Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Invisible Mass of the Back Row

Published byRuby Terry Modified over 6 years ago

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "Invisible Mass of the Back Row"— Presentation transcript:

1 Invisible Mass of the Back Row
Invisible = no voice / no identity / no value Mass = homogenous group

2 What you need to understand to make sense of the story (A03 context)
Christopher was the first European to reach Jamaica History has long celebrated his achievements but actually his arrival brought terror, sexual assault and death to the indigenous people. Mass migration from Caribbean to England 1950s and 60s. Migrants arrived to overt discrimination and hostility.

3 Importance of the writer’s background
Claudette Williams lived in Heartease, Jamiaca. Her parents migrated to England in 1957; she was reunited with them in Her adjustment to English life was different and daunting. She was placed in the ‘band 5’ class in her new secondary school. Much of what happens in IMBR are incidents that really occurred in the writer’s life, making this story both fictional and autobiographical. The narrator, Hortense, is ostensibly Claudette Williams herself.

4 The plot in a nutshell: 1. Hortense rebels in her Jamaican classroom by suggesting Columbus wasn’t welcome and shouldn’t have stolen from her country. Criticism of colonialism (occupation of a country with settlers and by taking control) 2. Conflict between the poor (Hortense) and the rich (Lorna) student leads to a chase. Theme of social inequality – not just about race. 3. Lunchtime with her own poor, black community – belonging/happiness. 4. Hortense to prepares to move to England. 5. Flashback to death of Cousy – close, elderly relative. Memory of loss resurfaces as she prepares to leave Jamaica 6. Arrives in England to parents who are strangers to her. She joins a school and ends up in the ‘back row’ again alongside other Jamaican girls who are outsiders. 7. Ends with a rebellion – once again she challenges the establishment view of Columbus but this time is victorious over the teacher. She finds her voice.

5 1-35 Exposition – 1st person viewpoint shapes our sympathy to share her feelings of discomfort and injustice Find a quote to show Poor, Jamaican girls are underestimated and not taught to aim high Hortense is subversive Teachers are cold, predatory and brutal (3 quotes) Heat imagery of the ‘steam bath’ is used to create what kind of atmosphere and how does this enhance the action? How is the theme of power and control presented in the exposition?

6 2. Presentation of social inequality and conflict between the students (36-78 )
How do we know Hortense is resentful about Lorna’s privilege? ‘Somebody has to pay for this.’ – How does the writer want us to see Hortense ? What does Hortense reveal is more painful than being struck by the ruler? (72-78) Why does she move into patois here? ( local Jamaican language)

7 3. Discomfort of classroom is now contrasted with comfort and belonging she feels with her own community Annotate examples of the following methods used to present this positive sense of home: Listing Positive verbs Positive adjectives Superlative adjectives Triplets Adverbs showing constancy and routine Subject specific vocabulary / exotic terms Metaphor

8 4. Preparation to leave for England (126-149)
How does she initially feel about the news of her moving to England? ( ) What does her makeover feel like (143-4) How is the time of day symbolic? Find a quote which describes parting – what does it mean? ( )

9 5. Flashback to the death of Cousy and this is used to counterpoint leaving Jamaica as a bereavement ( ) How is the first person view point in the present tense particularly effective in this part of the story?

10 6. Travel to England ( )

11 7. Poem about arriving (187-197)

12 8. England and joining a new school (198-253)

13 9. Rebellion again – Columbus revisited (254-272)

14 Comparing Invisible Mass of the Back Row with My Polish Teacher’s Tie
1. Feeling awkward, uncomfortable and ill at ease in your environment – Expositions 2. Feeling more comfortable with people who understand you and help you connect with your heritage – Rising Action 3. Turning point / climax of each story? How similar and different? 4. Feeling confident enough to give voice to your heritage and cultural identity and a new found self-confidence -Falling action 5. What happens in the denouement of each story? How is it resolved? What is the writer’s intention?

Download ppt "Invisible Mass of the Back Row"

Similar presentations

Short Story Terms.

Short Story Terms.
Elements of Literature

Elements of Literature
Eleven by Sandra Cisneros

Eleven by Sandra Cisneros
Southern Literature A distinct type of American Literature. Written by authors who were born in or spent most of their lives in the South. Tells us what.

Southern Literature A distinct type of American Literature. Written by authors who were born in or spent most of their lives in the South. Tells us what.
Literary Terms We will be using these literary terms throughout the school year. There WILL be literary terms used on your FINAL EXAMS in May!! You need.

Literary Terms We will be using these literary terms throughout the school year. There WILL be literary terms used on your FINAL EXAMS in May!! You need.
Short story terms A fond review. Plot Diagram  Exposition  The beginning of a story that introduces characters, setting, tone, and any important background.

Short story terms A fond review. Plot Diagram  Exposition  The beginning of a story that introduces characters, setting, tone, and any important background.
Identifying the Elements of a Plot Diagram Student Notes.

Identifying the Elements of a Plot Diagram Student Notes.
Umm Al Qura University Faculty of Social Sciences English Department An Introduction to Fiction Introduction to Literature 3-731270 Mrs. Nadia Khawandanah.

Umm Al Qura University Faculty of Social Sciences English Department An Introduction to Fiction Introduction to Literature Mrs. Nadia Khawandanah.
Literary Elements. Plot: the sequence of events in a story.

Literary Elements. Plot: the sequence of events in a story.
Jeopardy Unit 2 – Changes in My World Embedded Assessment 1 Vocabulary Review.

Jeopardy Unit 2 – Changes in My World Embedded Assessment 1 Vocabulary Review.
Personal Narrative Writing English 1 Belfield. What is a Personal Narrative?  Definition: A story, written in first person point of view that relates.

Personal Narrative Writing English 1 Belfield. What is a Personal Narrative?  Definition: A story, written in first person point of view that relates.
Elements of Fiction. setting The time, place, and atmosphere of a story including… geographical location (London, Texas, the Caribbean, etc.) time period.

Elements of Fiction. setting The time, place, and atmosphere of a story including… geographical location (London, Texas, the Caribbean, etc.) time period.
English 9.  Two types:  Realistic Fiction (#2) – Fiction that could take place in real life  Fantastic Fiction (#3) – Fiction that is unrealistic.

English 9.  Two types:  Realistic Fiction (#2) – Fiction that could take place in real life  Fantastic Fiction (#3) – Fiction that is unrealistic.
Lord of the Flies Relevant Literary Terminology. Characterization  The methods that a writer uses to develop characters.  Description of physical appearance.

Lord of the Flies Relevant Literary Terminology. Characterization  The methods that a writer uses to develop characters.  Description of physical appearance.
PLOT. PLOT – plan of ___________ or series of ________ in a story. action events.

PLOT. PLOT – plan of ___________ or series of ________ in a story. action events.
Short Story and Poetry Vocabulary. Plot Also called storyline. The plan, scheme, or main story of a literary or dramatic work, as a play, novel, or short.

Short Story and Poetry Vocabulary. Plot Also called storyline. The plan, scheme, or main story of a literary or dramatic work, as a play, novel, or short.
FICTION. FICTION  Narrative writing that comes from a writer’s imagination  May be based on actual events and real people.

FICTION. FICTION  Narrative writing that comes from a writer’s imagination  May be based on actual events and real people.
1 Clockwork Listen to the song that is playing. Imagine the music as background to a narrative that has a setting, characters, and plot. In your writer’s.

1 Clockwork Listen to the song that is playing. Imagine the music as background to a narrative that has a setting, characters, and plot. In your writer’s.
ALLUSION A passing reference to historical or fictional characters, places, or events, or to other works that the writer assumes the reader will recognize.

ALLUSION A passing reference to historical or fictional characters, places, or events, or to other works that the writer assumes the reader will recognize.
EOG Review Words to Know. Elements of Fiction Plot: the series of events in a story. Four stages of Plot: Exposition: introduce the characters and setting.

EOG Review Words to Know. Elements of Fiction Plot: the series of events in a story. Four stages of Plot: Exposition: introduce the characters and setting.

Similar presentations

Ads by Google