped outside of his school just because he happens to be African- American. Things like this shouldn't happen.
ReplyDeleteI almost shed tears from the message translated in the slam poem. It made the hairs stand on my back just to realize what he said. It really is a struggle being black since everyone subjects you to a criminal. Whenever me my girlfriend and her mom goes into Wegmans im being observed as in why the hell is this black guy with this whte lady and mixed girl. I once went to go get gummy bears from the candy section and a clerk asks me if I need help scooping candy into a bag while everyone around me was doing the same. I hate racism!! BLACK POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteJavon Johnson just told us a truth that we've heard many times before. At this point I have no comments on the struggles of black people, they aren't worth it, no one is ignorant of it, we all know.
ReplyDeleteI chose to share this slam poem "cuz he's black' because I feel like there is a lot of controversy in our society with police officers and African Americans. Both sides have lost people because of ignorance. No one deserves to lose their life, and I know that a lot of families have lost someone close to them, but killing someone else doesn't solve anything. I just feel like these problems should be brought up in order to begin change.
ReplyDeleteThe slam poem Radezia presented for her morning reflection was really powerful and emotional. It was from the perspective of an African American man, it shows how their children are raised, and how police segregate African Americans. I think its really sad how a young boy will see a police and his first reaction is to hide, when he has done nothing wrong. This slam poem showed how we as citizens, fear cops and authority.
ReplyDeleteThis video helped to make me realize how radically different the world is viewed from a young, American, black child. Despite their similar impressions and thoughts about the world, they experience life extremely differently from any other child. As you listen to the speech in the video, your mind treks back to the various incidents that left the entire country in an uproar. The brutality and sorrow that have occurred from pure ignorance appears to become entirely one-sided within the minds of the populace. Speeches and incidents such as these should serve to make an impression on both the population and its future, as its legacy is one to be both remembered and feared.
ReplyDeleteJacob Gilbert-Manhoney, Austin Hammond Cheese, Mitchell Duncan Donuts
ReplyDeleteForeshadowing: It appears that all of the stories are intertwined in the description, suggesting that all of the characters will end in the same way they began, despite their varied perspectives.
First-person: This perspective allows a more personal insight into each of the characters' thoughts. Its interesting, because you get different views from every side of one story. It will enhance the plot, since it better expresses the feelings between characters.
Diamond and Zoë
ReplyDeleteWe feel that the mom is kind of controlling because she talks to Henry and tells him to ask Laura to marry him. We also think that the marriage won't last because they both had doubts about each other. Also because of Laura saying that after six years, she discovered the true meaning of cleave, which is to divide with a blow, as with an axe. Henry and Jamie's relationship is going to change because of Jamie and Laura's like for each other when they first met. Laura's description on page 14, "Because a negro named Ronsel Jackson shone to brightly. Because a man neglected his wife, and a father betrayed his son, and a mother exacted vengencance," foreshadows the events of the book. Laura's mother getting vengeance on Laura. The father of Henry and Jamie did something to Laura. Ronsel versus the community. Lastly, Henry neglecting Laura as a wife. The several different point of views gives the reader an inside view from different people. We are allowed a better understanding of what happened during the book. We like it because it helps us understand each person's feelings. It will enhance the plot because we know what all character's are doing. If it was only told from one person's point of view, then we wouldn't know how each character felt.
Karla & Radezia :
ReplyDeletefirst person - This helps us get to know each of the characters, and get into their thoughts and feelings. You get to hear different perspectives of the same story, so its pretty interesting,
foreshadowing - all the stories have to do with each other, so it seems that all the characters will have a similar ending.
Javon Johnsons' poem just reminds you of what so many of us put in the back of our minds. our society is not yet equal we all still do not have equal opportunities. while the Africans are more deprived of their opportunities, women in general are deprived also. Females are paid less then men and often are fired for stupider reasons. One women was fired because she was to attractive. Never have i heard a man complain about such a reason. Even now, when we all have the same political rights, white men are on top,
ReplyDeleteThat's a cool story and I wasn't expecting the twist. Also the neck tie symbolizes life to Jenny and Alfred was so curious of why she wore it so often. When Jenny took it off her head came off. That's really cool. It reminds me of something that would have scared me as a child growing up. I THINK LITERATURE AS SUCH IS NEEDED to keep children interested in storeis and tales.
ReplyDelete