Literature Analysis #6 I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS

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 introduces a girl nicknamed Maya, who already sets up the difference between whites and blacks when she wishes she wasn't "a big ugly black girl" and would rather be a blonde white woman. Her parents move her along with Bailey her brother to the town stamps where they meet Ms. Henderson, whom they start to call Momma.  Maya says her brother is her exact opposite, graceful, attractive etc. Momma is a character who is respected well in the community despite being a black woman. Maya has always been conservative, would rather curl up reading a book, but aware of the social standings within stamps. Maya and Bailey get shifted around to their mothers home, whom Bailey adores. It is during this time Maya is molested and raped by Mr. Freeman, Vivian's boyfriend. He threatens to kill bailey if she tells. Maya was confused and didn't understand. Eventually Mr. Freeman is killed by being beat to death and Maya feels like she condemned him for lying about there being no other incidents. Bailey and Maya drift apart as he tries to be like vivian's taste. She goes moved back to stamps, then with her father then back to stamps, and back to Vivian.

The story is an autobiography, so I think her purpose is to let her story be known to other not only for her audience's benefit to serve as an inspiration through tough times but also to help her vent what has went on in her life.

 2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.
The story is a lot of racism, when Maya first wished to not be a black ugly woman but a blonde white woman. The whites were treated better. Losing of innocence occurred in the story as well. Maya was aware of the line between whites and blacks from a young age. As well as her incident with Mr. Freeman, which she had no clue was going on at the time, demonstrates her innocence.

 3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).
Maya's tone is very personal and open throughout it, sharing her most personal experiences right from the start of the book. Within the 3rd page, "I ran, peeing and crying, not toward the toilet but back to our house." Pg. 3 " He threw me on the blankets and his "thing" stood up like a brown ear of corn. He took my hand and said "feel it."" pg 73. This was so personal, to the point I felt uncomfortable reading the part about Mr. Freeman raping and molesting her.

 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.)

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)?
The author uses both indirect and direct
"The age-faded color made my skin look dirty like mud, and everyone in church was looking at my skinny legs." pg. 2
 
2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character?  How?  Example(s)?
 
3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic?  Flat or round?  Explain.
Maya could be considered both static and dynamic to me. I feel as if she's always noticed the things around her being not right, but not until later she doesn't know why. So with that respect for always noticing, she's static but when she ends up finding out why and what's truly going on with the racism, the changes in Bailey, she's a dynamic protagonist. Maya is a round character because she undergoes some development, and she had a fully developed personality with flaws and strengths.
 
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 character. The character had struggles like everyone else does, as well as insecurities about her own physical appearance like many teenage girls do. I could relate to that, which established a connection with me early on the book. She has her flaws of not being much of a social person, but also was able to be an AVID reader due to this.

IS THERE AN EXPERT IN THE HOUSE?

For my project, the experts would be some of my friends for the art part such as Miki, and Ashley. They would be capable of drawing tips, assisting with the art, or assisting with the details of faces, objects, hair and etc.

Other experts would be everyone in the senior class! who else better to help me with reflecting on their senior experiences than individuals who are currently in their most difficult, and memorable times! Asking senior to reflect on their senior year so far, some expectations they had for it and why it has been memorable. Anyone who has experienced senior year is able to assist me!

Themes in literature.. Well pretty much EVERYONE. Dr. Preston could assist me with some of the themes involved in novels or other things that apply to life in books read but not easily found. But just about every student find th

HUXLEY'S BRAVE NEW WORLD

please explain how listening/watching the author himself changed your perspective on the work and the essay you turned in.


Well upon first reading Brave New World, I thought of John the savage more like our society now, where we read, we learn, we practice religion, we aren't made in hatcheries, no castes, no conditioning and so on and so forth. I found us to be the opposite of world state, since we aren't ruled under one, but after the interview I question if we were more like World State's beliefs than John the savage's beliefs.Aldous Huxley brings up technology, overpopulation, and drugs, which are for the most part present in World state. He predicts the world with these things ill come to world state.
Overpopulation would diminish out our resources until it would create, new classes just as castes. The higher Castes would be able to obtain what is needed, and lower ones would be left to fend. Only problem is would the lower castes comply to this new world state after having the freedom? That aspect I found harder to believe within the book, but with the presence of conditioning that could alter that.

  explain what you've done and what you need to do next, share what you need so others can respond, and take the opportunity to reflect on your topic.  If that last part seems like something you've done before, consider (a) these are snapshots in time that reflect how your thinking deepens and changes, and (b) new readers on your blog will be seeing this information for the first time.  Hope that helps, please let me know if you have any questions.


a.) First my thinking just began of drawing on paper. I had no clue what to draw, but I knew it was going to be colorful and big. Then I had the idea of relating it to senior year since it is a "Senior" project. As my thinking evolved, I incorporated more things into the meaning of pictures how it helps a visual learner like myself and others. I went to incorporate how reflection helps an individual, tried to find how expression helps, how art helps an individuals with other aspects. I then connected senior year to the course I'm taking senior, to the things I've learned in that course, to the literature the lit to the experiences made a circle.