1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read according to the elements of plot you've learned in past courses (exposition, inciting incident, etc.). Explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).
The story begins with Celie who describes herself negatively and how she is a good girl in other words, submissive. Then we find out her age, and how her father has raped her and she has had two children. She believed her children are dead or Alphonso went out and sold them. Later, Mr. ____ shows up to try to get Celie's sister Nettie as a wife, but Alphonso refuses and offers Celie instead. Mr.__ agrees and Celie obeys him submissively. Later Shug ( Mr.___/albert's lover) shows up in the picture and treats Celie harshly at first. Later Shug and Celie become closer and establish a friendship where her and Celie talk about love, and why Celie lets Mr. ___ beat her. Shug engages Celie in great conversations to finally express her own feelings, later Shug helps Celie find letters from her sister Nettie. Nettie was thought to be dead, but Albert was keeping letters from Celie for a long time. Celie hears about her children, and her sister's whereabouts. While hearing the concept of her children she finds out Alphonso wasn't her real dad.. Celie ends up moving with Shug and Grady to Memphis and when Alphonso dies, she claims her home.
Exposition: This takes place at the very beginning of the book when Celie describes herself and the events leading up to her position then.
Inciting incident: The inciting incident to me is when Celie witnesses Sofia and Shug stand up to their partners, Harpo and Mr.___. Where Shug even bosses Albert around. Witnessing Shug and Sofia made her realize she wanted a mutual love relationship.
Conflict: Celie vs her obedience/ submissive role.
Climax: For me, It was when Celie finally stood up and became outspoken with her own thoughts when talking to Albert, how Shug didn't expect it either.
Resolution: Celie gets confidence, finds herself and she finally gets what is truly hers, her land.
2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.
The most obvious theme even more than racism in this book is Men are dominant, girls are nothing. The sexism is described in a number of scenes ".. ast his daddy why he beat me. Mr. ____ say, Cause she my wife. Plus, she stubborn. " pg. 23 This displays that dominant mentality men had during this time and he has the privilege to beat Celie just because she is his wife. This mentality is passed down to Albert's son Harpo who tries gaining an enormous amount of weight in order to be the same size as his wife, Sophie just so he can make her listen and beat her into submissiveness.
3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).
Curious- "Is she the same old Shug like in my picture? How her hair is? What kind lipstick? Wig? She stout? She skinny? She sound well? Tired? Sick?" Celie is intrigued with Shug since she captivated men with her promiscuity.
I found the tone to be very curious, honest and personal.
Personal- " Dear God, ..." Prayers are usually very person and one's inner thoughts just like Celie's letters they were personal feelings. "
"Dear Nettie,.." pg. 184 The letters are intended for her sister's eyes, to catch up on all the letters that were intercepted. Making these letters private and personal as well.
4. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers. (Please include edition and page numbers for easy reference.)
Dialect- The dialect demonstrates how common people held conversations before woman had gained the same equal rights. "by the time I git back from the well, the water be warm." pg. 3
Comparison- "I work on her like she a doll or like she Olivia- or like she Mama." pg. 55. This signifies her idea of Shug and the resemblance shug has of people important to Celie.
Foil- Sofia and Celie act as foils. Sofia is a dominate female who stands up for herself and does not take a beating from her husband. Where as Celie, is a submissive woman who gets beaten by Albert. "Sofia don't even deal in little ladyish things such as slaps." pg. 87
Symbolism- The color purple signifies beauty, when Shug is shown the remodeled home. " Everything in my room purple and red cept the floor."
Repetition- "You ast yourself one question, it lead to fifteen. I start to wonder why us need love. Why us suffer. Why us black. Why us men and women." pg. 289 This curiosity is left from the suffering Celie has received from Alphonso and Mr. ___.
Hyperbole- "I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it" pg. 203 This could be taken literally, but the truth in it is when you don't notice beauty and don't acknowledge it God is angered.
Allusion- "Honor father and mother no matter what" pgs. 43-44 Demonstrates how religion is a key element of this book and how high up Celie places God despite the horrid things her father has done.
Oxymoron- "Hm, she say, look like a little fat white woman was on one." pg. 123
Personification- " For six months the heavens and the winds abused the people of Olinka." pg. 159
Imagery- "Every piece of furniture they got is turned over. Every play look like it broke. The looking glass hanged crooked, the curtains torn. The bed look like the stuffing pulled out." pg. 39 This leads up to the man and woman fighting, him trying to beat her into submissiveness, but Sophia standing up for herself. Making Sophia an inspiration to Celie.
CHARACTERIZATION
1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization.
Why does the author use both approaches, and to what end (i.e., what is your lasting impression of the character as a result
"I'm big." pg. 3
This describes how Celie saw herself in a negative light, felt useless, or ugly etc. in the beginning of the book.
"I am fourteen years old.
This demonstrated the yes sir, yes ma'am mentality Celie has through nearly the entire book. She is submissive to all men she encounters, such as Alphonso, Harpo, or Albert.
"He beat me today cause he say I winked at a boy in church." pg. 6
This incident describes Alphonso as a character, he feels like he has to dominate all aspects of Celie, showing he is a domineering character, but this also shows his lack of trust in Celie as many men lacked in this time period.
"And us run off to my room like two little prankish girls." pg. 82
This describes through the course of the story Celie progresses and opens up to Shug
2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character? How? Example(s)? When Alice walker describes a character usually the sentences become simple, and nearly fragments. They go from simple to simpler so the change isn't too drastic. "He tired. He sad. He weak. He cry." pg. 27
3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic? Flat or round? Explain.
Celie is definitely a Dynamic round character due to her HUGE CHANGE! She was a submissive and obedient woman through out the story until Shug began to have some influence on her. These influences made Celie more expressive with her thoughts and feelings and about her role as a woman. Eventually Celie, speaks out to Albert and says no.
4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character? Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction.
I feel like I met a person after reading this book due to Alice Walker's portrayal of Celie, a woman with flaws due to her lack of backbone but she over comes that and speaks her mind. Her difficult past and her attachment to one person draws a connection to me. Making Celie realistic and likeable. " Some women can't be beat, I say." pg. 66 This is one of the quotes that made me love Celie so much. This quote represents how some women of the time period refused to be submissive and Celie to acknowledge it despite her own position.
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