Beloved by Toni Morrison

Major Motifs and Literary Devices to Consider Memory Love (especially Sethe’s and Baby Suggs’ notions) Freedom Memory -- as a tool for learning (the ghost & water) Identify specific Literary Devices: repetition, imagery & flashbacks

Memory: Confronting the Past Define “memory” What are the benefits of memory? Remembering? What is the down side? Identify three passages where “memory” has played a part in the unfolding plot Why are Sethe’s memories hard to understand? What does Morrison want us to feel and experience? Baby Suggs’ memory – (1)

Love Let’s take a look at the theme of “love” When we talk about “love,” what do we mean? How does Sethe embody love? What does Morrison want us to experience here? Think about Margaret Garner and what she did with her children Did she act in a loving manner? Did SETHE act in a loving manner? (1)

Flashbacks/Memory “Milk” – (1) Beloved’s funeral – (1) “Paul D dropped…” (2) Dialogue – (1) Baby Suggs (2) “Rememory” - (3) Secrets (3) Sweet Home – (6) Notice how Sethe’s memories/flashbacks are haunting her She seems to forget the past or at least numb it until Paul D re-enters her life Songs/Singing - (3)

Repetition Spite (1) Howard & Buglar (1) “How loose the silk…” (2) Brother (2) Discussion of the past (3) Choosing (4)

Imagery, Foreshadowing & Description When Paul D enters “124” -- color, setting Description of Paul D through Sethe’s eyes (1) Denver’s neglect & isolation (1) Sethe’s chokecherry tree (1) “Brother” - (2) Motif of H20 (3)

Writers’ Analysis of American History & Society Disenfranchisement of the Black Family Repetition -- spite (3), color (4), Baby Suggs’ death (4) Going to a carnival (4). Discuss the reputation of carnivals -- Why do people want to go to carnivals?

Relationships Sethe and Denver Sethe and Baby Suggs Sethe and Paul D Paul D and Denver Sethe and Halle (having children) Note Morrison’s style of writing What do you make of the first four chapters of the novel? Discuss Morrison’s definition of love