Name: Jessie Karangu
Date: 3/19/08
Mod: 2
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
In this book we meet the Logan family, they own a small piece of farmland where sharecropping occurs, they live in a very racist neighborhood, and everyone in the family has different opinions on racism, some treat it in a fiesty way, some in a calm way; anyway the kids are walking to school when they see some kids on a bus, the bus drives and sprays mud on all their faces, they also realize that they have books in school but that they are old books from the white school. A burning of a black man occurs and it seperates the town, causing a store to have less business because blacks are boycotting the place. The Logans go through many personal, emotional and financial issues but are able to persevere. I would recommend this to anyone, what stands out to me in this book is the things that the Logans went through and them still pressing on, that is amazing to me.
Literary Question 12
In this book we meet the Logan family, they own a small piece of farmland where sharecropping occurs, they live in a very racist neighborhood, and everyone in the family has different opinions on racism, some treat it in a fiesty way, some in a calm way; anyway the kids are walking to school when they see some kids on a bus, the bus drives and sprays mud on all their faces, they also realize that they have books in school but that they are old books from the white school. A burning of a black man occurs and it seperates the town, causing a store to have less business because blacks are boycotting the place. The Logans go through many personal, emotional and financial issues but are able to persevere. I would recommend this to anyone, what stands out to me in this book is the things that the Logans went through and them still pressing on, that is amazing to me.
Major Work Review
Title and Author:
Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Genre, Characteristics of Genre:
Historical Fiction;
fascinating, historical, unpredictable, wise
Brief Plot Summary
In this book we meet the Logan family, they own a small piece of farmland where sharecropping occurs, they live in a very racist neighborhood, and everyone in the family has different opinions on racism, some treat it in a fiesty way, some in a calm way; anyway the kids are walking to school when they see some kids on a bus, the bus drives and sprays mud on all their faces, they also realize that they have books in school but that they are old books from the white school. A burning of a black man occurs and it seperates the town, causing a store to have less business because blacks are boycotting the place. The Logans go through many personal, emotional and financial issues but are able to persevere.
Author's Style
Author's Style was very normal not too happy and not too mad, it's very formal because it is trying to be as unbiased as it can be.
Quotes
Check blog entry below titled "Favorite Lines/Quotes"
Characters
Protagonist: Cassie
Symbols: leader, stern, never gives up
Antagonist: Wallaces, Harlan Granger
Symbols: rascist, fire, foreclosure
minor Characters: T.J.- dumb, turns his back on you, Melvin and R.W.
Stacy- confident, friendly, loving
Setting
I'm guessing it takes place in Mississippi because that is where the author, her family and ancestors were born and raised at.
Recurrent Symbols
Land and freedom- as a symbol of never giving up and the courage that gave the Logans strength to go on with life
Three Themes
-Never Give Up, Don't Ever Give Up
-Fight for your rights
-Pain and suffering evolves into healing and celebration
Parallel Situations
-N.C. State 1984? College Basketball Team was being doubted by many because they had'nt won any important regular season games, but the ended up winning the tourney
-Texas Western was doubted because they were an all black team but they ended up winning the title
Resolution
Despite the circumstances, fight for your life and never give up
Other Considerations
Even though mobs threatened to kill them, people threatened to foreclose their house, and nobody supported them in their cause against the Wallaces in the end, everyone of the members of the Logans continued to press on and never moved a step back they always moved forwards.
Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Genre, Characteristics of Genre:
Historical Fiction;
fascinating, historical, unpredictable, wise
Brief Plot Summary
In this book we meet the Logan family, they own a small piece of farmland where sharecropping occurs, they live in a very racist neighborhood, and everyone in the family has different opinions on racism, some treat it in a fiesty way, some in a calm way; anyway the kids are walking to school when they see some kids on a bus, the bus drives and sprays mud on all their faces, they also realize that they have books in school but that they are old books from the white school. A burning of a black man occurs and it seperates the town, causing a store to have less business because blacks are boycotting the place. The Logans go through many personal, emotional and financial issues but are able to persevere.
Author's Style
Author's Style was very normal not too happy and not too mad, it's very formal because it is trying to be as unbiased as it can be.
Quotes
Check blog entry below titled "Favorite Lines/Quotes"
Characters
Protagonist: Cassie
Symbols: leader, stern, never gives up
Antagonist: Wallaces, Harlan Granger
Symbols: rascist, fire, foreclosure
minor Characters: T.J.- dumb, turns his back on you, Melvin and R.W.
Stacy- confident, friendly, loving
Setting
I'm guessing it takes place in Mississippi because that is where the author, her family and ancestors were born and raised at.
Recurrent Symbols
Land and freedom- as a symbol of never giving up and the courage that gave the Logans strength to go on with life
Three Themes
-Never Give Up, Don't Ever Give Up
-Fight for your rights
-Pain and suffering evolves into healing and celebration
Parallel Situations
-N.C. State 1984? College Basketball Team was being doubted by many because they had'nt won any important regular season games, but the ended up winning the tourney
-Texas Western was doubted because they were an all black team but they ended up winning the title
Resolution
Despite the circumstances, fight for your life and never give up
Other Considerations
Even though mobs threatened to kill them, people threatened to foreclose their house, and nobody supported them in their cause against the Wallaces in the end, everyone of the members of the Logans continued to press on and never moved a step back they always moved forwards.
19
Is your vocab up to par with the book?
Sort of. Majority of it. Not Really though.
FIVE NEW WORDS!!!!!!!!!!
(1)Sharecropping- working, growing crops as a group
(1)Knell- a bell
(4)Expounding- explained in detail
(5)Malevolently- malicious, harmful
(last chapter)Menacingly- foolishly, dumb, threatening
Sort of. Majority of it. Not Really though.
FIVE NEW WORDS!!!!!!!!!!
(1)Sharecropping- working, growing crops as a group
(1)Knell- a bell
(4)Expounding- explained in detail
(5)Malevolently- malicious, harmful
(last chapter)Menacingly- foolishly, dumb, threatening
16
Enjoy reading? Why/Why Not? How can you enjoy reading?
No, I did'nt enjoy reading because I kept on having to look back at the 2 worksheets, to look for stuff that had to do with it instead of just chilling back relaxing and reading, it was'nt a fun experience like it should be because I had work to do at the end. After a couple of chapters, I decided that I would just do this journal after I finish reading, I can enjoy reading by concentrating more and rereading stuff I don't understand more.
No, I did'nt enjoy reading because I kept on having to look back at the 2 worksheets, to look for stuff that had to do with it instead of just chilling back relaxing and reading, it was'nt a fun experience like it should be because I had work to do at the end. After a couple of chapters, I decided that I would just do this journal after I finish reading, I can enjoy reading by concentrating more and rereading stuff I don't understand more.
15
Duration of attention span?
Because I'm doing this late at night my attention span is very low because I am very sleepy and have'nt gotten much sleep since last week, but usually when I was reading in the daytime, I was very interested, it kept me in touch and awake throughout the day, you always wanted to know what happens next and you always had different thoughts, inferences and predictions at the back of your head, that's the main reason why I could'nt do this journal during the reading session. No, not really, I did'nt really reread passages, I just could'nt focus enough because I was trying to finish the book so I could finish the project, it was'nt interesting enough when I was reading which is why I need to read it again.
Because I'm doing this late at night my attention span is very low because I am very sleepy and have'nt gotten much sleep since last week, but usually when I was reading in the daytime, I was very interested, it kept me in touch and awake throughout the day, you always wanted to know what happens next and you always had different thoughts, inferences and predictions at the back of your head, that's the main reason why I could'nt do this journal during the reading session. No, not really, I did'nt really reread passages, I just could'nt focus enough because I was trying to finish the book so I could finish the project, it was'nt interesting enough when I was reading which is why I need to read it again.
11
Who else should read this book?
I think anyone who is interested in the 1930's or interested in how both sides of African-Americans lived back then, the side that was considered more lavish back then, I think they would be the perfect demo fit to read this book, also anybody that would like to read a low suspence book with a couple of laughs here and there, those are basically the people I would recommend it to, although I do also think that anyone can read it, it's not as boring as it looks, don't judge a book by it's cover
I think anyone who is interested in the 1930's or interested in how both sides of African-Americans lived back then, the side that was considered more lavish back then, I think they would be the perfect demo fit to read this book, also anybody that would like to read a low suspence book with a couple of laughs here and there, those are basically the people I would recommend it to, although I do also think that anyone can read it, it's not as boring as it looks, don't judge a book by it's cover
Literary Question 20
If you were to suggest a sequel, what plot events would you include?
If I were to add a sequel to the story I would talk more about how the community settled it's differences and I would try to relate it to today's world, like for example, I might say something like (in first person, Cassie): Now, T.J. has been saved from the mob the community has become peaceful again, no more violence or anything, there is still discrimination of course, it did'nt take another 30 yrs. for discrimination to be over with, today my children's children are still healthy, alive, wise and well, while T.J.'s children's children are big liars, big stealers, big cheaters, and big hypocrites, reminds me of somebody I know, do you know who that is?, Anyway I would do somrthing like that.
If I were to add a sequel to the story I would talk more about how the community settled it's differences and I would try to relate it to today's world, like for example, I might say something like (in first person, Cassie): Now, T.J. has been saved from the mob the community has become peaceful again, no more violence or anything, there is still discrimination of course, it did'nt take another 30 yrs. for discrimination to be over with, today my children's children are still healthy, alive, wise and well, while T.J.'s children's children are big liars, big stealers, big cheaters, and big hypocrites, reminds me of somebody I know, do you know who that is?, Anyway I would do somrthing like that.
Literary Question 18
Did you enjoy book ending , would you change it?
No, I would not change it and yes I enjoyed it because it ended the way that a real family like the Logans would have ended a story like that, they fought back the mobs, forgave T.J. and forgot about everything he did wrong and they were able to stop the fire and work as a community to stop the fire in the cornfield despite all the fighting and caos going on in the community. It was a perfect happy ending.
No, I would not change it and yes I enjoyed it because it ended the way that a real family like the Logans would have ended a story like that, they fought back the mobs, forgave T.J. and forgot about everything he did wrong and they were able to stop the fire and work as a community to stop the fire in the cornfield despite all the fighting and caos going on in the community. It was a perfect happy ending.
Literary Question 10
Have you changed after reading the book?
Yes because I gained more self-esteem and self-confidence from the book, the way the Logans carried themselves is the way I want to carry myself in life espacially when I have a family, despite whatever somebody says to you or despite the troubles you are having stay strong and go through it, you'll be able to punch that sucker back afterwards. I learned that not all blacks lived with whites, some owned their own land land during those times, that is something I did not know before that I know now
Yes because I gained more self-esteem and self-confidence from the book, the way the Logans carried themselves is the way I want to carry myself in life espacially when I have a family, despite whatever somebody says to you or despite the troubles you are having stay strong and go through it, you'll be able to punch that sucker back afterwards. I learned that not all blacks lived with whites, some owned their own land land during those times, that is something I did not know before that I know now
Literary Question 12
Have you read Mildred Taylor in the past?
No, not really because I've never really been interested in slavery/Civil Rights Era books, so I did'nt give her a chance, if my aunt had'nt bought me this book I probably would'nt have read it. I've never read other books by her but after reading this will probably give it a try.
No, not really because I've never really been interested in slavery/Civil Rights Era books, so I did'nt give her a chance, if my aunt had'nt bought me this book I probably would'nt have read it. I've never read other books by her but after reading this will probably give it a try.
Favorite Lines/Quotes
"Look out there, Cassie girl. All that belongs to you. You ain't never had to live on nobody's place but your own and long as I live and the family survives, you'll never have to. That's important. You may not understand that now but one day you will. Then you'll see."- This is Mama talking to Cassie about never giving up the land that the family owns because it's one of the few key items in the community that symbolizes that the family is going to move on, and that the family is not going to live in slavery times even if it is still going on.
"Friends gotta trust each other, Stacey, 'cause ain't nothin' like a true friend."-Stacey telling T.J. in Chapter 4 that they are going to stick around with each other and never give up on each other despite T.J. getting Stacey in trouble, basically Stacey forgiving T.J.
"Friends gotta trust each other, Stacey, 'cause ain't nothin' like a true friend."-Stacey telling T.J. in Chapter 4 that they are going to stick around with each other and never give up on each other despite T.J. getting Stacey in trouble, basically Stacey forgiving T.J.
Literary Number 8
Ideas that make you stop/think or prompt questions?
Why are all the family members so different towards their approaches of racism, is it because of different generational factors? I ask this because they are all brought up on the same rules and regulations but they don't have similar ideas in terms of racism etc.
Why is T.J. such a Jonas, dummy, betrayer, hypocrite? I ask this because the Logan family has done so much for T.J., but now he wants to big mouth his way to fame, if you read the end of the book you realize that does'nt truly work out for him
Why are all the family members so different towards their approaches of racism, is it because of different generational factors? I ask this because they are all brought up on the same rules and regulations but they don't have similar ideas in terms of racism etc.
Why is T.J. such a Jonas, dummy, betrayer, hypocrite? I ask this because the Logan family has done so much for T.J., but now he wants to big mouth his way to fame, if you read the end of the book you realize that does'nt truly work out for him
Literary Question 5
If you were the author would you change names, location?
I would probably change Cassie's name, it's just does'nt sound heroic or strong or cool, I would probably change her name to Alexandra, I don't know why it was the first name that popped up in my head, I would'nt change the location
What does "Cassie" mean to you?
Nothing that's my point
Negative thoughts?
No, not really the name Cassie just bothers me, I'd like to know the author's reasoning for the name.
I would probably change Cassie's name, it's just does'nt sound heroic or strong or cool, I would probably change her name to Alexandra, I don't know why it was the first name that popped up in my head, I would'nt change the location
What does "Cassie" mean to you?
Nothing that's my point
Negative thoughts?
No, not really the name Cassie just bothers me, I'd like to know the author's reasoning for the name.
Literary Journal Number 4
Would you like to acquire one of the characters pesonality traits?
Yes, I would
Whixh of the characters in the book would you become?
Cassie
Why?
Because Cassie was'nt one of those mean African-Americans that just hated white people because of their actions, she hated what they did, but she did'nt hate them, and she was also a very sly, quick, smart and mischevious person, she was always the one to turn to when you were in need, for example when they wanted to get the white kids back for splashing them with mud, she decided to dig a whole on the ground, so the bus would get stuck over. For her, life was almost all fun and games.
Something you want to change?
No, I would want to keep her authentic, but of course if I was her, I would'nt want her to be a girl.
Yes, I would
Whixh of the characters in the book would you become?
Cassie
Why?
Because Cassie was'nt one of those mean African-Americans that just hated white people because of their actions, she hated what they did, but she did'nt hate them, and she was also a very sly, quick, smart and mischevious person, she was always the one to turn to when you were in need, for example when they wanted to get the white kids back for splashing them with mud, she decided to dig a whole on the ground, so the bus would get stuck over. For her, life was almost all fun and games.
Something you want to change?
No, I would want to keep her authentic, but of course if I was her, I would'nt want her to be a girl.
Literary Journal Number 2
What emotions did the book invoke: laughter, tears, smiles, anger? Or was the book boring and meaningless?
I would have to say that this book invoked happiness and pride and courage in me because it made me more proud of who I was, It made me more proud of where my ancestery came from, it made me realize that they just did'nt sit around waiting for their freedom and equal rights, they fought for them, it also made me realize that hard work pays off, they worked hard and became one of the only black families in their town to own land
I would have to say that this book invoked happiness and pride and courage in me because it made me more proud of who I was, It made me more proud of where my ancestery came from, it made me realize that they just did'nt sit around waiting for their freedom and equal rights, they fought for them, it also made me realize that hard work pays off, they worked hard and became one of the only black families in their town to own land
Literary Journal Number 1 Continued
After reading half of the book I was surprised by the confidence that the family had in themselves, that they were'nt scared of people like Lillian Jean, the girl who pushed and beat up Cassie, Cassie went so far as to be so nice to Lillian Jean, that Jean thought of her as a close friend and told Cassie her secrets, once Cassie found out she beat up Lillian and told her not to lay a hand on her or she will reveal her secrets. They also were'nt scared of Harlan Granger, the guy who was trying to foreclose their property because they stood their ground.
At the end of the book though they began to seem more hesitant and scared of people attacking them because of their color than they were in the beginning, I guess it was because they were going through multiple problems all at the same time, with their finance problems, friendship problems, and family problems.
Yes, I would read this book again. I plan on doing that during Spring Break, I really did'nt get to enjoy the book yet, I was just reading it for the project
At the end of the book though they began to seem more hesitant and scared of people attacking them because of their color than they were in the beginning, I guess it was because they were going through multiple problems all at the same time, with their finance problems, friendship problems, and family problems.
Yes, I would read this book again. I plan on doing that during Spring Break, I really did'nt get to enjoy the book yet, I was just reading it for the project
Monday, March 17, 2008
Literary Journal Number 1
Write down your thoughts--after reading the opening chapters of the book. How do your impressions change (or do they) after reading half of the book? Do you feel any differently after finishing the book? Would you read the book again?
-After reading the 1st chapter I am realizing that this is going to be way different from "To Kill A Mockingbird", I say this because in "To Kill A Mockingbird" the African-Americans in the story are acting way different than the African Americans in "Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry", In "Roll..." the African-Americans respect themselves and are more proud to be black than the blacks in "TKAM" But this could also be happening because in both stories we are in 2 different times in the Civil Rights Era.
-No Reactions to Chapter 2
-Chapter 3: Tom Robinson: Rape AS J.H. Berry: Flirting
-Chapter 4: This chapter shows the responsibility of Stacy, I could never do that for any of my friends, sorry!
-CONTINUED AND SHOULD BE FINISHED BY TOMORROW
-After reading the 1st chapter I am realizing that this is going to be way different from "To Kill A Mockingbird", I say this because in "To Kill A Mockingbird" the African-Americans in the story are acting way different than the African Americans in "Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry", In "Roll..." the African-Americans respect themselves and are more proud to be black than the blacks in "TKAM" But this could also be happening because in both stories we are in 2 different times in the Civil Rights Era.
-No Reactions to Chapter 2
-Chapter 3: Tom Robinson: Rape AS J.H. Berry: Flirting
-Chapter 4: This chapter shows the responsibility of Stacy, I could never do that for any of my friends, sorry!
-CONTINUED AND SHOULD BE FINISHED BY TOMORROW
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)