Mudbound by Hilary Jordan
AGENDA:
Sign up for Morning Reflections/Post comment
Warm-up: go to quill.org. Take diagnostic.
Go to website:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88195380
Listen to interview on NPR
Read excerpt
Interview with Hilary Jordan:
http://www.bookbrowse.com/author_interviews/full/index.cfm/author_number/1538/Hillary-Jordan
More about Mudbound:
http://www.hillaryjordan.com/books-mudbound.php
About this book
In Jordan's prize-winning debut, prejudice takes many forms, both subtle and brutal. It is 1946, and city-bred Laura McAllan is trying to raise her children on her husband's Mississippi Delta farm --- a place she finds foreign and frightening. In the midst of the family's struggles, two young men return from the war to work the land. Jamie McAllan, Laura's brother-in-law, is everything her husband is not --- charming, handsome, and haunted by his memories of combat. Ronsel Jackson, eldest son of the black sharecroppers who live on the McAllan farm, has come home with the shine of a war hero. But no matter his bravery in defense of his country, he is still considered less than a man in the Jim Crow South. It is the unlikely friendship of these brothers-in-arms that drives this powerful novel to its inexorable conclusion.The men and women of each family relate their versions of events and we are drawn into their lives as they become players in a tragedy on the grandest scale. As Barbara Kingsolver says of Hillary Jordan, "Her characters walked straight out of 1940s Mississippi and into the part of my brain where sympathy and anger and love reside, leaving my heart racing. They are with me still."
Discussion Questions
1. The setting of the Mississippi Delta is intrinsic to Mudbound. Discuss the ways in which the land functions as a character in the novel and how each of the other characters relates to it.
2. Mudbound is a chorus, told in six different voices. How do the changes in perspective affect your understanding of the story? Are all six voices equally sympathetic? Reliable? Pappy is the only main character who has no narrative voice. Why do you think the author chose not to let him speak?
"A supremely readable debut novel... Fluidly narrated by engaging characters . . . Mudbound is packed with drama. Pick it up, then pass it on."
— People, Critic’s Choice, 4-star review
"A compelling family tragedy, a confluence of romantic attraction and racial hatred that eventually falls like an avalanche... The last third of the book is downright breathless... An engaging story."
— Washington Post Book World
"In Hillary Jordan's first novel, Mudbound, the forces of change and resistance collide with terrible consequences."
— The New York Times
"Stunning... You are truly taken there by Jordan's powerful, evocative writing and complex characters."
— Boston Globe
Hillary Jordan reading an early chapter of Mudbound
Follow along
Multiple Perspectives:
http://www.the-writers-craft.com/point-of-view-in-literature-perspectives.htmlObjective: Part 1 The author of this book wrote in a first person narrative. These first chapters introduce us to all the different the narrators, and we learn that this book will be told through their perspectives.
1) 1) Genre Introduction: Give a short introduction about first person narrative and other POVs. Explain what it is, how it is used, and why an author might choose this form of narrative for a story like this one.
2) Personal Reaction to Text: Read the introduction with the class. How does this kind of narration make you feel? 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?
3) Small Group Activity: Split the class into groups and assign each group a different form of narrative -- i.e.: third person, second person, omniscient, etc. Have each group re-write this short chapter using their assigned form of narrative. Have each group present their work. Discuss which one was the most effective. Do you think the author made the right choice? Why or why not?
Historical fiction
Objective: Part 1 "Mudbound" fits into a unique genre of literature called Historical Fiction.
1) Introduction of Genre: Introduce to the class the concept of the historical fiction style of writing. Present the pros and cons of this style of narrative and list some of the reasons why an author would choose this style to write in. Present some examples of this style from books that they have read, or will read later with the class.
2) Group Activity: Split the class into groups and assign each group a different part of these chapters. Have each group study their portion and work together to write a short response to the historical fiction style of that portion. Allow each group some time to present their prepared information.
3) Class Discussion: Read aloud with the class the part where the narrator, presents the different facts about the climate in the south at this time -- i.e.: the politics, the war, the different occupations, the crops, the weather, the relations with the north, etc. Discuss this with the class. How does this language enhance the historical fiction style of the book? How does this make this information a little more believable? Why do you think keeping this informational tone was so important to the author? What did you learn through this dialogue that helped you understand this book and setting better?
WRITING:
Finish the POV exercise from the last class
Print out "Why I Write" and place in envelope
HOMEWORK: Read next "Laura" section
His speech was more than a speech, it wasn't a lecture. It was him talking to you in a sense, I felt like it the way he talked and the tone in his voice, through that you could hear his passion about speaking to people. You could hear how determined he was about doing what he loved, pushing society into greater things.
ReplyDeleteI think he makes an excellent point about why the idea of having something to fall back on is somewhat nonsensical and that it's important to remain consistence with what you're working on. I agree that it's alright to fail at something you're as long as you continue to work on it and give it everything you got, rather than moving on to the next thing without fulfilling through.
ReplyDeleteI loved the speech he gave because at most graduations you hear people talk about what you need to do and how now that you are technically and adult you can no longer fail and you need to have everything together but when he spoke he made it clear that it is completely normal to fall because you are gonna have some mess ups bu when you fall he kept saying fall forward.
ReplyDeleteThe mans speech was very uplifting it was relatable and he seemed like he wanted to share his story with the world because he feels like they should hear it for motivation! he really went into detail with his story i enjoyed it
ReplyDeleteI felt like the speech wasn't moving enough. it felt like an everyday speech. I didn't feel the message he gave had power to it. I didn't feel the heart blood and sweat put into it. it felt like he was reading more than actually talking. i wasn't moved.
ReplyDeleteThe speech was successful overall, but I also agree that the visuals are quite silly. They're all exercise clips! However, fall forward, don't give up on your dreams, and motivate yourself. It was effective. In addition, a learned a bit about the actor because I'm not in the loop about things like that.
ReplyDeleteI felt that his speech was very motivating and uplifting. he shared his story along with all of his triumphs and failures, letting people know that if you do fail once or multiple times you can always come back up from it and find a way to succeed.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Denzel Washington's speech, I felt a true deep connection to every word that came out his mouth. I personally took it as inspiring because I generally stay inside my comfort zone, but I dream big. So his I felt deeply empowered and strengthened when he said to embrace failure because it is inevitable, so it gives me a "what do you have to lose feeling". My only critique is the background visuals as the majority was sports and exercise related.
ReplyDeleteBut overall I think I view my passion and how to get there a bit differently now.
The speech that Denzel Washington gave was very motivational and was trying to let people know that you have to try to fail And if you fail you have to keep trying and look for better ways to improve. Basically that there are ways to improve so you shouldn't give up! You have to keep pushing and he was explaining that once you take that last push, you will feel like you have finally done something after all the hard work you did! I could use his speech this year for times when I do feel like giving up or hopeless.
ReplyDeleteI liked the video because he was saying a lot of things that i can relate to. I liked the part when he said that to get something you never had, you have to do something you never done. I also liked the part that he said to never have something to fall back on, fall forward so you can see what you are running into. The speech was different too because he talked about the details of things.
ReplyDeleteI really like how he used the phrase fall forward and repeated it throughout the speech. However, the visuals didn't really match the speech and the content even though they were inspiring. As for the delivery of the speech, he was very powerful and sounded confident which is very important in giving a speech.
ReplyDeleteI thought his speech was nice. The way he framed his whole speech around the idea of "falling forward" was clever. He also had a nice balance between inspirational messages and personal anecdotes. The visuals did not match his speech. They were all physical achievements whereas his speech ha nothing to do with athletics. Also, the dramatic music was a little extra.
ReplyDeleteI thought this speech was moving. The speech affected me and made me feel sad because it made me feel like I need to do better. Try harder, he was right if you don't fail you're not trying. I loved it, it honestly makes me want to do better and be better.
ReplyDeleteThe speech was excellent and was very inspirational and motivational. The speech along with the well edited video was seriously awesome. The main theme- "Fall Forward" was a really good phrase and everybody needs to see this video. It really is going to help me in the future. The video was really a good as well, making it seem like a movie.
ReplyDeleteDenzel Washington's speech mixed with the music was very inspirational. Listening to the topic of his speech was moving because he already experienced a lot of failures and hardships and could educate those who need guidance. It made me feel like I need to focus more and could make significant improvements
ReplyDeleteAfter a year of Broken marriage, my lover left me with one kid, I felt like ending it all, i almost committed suicide because he left us with nothing, i was emotionally down all this while. Thanks to a spell caster called Prophet Osula which i met online who brought my Lover back to me. On one faithful day, as I was browsing through the internet, I came across several of testimonies about AYELALA SHRINE . Some people testified that he brought their Ex lover back, some testified that he restores womb,cure cancer,and other sickness, you can contact him on ayelalashrine@gmail.com OR whatsapp him +2348112338431. He is the best spell caster that can help you with your problems
ReplyDelete