User:Atcovi/Review for Native Son Test

Symbols—black and white—obvious as skin colors of the main characters— Also in settings in the novel—When does Bigger commit the vile crimes? Think of how dark moods represent blackness— Whiteness: snow slows down Bigger's escape from the white men Red—the sight of Mary's head on the newspaper in front of the furnace is intensely graphic and disturbing; It recurs when Bigger thinks about his crime

With what is the white cat associated? When does it appear? How do Bigger and his friends "play white?" Empty deserted buildings—emptiness of hope for Bigger and people of the Black Belt— Also scene of the second murder Who owns these buildings? Dalton's real estate company Ironic—Mr. Dalton sells hopelessness to residents of the Black Belt while he believes he is supporting and helping them Rats killed in the first scene establish his violent side and a determination to destroy his victim completely—later he encounters a black rat running in the white snow—what does it symbolize? Who else does Bigger call a rat? What does the furnace represent?—at first it gives Bigger hope, representing responsibility of his new job, a new life in a warm home—then becomes a hellish scene of an evil crime—the furnace is eventually what uncovers his crime and what causes him to run into the freezing cold world of white snow. What else does heat represent?

During the 1960's Civil Rights movement, Freedom Riders rode trains and buses through the South to fight for civil rights and for desegregation. White resistance was organized against them. Race riots erupted. Dr. King urged non-violence, but militants cried "Burn, Baby, Burn." Think about what fuels a revolution. Blindness—Mrs. Dalton represents figurative blindness and lack of understanding of Bigger and of all people less wealthy and lucky than she is during this period—she is in white which frightens Bigger and she has a quality of floating soundlessly into a room—she assumes Bigger will want to attend night school because another black man who had worked for her did. Bigger resents her blindness to the possibility that people might not want her assistance— What is Mary blind to? What is Jan blind to? Bigger says his family members are blind—why? The alarm clock is an important symbol—the symbolism and figurative language is crucial. Remember the framing of the novel: Fear, Flight, Fate Remember when there is a question on irony, it has 2 sides—it seems to be one thing but really it is another. Consider Wright's style of writing and the way he reveals Bigger's complexities through the difference in what Bigger thinks and what he says to whites as well as to his own people. You must be able to discuss Wright's choices as the author and what they reveal. If you discuss the character's actions, you need to be able to explain what they reveal on the deeper level. Wright wanted to use his pen to cut deeply into people's minds. What cut you the most and were you changed by this novel? Essay reminders: observe rules of formal writing: Do not say 'T' or "you"--Use third person, present tense, no slang, no questions, and do not use contractions. Every time you WIite the name of the title, it must be underlined. DO NOT FORGET apostrophes in possessive forms. Do not confuse possessives with plurals! Proofread for fragments, run-on sentences (know 4 ways to correct a comma splice), and agreement. You must write an introductory paragraph with a clear thesis statement in your essay. You may have one long paragraph for all your supporting examples or you may put them in shorter, separate paragraphs. In the concluding paragraph, you must use the author's name and explain on the universal level the significance of the novel. A good model for an opening sentence in the introduction is: In Native Son, Richard Wright (strong verb)... A good model for giving your own commentary after you give an example to support your argument is "Wright thus reveals... (or suggests, or represents, etc.) We spent time on the courtroom scene, or argumentation and persuasion. Look back at Max's impassioned argument as well as Buckley's and think of which arguments were most effective and why. Names/language—explore the connotations (suggested or deeper meaning) of the names of characters Bigger, Buddy, Bessie and Mears (say the name "Mears" and think of words that sound like it.) Now explore the connotations of the word "native" or "natives." Put down everything it makes you think of. Now put down the connotations of the words "native son." What are Bigger's first words in captivity? How do they contrast with the thoughts he has? Why does Wright call the last book Fate? What were Bigger's inner hopes and dreams? But what was the reality? Think of brash Chicago and its flashy material appeal. It represents capitalism. Contrast that with Communism and think of what appeal that might have. How does Bigger relate to Jan? What are Bigger's feelings on Communism? What is the political machinery like in Chicago? Review the sheet "How Bigger was Born." There are test questions from it. Wright speaks many times symbolically and speaks of similes and other literary devices. Be able to use the verb "Jim Crow." He addresses the extreme moods swings of a disenfranchised people. He uses many literary devices and speaks figuratively so in your answers, use those higher thinking skills. Get to class on time. Think ahead of specifics from text that make important points & use them. Look over Clarence Darrow's main argument in the Sweet trial again. You need to know the word the word "plea." Define it. What part of speech is it? Know other parts of speech for that wordßuch as "plead," "pleads" "pleading."