American Lit II Final
Subjectivity
Refers to how someone's judgment is shaped by personal opinions and feelings instead of outside influences. Subjectivity is partially responsible for why one person loves an abstract painting while another person hates it.
"Smell this," the baker said, breaking open a dark loaf. "It's a heavy bread, but rich." They smelled it, then he had them taste it. It had the taste of molasses and coarse grains. They listened to him. They ate what they could. They swallowed the dark bread. It was like daylight under the fluorescent trays of light. They talked on into the early morning, the high, pale cast of light in the windows, and they did not think of leaving.
A small good thing Gordon Lish This is a quote from "A small good thing" by Gordon Lish. This quote comes from when the parents had come to the bakery, aggravated at the pestering baker. They inform him on the death of their child Scotty, whom the baker had baked a birthday cake for. The baker now welcomes them in, offering apologies, food, coffee and a place to sit and talk.
Minimalism
A style or technique in literature that is characterized by extreme spareness and simplicity.
Hemingway's Iceberg Theory
A writing style characterized by a very minimized presentation of details within a story, which forces readers to read carefully in order to understand a much bigger picture than that presented. American author Ernest Hemingway is most associated with this writing style.
Modernism
-Cultural shift post WWI -Breaks away from traditional European structure -Industrialization (Darwin, Einstein) - Moody, Pessimistic themes,experimental -Emphasis on subjectivity, ambiguity, fragmented forms -Minimalist design -"Soul searching" after the war
Enjambment
-Is when a sentence, phrase, or thought does not end with the line of poetry. Rather, it carries over to the next line. Typically, enjambed lines of poetry do not have punctuation marks at the end. -(In verse) the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza.
Harlem Renaissance
1920s American cultural and artistic movement, "The New Negro Movement". -Takes place in Harlem -Movement of educated, middle class African Americans who were born free. -First time to express themselves
Realism
19th C. movement to reflect life truthfully in literature. Primarily interested in middle class characters, with a tendency to explore the inner lives of characters.
Anapest
2 short or unstressed syllables, followed by one long or stressed syllable
Primer
A book that is used to teach words or how to read to a new reader.
Imagism
A movement in early 20th-century English and American poetry that sought clarity of expression through the use of precise images.
Unreliable Narrator
A narrator who may not be trusted in his or her report and who leaves readers without the guides they need to make judgments.
Motif
A recurring element that has symbolic significance in a story. Can help produce other narrative aspects such as theme or mood.
Narrative Distance
Feeling of closeness (or lack thereof) between reader and true characters.
. . . we were all covered in the same powdered sugar. And smiling. There is no better cookie.
Gate A-4 Naomi Shihab This is a quote from "Gate A-4" by Naomi Shihab. "We were all covered in the same powdered / sugar. And smiling..,"Naomi Shihab uses enjambment by finishing a line without a complete thought, and forcing the reader to go on to the next line with no rhyme or punctuation. She uses foreshadowing with "we were all covered in the same powdered / sugar" talking about the powdered sugar from the cookies. And then finishes the quote with "There is no better cookie," here she could be saying there is no better cookie than the mamool cookies that they are eating, or the fact that "there is no better cookie" meaning there is nothing better than seeing everyone happy, relaxing and getting along with one another.
Africa? A book one thumbs Listlessly till slumber comes.
Heritage Countee Cullen This quote comes from Countee Cullen's "Heritage." He is calling the continent Africa "a book one thumbs," meaning it is so large with many different cultures and heritages. It is such a large "book" one can flip though until they fall asleep, exploring different ideas, we see him saying this in "A book one thumbs Listlessly till slumber comes."
My conversion came high-priced I belong to Jesus Christ.
Heritage Countee Cullen This is a quote from "Heritage" by Countee Cullen. The Harlem Renaissance brought new religions, and religion was growing and becoming a part of art. We see he claims to belong to Jesus Christ, and his conversion to do so, came high-priced. He is talking how he had given his life to Christ, which was "high-priced."
"I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes,"
I Too Langston Hughes This is a quote from Langston Hughes in his poem "I Too." This quote depicts how african americans felt in a white household when company came. The narrator wants to be included, but has to leave and eat in the kitchen. The voice is one of being left out and having hurt feelings. He feels that one day he will be able to eat with everyone at the table. He refers to himself as the "darker brother" still including himself into the family.
Joshua and Aldon and Nerissa and I ate the clumpy watery mess over our corn flakes, and we were still hungry. Every Saturday we stared at those fair-haired children on Popeye, healthy and plump and pink, who got to cup their hands to their eyes like binoculars and screech "Roll 'em!" . . . while their laps turned blotchy from the grease leaking from the chicken boxes.
Men we reaped Jesmyn Ward In this quote from "Men we reaped" by Jesmyn Ward, she is reminiscing eating with her "family." "The clumpy water mess over our corn flakes" was a symbol that showed they were living in poverty. Thus, especially later in the quote, she moved on to talk about "those fair-haired, children on Popeye.... while their laps turned blotchy from the grease leaking from their chicken boxes," she was talking about white children that were eating chicken and watching cartoons. This was the opposite of her and her family, you can feel the resentfulness, and the wishes to have better food.
Clare, exquisite, golden, fragrant, flaunting, in a stately gown of shining black taffeta, whose long, full skirt lay in graceful folds about her slim golden feet; her glistening hair drawn smoothly back into a small twist at the nape of her neck; her eyes sparkling like dark jewels. Irene, with her new rose-coloured chiffon frock ending at the knees, and her cropped curls, felt dowdy and commonplace.
Passing Nella Larsen In this quote from "Passing" by Nella Larsen, we how infatuated Irene is by Clare. "Exquisite, golden, fragrant, flaunting, in a stately gown of shining black taffeta, whose long, full skirt lay in graceful folds about her slim golden feet;" Irene is describing Clare in great detail, almost as if she is sexually attracted to her in a homosexual way. "Her glistening hair.... her eyes sparkling" are key descriptions that Irene is taking in while observing Clare. After describing Clare's clothes, which were extravagant and formal clothing, the narrator refers to Irene's clothing as "dowdy and commonplace" which were less formal and more causal. We also see in this quote that Clare is proud of her luxurious lifestyle and shows it off with her clothing.
Objective Correlative
Literary technique of representing or evoking a particular emotion by means of symbols or images that are associated with the emotion. -This term was coined by TS Eliot who described it as "a set of objects, a situation, a chain of events which shall be the formula of that particular emotion"
Postmodernism
Literature characterized by reliance on narrative techniques such as fragmentation, paradox, and the unreliable narrator; and often is (though not exclusively) defined as a style or a trend which emerged in the post-World War II era. -Experimental --> not pessimistic -Fragmentation or chaos of the world -Metafiction or metanonfiction
Exact rhyme
is a form of rhyme between two words or phrases, satisfying the following conditions: The stressed vowel sound in both words must be identical, as well as any subsequent sounds. For example, "sky" and "high"; "skylight" and "highlight".
Re-vision
is the process of rereading a text and making changes (in content, organization, sentence structures, and word choice) to improve it. During the revision stage of the writing process, writers may add, remove, move and substitute text
Subdued and time-lost Are the drums-and yet Through some vast mist of race There comes this song I do not understand, This song of atavistic land,
Afro-American Fragment Langston Hughes This quote comes form "Afro-American Fragment" by Langston Hughes. "Through some vast mist of race" is referring to ethnic race, not a foot race. Followed by "There comes this song I do not understand," Hughes is saying he does not understand the other race- white. He wanted to separate white and black art, in the quote we see this.
Gordon Lish
American writer, literary editor
Diction
Choice and use of words (enunciation) or phrases in speech or writing
Psychological Wage (privilege)
Concept by WEB DuBois that white laborers were given a public deference and title because they were white
The Rest Cure, Silas Weir Mitchell
Created by Silas Weir Mitchell, for Neurasthenia, usually lasted 6 to 8 weeks, involved isolation from friends and family, enforced bed rest. Usually fed a fatty, milk based diet, force feeding if necessary.
Twice. That's it.
Drown Junot Diaz In this quote from Junot Diaz's "Drown," Yunior is referring to his previous homosexual experiences with Beto. "Twice. Thats it," is all he says. He does not go into great detail like he does when talking about shoplifting or other mischievous activities.
One teacher, whose family had two grammar schools named after it, compared us to the shuttles. A few of you are going to make it. Those are the orbiters. But the majority of you are just going to burn out. Going nowhere. He dropped his hand onto his desk. I could already see myself losing altitude, fading, the earth spread out beneath me, hard and bright.
Drown Junot Diaz In this quote from Junot Diaz's "Drown," the narrator tells us about a teacher comparing them to space shuttles. "A few of you are going to make it. Those are the orbiters," is making a reference to Yunior and his classmates, meaning a few of them will be successful in life and make it out of the poverty stricken inner city, like a space shuttle that makes it successfully to outer space. And then "But the majority of you are just going to burn out. Go nowhere," refers to the majority of the class, that will be like an unsuccessful space shuttle, and fail, or "burn out." As the teacher says this, Yunior could already feel himself "losing altitude, fading.," with the feeling of failure, and no chance of success. -This comparison by one of Yunior's teachers captures the never-ending repetition of the depressing routine Yunior in willingly drowning in.
Many of the kids here are the younger brothers of the people I used to go to school with.
Drown Junot Diaz In this quote from Junot Diaz's "Drown," Yunior is acknowledging he is one- if not the oldest person at the pool. He recognizes the young boys, and knows that they are younger siblings to people his age.
You better check those windows, she says. I promise her I will.
Drown Junot Diaz In this quote from Junot Diaz's "Drown," his mother mumbles from her sleep "You better check those windows," telling Yunior to make sure the windows are closed and locked so they cannot be broken into. Also with his mom saying this, she in inferring she is not getting up, and it is up to him to lock up the house. This is relevant since they don't live in the best part of town, and leaving a window open leaves them prone to a burglary or home invasion.
It will hurt most when you realize they saw something in you that you thought you'd hidden so well you couldn't even see it yourself anymore. They found something in you before you did.
If you knew then what I know now Ryan Van Meter (memoir) This quote of Ryan Van Meter from "If you knew then what I know now," was when Ryan was at Marks house to do schoolwork. Mark and Jared have made Ryan catch them in the act of homosexuality, purposely, to make Ryan uncomfortable. This quote is deep from Ryan, thinking he had hidden his homosexuality so far deep, that he himself couldn't see anymore, but they had figured it out, and exploited him.
I thought being unwanted and persecuted was the legacy of the poor Southern black woman. But as an adult, I see my mother's legacy anew.
Men we reaped Jesmyn Ward In this quote from "Men we reaped" by Jesmyn Ward, she talks about the stereotype she lived under, of "unwanted and persecuted" and how it was "the legacy of the poor southern black woman." This is how she felt the world saw her- as nothing, as being poor. Then in the next sentence, she sees "my mothers legacy anew" and how her mother prevailed from these imaginary chains. She goes on further to talk about how her mother was able to provide for her children, even if it meant working her body to a "breaking point."
Yet I've returned home, to this place that birthed me and kills me all at once. I've turned down more-lucrative jobs, with more potential for advancement, to move back to Mississippi.
Men we reaped Jesmyn Ward In this quote from Jesmyn Ward's "Men we reaped," Ward is talking about returning to her home in Mississippi. "To this place that birthed me and kills me all at once," Ward is talking about how it is her original "home" and how it "kills" her. Her friends and her brother Josh, we all killed here, and it "kills" a part of her being there, because it brings back the memories with them. She tells us that she has turned down and left better jobs, that could lead to a brighter future to return home- this is the feeling we talked about in class of not being able to leave, or the fact of "being pulled back in."
My father wrapped the rope around his shoulders and under his arms until he wore it like a great, thick coat, and then he climbed the live oak tree . . . .Once he reached the branch that overhung the roof, he inched his way along the limb until he was near the middle. He unspooled the rope and tied one end of it until he was sure it wouldn't give. He toed the other end of the rope, tested that knot as well, before sliding down what was now a tall swing . . . .
Men we reaped Jesmyn Ward In this quote from Jesmyn Ward's "Men we reaped," Ward shows her father's innovation in the midst of poverty. His pride is shown as he wears the rope "like a great, thick coat." He is also clearly concerned for safety as he checks all the knots meticulously. This scene contrasts other details about her fathers terrible choices (leaving his family, wasting money). Ward uses this to demonstrate the love for his family. In this way she shows a complicated view of him and resists turning him into a stereotype of the absent african american faber figure. In all, we see pride in african american life and culture, on as depicted by the early writers of the Harlem Renaissance like Langston Hughes
In my search for words to tell this story, I found more statistics about what it means to be black and poor in the South, Thirty-eight percent of Mississippi's population is Black. It is one of six states where African Americans constitute at least a quarter of the population. In 2009, the poverty rate was greatest in the South, and in the South greatest in Mississippi, where 23.1% of the population lived below the poverty level.
Men we reaped Jesmyn Ward This quote is the beginning of the final chapter in Jesmyn Wards "Men we reaped" in which she states data from the U.S. Census. These stats do not help her cope with losing her bother, they merely prove a point. This shows a larger aspect of the trials and tribulations that african americans faced in South Mississippi.
The Tragic Mulatto
Mixed race person whom is assumed to be sad, suicidal, because they fail to completely fit in the "white/black world"
Second Person Point of view
Narrative mode in which the main character is referred to in second person, with personal pronouns like "you"
Creative Non-fiction
Nonfiction that uses literary techniques like scene, dialogue, and imagery, while allowing the personal point of view and voice (reflection) rather than maintaining the sham of objectivity -Ex. Personal essay, memoir
Absurd! Impossible! White people were so stupid about such things for all that they asserted that they were able to tell; and by the most ridiculous means, fingernails, palms of hands, shapes of ears, teeth, and other equally silly rot . . . . Never, when she was alone, had they even remotely seemed to suspect she was a Negro. No, the woman sitting there staring at her couldn't possibly know.
Passing Nella Larsen This is a quote from "Passing" by Nella Larsen. Irene, is growing more self-conscious about her physical appearance while she is on the roof of the Drayton hotel for a drink. "Absurd! Impossible! White people were so stupid about such things for all that they asserted that they were able to tell" Irene is getting anxious because a white lady (soon to learn is Clare, whom also is 'passing') is staring at her, and Irene thinks she is going to call her out for being black and 'passing.' She claims that white people look at the smallest details of a person, when observing them, "and by the most ridiculous means, fingernails, palms of hands, shapes of ears, teeth, and other equally silly rot." Irene is thinking "why now" would someone notice, "Never, when she was alone, had they even remotely seemed to suspect she was a Negro. No, the woman sitting there staring at her couldn't possibly know," she fears that she will be kicked out, and highly embarrassed, which is one thing that is always on the mind of someone 'passing.'
Her quaking knees gave way under her. She moaned and sank down, moaned again. Through the great heaviness that submerged and drowned her she was dimly conscious of strong arms lifting her up. Then everything was dark.
Passing Nella Larsen This quote comes from the very end of Nella Larsen's "Passing." Irene is distraught at fact of Clare falling out the window. She is on the verge of fainting, "Her quaking knees gave way under her. She moaned and sank down, moaned again," Irene is is disbelief at what just happened. She can't find the strength to stand or even talk. Someone (Maybe Brian) catches her as she is fainting, and the Irene passes out.
Zulena, a small, mahogany-coloured creature, brought in the grapefruit. They took up their spoons.
Passing Nella Larson This quote from "Passing" by Nella Larsen, takes place at Irene's house. Zulena was Irene and Brian's servant. We know this because she is bring them grapefruit to eat. She is described as "a small, mahogany-coloured creature," referring that she too is black. This is a bit odd, both Irene and Brian are black- Irene 'passes' for a white woman when she is in public, but they also have a black servant. This shows that they were a wealthy black couple, being able to employ a servant.
How to choose persimmons. This is precision.
Persimmons Li Young Lee This quote comes from "Persimmons" by Li Young Lee. This quote is an example of free verse. Stanza 1 ends with "how to choose" and the second stanza begins with "persimmons. This is precision." At the end of stanza 1, we are left with an open fragmented sentence, that is talking about choosing a persimmon. While choosing a persimmon, "This is precision," meaning that you have to choose a ripe one.
Some things never leave a person: scent of the hair of one you love, the texture of persimmons, in your palm, the ripe weight.
Persimmons Li Young Lee This quote comes the closing remarks in "Persimmons" by Li Young Lee. Lee is making a reference to certain things that will always bring back a specific memory, "Some things never leave a person: scent of the hair of one you love."
Free verse
Poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular meter or rhythm. -Based on normal pauses and natural thyme
Ambiguity
Something that is not clearly defined, uncertainty or inexactness of meaning in language.
"A man, after impregnating the woman, could drop dead," Camille Paglia suggested to Tim Allen in a 1995 Esquire interview. "That is how peripheral he is to the whole thing." "I'm a drone," Allen responded. "Like those bees." "You are a drone," Paglia agreed. "That's exactly right."
Son of Mr. Green Jeans Dinty Moore (personal essay) This is a quote from "Son of Mr. Green Jeans" by Dinty Moore that is a personal essay which reflects on fatherhood. The opening quotation of the quote goes, "A man, after impregnating the woman, could drop dead," here, to drop dead could be one of two things. The man could physically drop dead, or he could be psychologically dead, since he left, and will not be around for the birth and life of the child. This would be a response to the father in "Men we reaped" since he left his family for a while.
Syncopated Rhythm
Stress on the off beat -Used often by Langston Hughes
Voice
Style of author based on combination of syntax, diction, punctuation, dialogue
so much depends upon a red wheel barrow
The Red Wheel Barrow William Carlos Williams This is a quote from "The Red Wheel Barrow" by William Carlos Williams. It revolves around the "Iceberg Theory." It is in the form of a couplet. It is made up of fragments and not full thoughts. There is also no punctuation. This poem is plotless, it has no "larger" meaning. It is very simplistic, minimal.
The other boy stood holding the potato chips. He was wondering if he should finish the rest or continue on to school.
The Bath Gordon Lish This quote comes from "The Bath" by Gordon Lish. "The other boy stood holding the potato chips," this was Scottys friend he was walking to school with, right after Scotty got hit by a car. "He was wondering if he should finish the rest or continue on to school," here the other boy is caught in a dilemma, should he stay or go. He does not seem to be worried about Scotty, as he is still holding/eating the potato chips.
Should we tell her about it? Now, what SHOULD we do? Well... What would YOU do If your mother asked YOU?
The Cat in the Hat Dr. Seuss This is the final quote from Dr. Seuss's "The cat in the hat." It is referring to all the shenanigans that have happened throughout the book while the mom is away. This is how Seuss experimented with his new and wacky way of writing. He is asking the reader if they should be tell their mother of about the series of events, "Should we tell her about it?" He follows up and ends with an exact rhyme- which we see throughout the book, "What would YOU do / If your mother asked YOU?" Leaving the reader with a question of telling the mom, or keeping it to themselves.
But our fish said, "No! No! Make that cat go away! Tell that Cat in the Hat You do not want to play.
The Cat in the Hat Dr. Seuss This quote comes from "The cat in the hat" by Dr. Seuss. Dr. Seuss uses quatrain, putting together a four lined stanza, with a ABCB rhyme scheme. He also uses personification by allowing the fish to talk, saying "No! No! / Make that cat go away! / Tell the cat in the hat / You do not want to play." Seuss is also using exclamation marks as punctuation to emphasize the excitement in the fishes dialog.
I know it is wet And the sun is not sunny But we can have Lots of good fun that is funny!
The Cat in the Hat Dr. Seuss This quote from "The cat in the hat" by Dr. Seuss is all dialogue from the cat. This stanza is a quatrain, that follows an ABCB rhyme scheme. Seuss uses wacky words to make sentences, that would not generally fall into a correctly formed grammatical sentence, "Lots of good fun that is funny!" We also see excitement in the dialogue with the use of an exclamation mark.
One of the most promising of the young Negro poets said to me once, "I want to be a poet—not a Negro poet," meaning, I believe, "I want to write like a white poet"; meaning subconsciously, "I would like to be a white poet"; meaning behind that, "I would like to be white." And I was sorry the young man said that, for no great poet has ever been afraid of being himself.
The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain Langston Hughes This is the opening line to "The Negro artist and the racial mountain" by Langston Hughes. He is giving us a quote from a young negro poet who aspires to be "like a white poet." Langston Hughes did not want to be like a white poet, he wanted the world to accept the difference of the negro poets, and wanted to expand the normal standard of american poetry. He wanted to take pride in the african american ancestry, and tell it to everyone.
With his ebony hands on each ivory key He made that poor piano moan with melody. O Blues!
The Weary Blues Langston Hughes This is a quote from "The Weary Blues" by Langston Hughes, which was written during the Harlem Renaissance. Hughes is incorporating color, or race, in this line, "With his ebony hands on each ivory key," ebony/ivory are black/white. Hughes also uses personification in "He made that poor piano moan." The use of exclamation marks for punctuation in "O Blues!" we know that the man was excited, singing this tune.
"It is getting to be a great effort for me to think straight. Just this nervous weakness I suppose."-"And dear John gathered me up in his arms, and just carried me upstairs and laid me on the bed, and sat by me and read to me till it tired my head."
The Yellow Wallpaper Charlotte Perkins Gilman -This is a quote from The Yellow Wallpaper. The narrator is referring to how she has become so weak from not being able to do anything. All she is wanting to do is go and visit her cousins. -John is taking care of her, he carries her upstairs, for she is too weak to walk. This shows a reverse role of how marriage worked in this time period, the husband is caring for the wife, which is opposite of how it usually was.
"John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in a marriage."
The Yellow Wallpaper Charlotte Perkins Gilman -This is a quote from the beginning of The Yellow Wallpaper. The narrator is talking about John, her husband, whom is a doctor. This quote is right before the talks about how he doesn't believe she is actually "sick." And how he is probably the reason she will never get better. She says he laughs at her when she try to tell him that she indeed is sick. -It can also reference how she wants to leave the house and work, but John laughs, thinking that is crazy. In this time period, women were thought to be domestic, stay at home, care for the house, children, and their husband.
"John says if I don't pick up faster he shall send me to Weir Mitchell in the fall."
The Yellow Wallpaper Charlotte Perkins Gilman -This is a quote from the beginning of The Yellow Wallpaper. The narrator is talking about how John, her husband, who is a doctor, is threatening to send her to Weir Mitchell, who is also a doctor. She does not want to go, she has heard from a friend that he is just like John, in his sense of women. -Weir Mitchell is came up with the "Rest Cure" in which the patient needs to rest, and that is it. The narrator knows this will no help, for she feels like she always is resting and wishes she could actually get out and do something.
"Now why should that man have fainted? But he did, and right across my path by the wall, so that I had to creep over him every time!"
The Yellow Wallpaper Charlotte Perkins Gilman -This is the ending quote of The Yellow Wallpaper. The narrator is locked in a room and her husband, John- also her doctor, has came in and fainted and she finally feels as if she is free, and the only obstacle she has left is to crawl across him. The cannot walk for she has grown too weak. -Here the author feels like she has overcome the conflict of being locked in side, but fears she is too sick and weak to actually make it out
Syntax
The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.
Narrative Structure
The content of a story and the form used to tell the story. Two common ways to describe these two parts of narrative structure are story and plot. Story refers to the raw materials of dramatic action as they might be described in chronological order.
I have seen them riding seaward on the waves Combing the white hair of the waves blown back When the wind blows the water white and black. We have lingered in the chambers of the sea By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown Till human voices wake us, and we drown.
The love song of J Alfred Prufrock T.S. Elliot This is a quote from "The Love song of J Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Elliot. This quote is in fragments. They are run-on sentences, that make no sense, and only use periods for punctuation. It appears to be a dream, with the quote ending "Till human voices wake us, and we drown," we see that he is imagining/dreaming of being in the sea. It seems as if he is also seeing imaginary characters, "Sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown," which closely resemble mermaids.
I have measured out my life with coffee spoons;
The love song of J Alfred Prufrock T.S. Elliot This is a quote from "The love song of J Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Elliot. To measure ones life in coffee spoons, their life must not have been very interesting. Coffee spoons are very small. This quote is very pessimistic, shows poor self esteem, and the since of a boring life. This quote he also seems to be "soul searching," it comes from the Modernist time period after WWI, where many people were unsure of what tomorrow may hold.
Passing (as a concept)
To pass as something you are not. Ex. In Passing, Clare and Irene are both 'passing' as white women, while they are both really black
Without Thorazine Or benefit of psychotherapy Iron Hans was transformed
Transformations Anne Sexton This is a quote from Anne Sexton's, "Transformations." This is a response to the time period this was written. Everyone was wanting/needing a type of medication for what they were going through. Here, "Without Thorazine / Or benefit of psychotherapy," is referring to how the boy was changed, without Thorazine- a tranquilizer, or benefits of psychotherapy- treatment of a disorder.
A woman who loves a woman is forever young
Transformations Anne Sexton This quote comes from "Transformations" by Anne Sexton. It meaning is that if a woman never loves a man, she will never conceive a baby with a man, leaving her forever young. A woman can love a woman, but not in the physical essence like a man and a woman. Their will be no opposite sexual attraction, therefore no sexual acts resulting in a child.
Sight Words
Usually a list of words for new readers that are reappearing on every page. "who, the, he, were, does, their, me"
End rhyme
When a poem has lines ending in the same rhyme. Ex. "Star light, star bright."
"Thither he hurried forth with his afternoon sermon. I watched him as he hastened along, his eyes bent fast upon the dusty road till he disappeared at the end of a quarter of a mile."
Why I am a Pagan Zitkala-Sa
".... I greet the solemn-faced 'native preacher' whom I find awaiting me. I listen with respect for Gods creature, though he mouth most strangely the jangling phrases of a bigoted creed."
Why I am a Pagan Zitkala-Sa She is face to face with her preacher, who was waiting on her. She listens to his talk of god.
"Into my ear ripple the sweet, soft cadences of the rivers song"
Why I am a Pagan Zitkala-Sa This quote is from the beginning of "Why I am a Pagan". The author is "feeling" nature, and it is speaking to her.
Yet do I marvel at this curious thing: To make a poet black, and bid him sing!
Yet I do Marvel Countee Cullen This is a quote from "Yet I do Marvel" by Countee Cullen. "To make a poet black," Cullen did not want to be made out as a black poet, he wanted to show black heritage and expand all forms of art with it. "Yet I marvel at this curious thing," he wonders why one would want to separate white and black in the forms of art in the Harlem Renaissance.
