1. AP Literature and Composition October 21, 2009 Ms. Cares

2. AGENDA: 1.Turn in your questions related to last night’s reading. 2.Applying gender criticism to the text: a dialectical journal entry in which you apply the theory to the novel. You will do this in small groups. 3.Five minutes: we will quickly answer the comprehension-level questions from last night.

3. Group-Based Dialectical Journal: For today’s dialectical journal entry, you are to apply gender theory to last night’s reading. I have pulled specific places in the text where I want you to analyze and explain Morrison’s point regarding what it means to be a woman in 1919. You may clarify and expand upon this task in any way you see fit.

4. Group-Based Dialectical Journal: You will work in groups of 3-4 to discuss the following “moments” in the text. Only one “journal” per group is needed. You do not need to re-write entire quotes (use the ellipses...). You should write down specific moments in the text that are critical to your interpretation. For example…

5. Example Dialectical Journal Entry: The Quote: “Any enthusiasms that little Nel showed were calmed by the mother until she drove her daughter’s imagination underground.” My Response: Morrison suggests that Nel’s imagination had to be consciously squashed by her mother. The term “drove” suggests that Helene intentionally destroyed her daughter’s imagination, perhaps because such an imagination would be dangerous. Helene also seems to exercise control over her daughter, which may be because she has little control over other areas in her life (such as her own mother, her husband, and the way that people view her).

6. Potential Quotes for your Discussion: -Page 18 (the first few paragraphs) -Page 20 (the middle of the page – “gal”) -Page 22 (description of the men’s response to Helene and Nel’s understanding of what is under her mother’s dress) -Page 23-24 (bottom of 23 through the explanation of the women’s restroom) -Page 26-27 (Rochelle and her relationship with Helene) -MANDATORY: Page 28-top of 29 (Nel’s inner thoughts about herself)

7. HOMEWORK Read pages 30-48. Be prepared for a reading check tomorrow morning. Continue to read with a highly refined and interpretive eye.