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NOTES/QUESTIONS/COMMENTS:

Learning Team Discuss the following questions and issues and be prepared to discuss them in class:
 * Learning Team Assignment **

a. "My Papa's Waltz" (p. 718) i. What is the theme of the poem? (Ray) A father abusing his child. (Dave) A father who is a drunk abusing his child (Kassie) ii. What does the title suggest before, during, and after you read it? (Ray) (Before) It’s about a dance. (During) It’s about getting spanked. (After) It’s about getting a beating with a belt. (Dave) (Before) A fathers dance (During) a drunken father abusing his child (After) A young boy, coming to terms, after receiving a whipping from his drunken father. (Kassie) iii. How could the title be ironic? (Ray) The title suggests a dance, which some may enjoy; when actually it is about getting whipped with a belt. (Dave) Suggesting his father’s way of dancing. (Kassie) iv. Why is the setting appropriate? (Ray) No idea. (Dave)No, not morally, but appropriate for this poem. (Kassie) v. Analyze all aspects of prosody (meter, rhyme, sound effects,punctuation, and stanza pattern). (Ray) (Dave) meter: good, rhyme: very good, sound effects: very good, Punctuation: good, stanza pattern: good. (Kassie) vi. What is the most important line of the poem? (Ray) “Such waltzing was not easy.” (Dave) "The whiskey on your breath could make a small boy dizzy." (Kassie) b. "White Lies" (p. 724) i. What is the major theme of the poem? (Ray) A black child wanting to be like everyone else. (Dave) A child embarrassed by her home and dress trying to impress her peers. (Kassie) ii. In what way does the title suggest something the narrator? (Ray) The title suggests that, by not saying anything, the child is lying about race, or that not admitting that he or she is black is just a small lie (a little whit lie). (Dave) It’s about her race and station in life. (Kassie) iii. What is the most important word in the poem? (Ray) Lie (Dave) Lies. (Kassie) iv. Summarize the poem in a sentence or two. (Ray) A black child (light enough to pass for white) thinks it would be easy to lie and pass for white, and thinks that it is alright. She seems to hope that the ‘Ivory (white) soap’ will lighten her from the inside out, allowing her to ‘fit in’ in a racial society. (Dave) A girl, of mixed race, wanting to be accepted by her peers, tells little white lies to be accepted. (Kassie) v. Why is the setting significant? (Ray) The setting seems to be a public place, such as school or church, where children of different cultures would be together. The black child (light enough to pass for white) wants to be like everyone else and be accepted. (Dave) To show her class and station in life. (Kassie) vi. Describe the tone of the poem. (Ray) Sad. (Dave) In a black place, describing the poor way she grew up. (Kassie) vii. What is the effect of the repetition of the last line? (Ray) ??? (Dave) It showed us she wanted to be honest. (Kassie) c. "Rites of Passage" (p. 734) i. What is the theme of the poem? (Ray) A birthday party for six and seven year olds. (Dave) Boys will always be boys. (Kassie) ii. How close is the speaker to the action in the poem? (Ray) The speaker is the mother of the birthday boy. (Dave) She is the boy’s mother. (Kassie) iii. Describe the tone of the poem. (Ray) (Dave) Boys competing with each other. (Kassie) iv. What rite of passage does the poem describe? (Ray) The bigger kids are stronger and superior to smaller ones. (Dave) Boys are strong and very competitive. (Kassie) v. How would the others in the poem react to the speaker's thoughts? (Ray) (Dave) Boys will always be boys, competitive, constantly competing against each other. (Kassie)

d. "This Is Just to Say" (p. 750) i. What is the theme of the poem? (Ray) (Dave) It’s about a note of apology. (Kassie) ii. Describe the setting of the poem. (Ray) (Dave) It’s about someone; perhaps a husband, writing a note to a wife. (Kassie) iii. What does the title suggest is "just to say"? (Ray) (Dave) It’s about telling someone something. (Kassie) iv. What is the tone of the poem? (Ray) (Dave) It is upbeat and apologetic. (Kassie) v. What is the most important word or line in the poem? (Ray) (Dave) I have eaten. (Kassie)

Why? (Ray) (Dave) It tells what happened. (Kassie)

e. "Love Calls Us to the Things of This World" (p. 786) i. What is the theme of the poem? (Ray) (Dave) It’s about someone waking up from a deep sleep. (Kassie) ii. What are the "things of this world"? (Ray) (Dave) The “things of this world” are people, living their daily lives. (Kassie) iii. How does love call us to those things? (Ray) (Dave) Love calls us to live. (Kassie) iv. What is the general tone of the poem? (Ray) (Dave) It’s about someone waking up from sleep. (Kassie) v. What is the most significant image in the poem? (Ray) (Dave) Living is hard and painful, whereas sleep is like the spirit world. (Kassie) vi. What is the style of the poem? (Ray) (Dave) prose (Kassie)

f. "Piute Creek," (p. 803) i. What is the theme of the poem? (Ray) (Dave) It’s about nature. (Kassie) ii. How do both the setting and tone contribute to the poem? (Ray) (Dave) To show what we are as humans in our world. (Kassie) iii. What moral dilemmas are suggested in the poem? (Ray) (Dave) That we are nothing apart from God. (Kassie) iv. What is the significance of the title of the poem? (Ray) (Dave) The significance is that the title is the scene of the poem. (Kassie) v. What is the final effect of the poem? (Ray) (Dave) How small we are in this big large universe, but God still cares for us.(Kassie)  i. What is the major theme of the story? (Dave) About a rich, drunk, and old man who believes in nothing. (Ray) Nothing; or loneliness (Kassie) The fear of facing your own reality (whether you are lonely, sad, etc.)
 * a. ****"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" **

ii. What is the most significant passage or line in the story? (Dave) Near the end “The light is very bright and pleasant but the bar is unpolished” (Ray) "He would lie in the bed and finally, with daylight, he would go to sleep." (Kassie) "I am of those who like to stay late at the cafe," the older waiter said. "With all those who do not want to go to bed. With all those who need a light for the night."

iii. What is the // main metaphor //? (Dave) That the café is a clean well lit place. (Ray) "What did he fear? It was not fear or dread. It was a nothing that he knew too well. It was all a nothing and a man was nothing too. It was only that and light was all it needed and a certain cleanliness and order." (It's darkness and loneliness that he fears). (Kassie) "It was all a nothing and a man was nothing too."

iv. How is this story plot advanced by the dialogue? (Dave) The plot is advanced by the dialogue between the two waiters, the older, and the younger, discussing the old man and his attempted suicide. (Ray) The two waiters disagree about the old man. The old waiter defends the old man saying he is clean and has dignity, even being drunk. (Kassie) The reader gets backstory on the old man, the two waiters, and how they feel about life. The progression of the evening is mostly through dialogue as the cafe winds down.

v. Of what significance is the title of the story? (Dave) Both the older waiter and the old man seem to like clean well lit cafe's suggesting that they both fear darkness. (Ray) The old man and the old waiter both are experiencing loneliness, as well as a fear of darkness. The old waiter, speaking to himself, said 'It is the light of course but it is necessary that the place be clean and pleasant. Then the narrator went int what he feared. (Kassie) It's a description of the cafe that the waiter and the old man are drawn to to avoid darkness

vi. How does setting contribute to the tone and theme? (Dave) The shadows in the part of the cafe and the fact that the old man is deaf suggest he is seeking solitude, yet not wanting to be totally alone, needing someplace pleasant. (Ray) The cafe is empty except for the old man and the two waiters, and it is getting dark out, yet the cafe is well lit and there are shadows present. The young waiter wants to go home where his wife is waiting (he won't be alone), but the old man and old waiter are trying to avoid going home alone in the dark. (Kassie) The waiter who understands why the old man comes to the cafe describes it in contrast to bars, or other dark places that are open late at night.

 vii. How does Hemingway employ symbolism? (Dave) The cup of NADA had a symbolic meaning of nothing. Life is meaningless, The old man, like the older waiter did not believe in God. Also, the oneness of the older waiter and the old man, in their dislike of being alone. (Ray) the olld man and the old waiter are the same. They fear loneliness and nothingness. They fear the darkness of life that is to follow. (Kassie) The cafe is not only a place to go, it's a safe haven for people that don't want to go home. The same people that "need" it don't want to end up in some dark, dirty bar.

viii. Where does it seem we have to read between the lines to understand the story? (Dave) Since the older waiter does not believe in God and thinks that death offers nothing but darkness, he like the older man like clean, well-lighted places. (Ray) Starting with par. 70 through where he says "Each night I am reluctant to close up because there may be some one who needs the cafe." Speaking of a clean, well lighted place. (Kassie) During the conversation between the two waiters, and the older waiter's conversation with the bartender.

ix. How is the word "nada" used in the story? (Dave) The older waiter orders a cup of NADA, in a bar NADA is nothing or Non Alcoholic. They bring him coffee. Also NADA means there is no good or no bad, that life is meaningless and man is nothing. Is it any wonder why the old man tried to kill himself, because of this philosophy he had. (Ray) The word nada means nothing. I think he refers to loneliness and the darkness which he feared. (Kassie) To express the character's internal dialogue of how he feels about life. He goes from trying to make a point to just focusing on "nothingness".

x. How is the climax resolved? (Dave) The older waiter finds that the Cafe' is a place of great significance because it is a pleasant place, a clean well-lighted place. (Ray) The old waiter goes to a bar that is open and says it is well-lighted, but the bar is unpolished(dirty). He finally goes home in the light of day to sleep. (Kassie) The older waiter finally goes home when the sun starts to rise.

 i. What is the theme of the story? (Dave) It is hard for people to reject outdated laws and traditions (Ray) It's a ritual thing. Every June 27th, they stone someone who is chosen by drawing slips of paper from a box. (Kassie) Tradition
 * b. ****"The Lottery" **

ii. What are possible minor themes? (Dave) Following the Crowd is not always the right thing to do. (Ray) Tradition; How a lottery works; pointless violence (Kassie) Group Think, Community

iii. What does the story suggest about tradition? (Dave) Sometimes traditions can be foolish and downright wrong. (Ray) That it carries on from generation to generation. At some point, that tradition can be broken. (Kassie) Some are kept around without questioning their importance

iv. What is the significance of the title? (Dave) That the winner is actually the loser (Ray) The significance of the title is that they draw slips of paper from a box; like drawing straws, short straw wins. A lottery is a drawing to see who wins, or in this case, who loses. (Kassie) A lottery is a random drawing, which generally produces a winner.

v. Describe the character of Mrs. Hutchinson. (Dave) just like most people, the lottery really didn't affect her until her family was chosen, then it became personel. Then in the end she was frozen like a deer in the headlights, because the paper had to be pulled from her hand by her husband. (Ray) She strikes me as selfish. It seems that she doesn't mind the lottery until it is her family picked. (Kassie) She's family and duty-focused. She embraces the tradition of the lottery until it affects her.

vi. How is Old Man Warner a symbolic character? (Dave) He is the oldest man in town. (Ray) He believes that the tradition of the lottery should be carried out forever? Also, he makes the statement "Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon," which implies that he believes the superstitions, and doesn't want things to change. (Kassie) He's experienced the lottery for seventy-seven years. He's quick to point out that people are different now than they were earlier in his life, which contrasts against everyone being shocked as the possibility of eliminating the lottery.

vii. How does Jackson's style contribute to the story's outcome? (Dave) She likes to shock her audience. I knew that after reading her bio, I knew the outcome from the beginning, knowing the title and reading about the rocks being piled up. (Ray) (Kassie) She uses great detail to set the scene and describe the process, so the reader is shocked at the conclusion.

viii. What is the significance of the title of the story? (Dave) That in any lottery you always have winners and losers. Also in earlier times the lottery was used in a barbaric fashion. (Ray) The significance of the title is that they draw slips of paper from a box; like drawing straws, short straw wins. A lottery is a drawing to see who wins, or in this case, who loses. (Kassie) A lottery is a random drawing, which generally produces a winner. //(Duplicate Question)//

ix. What does "Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon" suggest? (Dave) Supestition that good crops come from their tradition of the lottery. (Ray) It's superstition that, if the lottery takes place and goes as planned, crops will be abundant. (Kassie) That the story takes place in a farming community, most likely in the midwest

x. Why is it significant that Davy Hutchison was given a few pebbles? (Dave) Children take part, Davy was so small that they gave him a few pebbles. They are brainwashing him at a young age. (Ray) He is a small boy and the son of Mrs. Hutchison, and everyone must participate in the throwing of stones. (Kassie) Nobody attends the lottery expecting to be chosen

 i. What does the title suggest before, during, and after you read the story? (Dave) (before) Everybody is transparent (during) when you are young you are niave' (after) There are certain truth's in life, one is "Once a cheater, always a cheater" The antoganist when he said that the only thing the baby would taste would be her mothers milk and it would be bitersweet meaning that she would be an unwed mother. (Ray) (Before) Everyone is predictable. (during) You can't possibly know what is going on with someone. (after) Nothing is certain. Everyone and everything is a mystery until something actually happens. (Kassie) Before - That nobody can really hide who they are; During - People are predictable; After - You never know how anything will play out in life
 * c. ****"No One's a Mystery" **

ii. What are possible themes? (Dave) The unhappy marriage of the man. The dreams of the woman (Ray) Cheating; deceit; conflict; predictability (Kassie) Predictability, Manipulation

iii. What are the societal implications of the story? (Dave) Adultery, the fact there was an affair between a grown man and a sixteen year old for two years. (Ray) Jack is very immature, shouldn't be married, and likes young girls. (Kassie) Jack is not only cheating on his wife, but with a much younger (barely legal) girl.

iv. What is the significance of the five-year diary? (Dave) The female in the story is also the narriator of the story, and she is reflecting back on her life. (Ray) It is possible that the narrator is reflecting back by going to her diary. Jack probably wants her to remember her affair with him. He doesn't seem to be happily married. (Kassie) It's unlikely that they will be together in five years, after she has had a chance to mature. The relationship may not have happened if the narrator were not so young and naive.

v. How does dialogue advance the plot? (Dave) It advances the plot by showing you the charactar of the each of the two people in the story through their dialog. (Ray) I'll bite. Dialogue. What is the plot? (Kassie) The dialogue between Jack and the narrator gives us some insight as to their relationship, while also detailing a progression of events.

vi. What effect does the length of the story have? (Dave) Gives you the idea the female was looking back in her diary at a day in her life. (Ray) The story was too short for me to get much out of it. (Kassie) We are only given a snapshot of the Jack's relationships with the narrator and his wife. We are left to fill in the rest of the story on our own: How long has this affair been going on? Has Jack done this before? Does his wife know?

vii. How does Tallent weave popular culture throughout her story? (Dave) The man was driving in his pickup truck, at the time (in the mid 80's) songs like "an 8 foot bed that never has to be made", or "if it weren't for trucks there wouldn't be tailgates". Tail gate parties were big in popular culture at the time the story was written. (Ray)Connecting country music with a rancher type and his pickup. (Kassie) Levis, Rosanne & Johnny Cash, and Cadillac - She mentions specific people/brands, instead of just talking about jeans, singers, or cars. It helps the reader to picture the scene.

viii. What is the chief irony in the story? (Dave) That she has these fantisies despite his predictions. (Ray) That the narrator thinks she will have Jack, who is married, for the rest of her life. She thinks Jack is in love with her? (Kassie) The narrator truly believes that everything will work out according to her plan.

ix. What kind of person is Jack? What lines suggest that? (Dave) He has little regard for women, he pushed her to the floor (where he threw his trash) and held her there till he was sure she would not get up. (Ray) Unhappy with his marriage, immature, doesn't respect women (Kassie) He's controlling, and a little condescending towards the women in his life. He makes fun of his wife for being a safe drive. He mocks the narrator for being acting like a little kid.

x. What implication does the last line of the story have on the futures of the two characters? (Dave) That she will have a child out of wedlock and it will be bittersweet to her, sweet because of loving her daughter, but bitter because the fairy tale life does not take place. (Ray) The last line indicates to me that Jack has no intention of having a future with this girl. He will just continue in his ways. (Kassie) Even though Jack knows that everything will end sooner than later, he still humors the idea that they will last.