Dragon Booktalk: SOHS English Lit Circs

Find out if all their dreams were deferred or fulfilled.

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In their final literature circle discussion, Alyssa connects to the text via a sledding accident, Mack tells the “unvarnished” truth about vocabulary, Kalyn wonders if Walter cares more about money or his family (and Elizabeth points out that Walter is the character that changes the most), Emma finds a memorable simile (”He finally come into his manhood today, didn’t he? Kind of like a rainbow after the rain” {151]), Livia investigates data on the Nigerian population in the U.S. and Chicago, and Natalie illustrates Asagai’s plea with Bennie (below; note the plant in the window and Walter in the background). 

Be sure to look for this week’s book commercial!

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In their second literature circle discussion, Mack’s investigation discovers that Hansberry, like Bennie, was interested in Africa; the advice of Natalie’s seventh grade teacher to “write what you know” suggests to her that Bennie IS Hansberry; Alyssa finds an interesting metaphor when Walter’s eyes are described as “pure glass sheets” (78); Elizabeth connects Walter’s inheritence (and loss of the money) to the protagonist in the book Son of the Mob; Emma wonders about the argument about what real learning is; Livia illustrates a key moment between Travis and Mama:

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In their first literature circle discussion, Livia summarizes the text, Elizabeth finds Mama’s statement “And then, Lord, when I lost that baby - little Claude…” ironic, Kalyn illustrates a key moment between Ruth and Mama (below) which Emma predicts, Mack points out the simile that compares Bennie and Walter to Mama’s beloved plant, Natalie sees a connection between Mama and Old Man and the Sea’s Santiago, and Alyssa avoids “flitting” about while explaining her vocab.

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It’s not whether you’re black or white, because we all fall into shades of gray.

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In their final literature circle discussion, Kayla finds a memorable example of alliteration (”that’s the way the cracker crumbles”), Lauren “elaborates” on some vocabulary, Jasmine makes a Connection between Walter’s spending of Beneatha’s college money to Napoloeon spending Boxer’s money for whiskey in Animal Farm, Rachel finds an Aha! at Walter’s decision in the end, Michael asks the group if they would take the money or move in, Anastasia investigated segregation in the 1950’s, and Jeppe illustrates Mr. Linder’s visit to the family (below).  Stay tuned for their book commercial!

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In their second podcast, Jeppe (BAM!) finds some (BAM! BAM!) onomatopia, Anastasia wonders how Ruth feels about having another child, Mike connects Travis to Michael from the tv show Good Times, Jasmine suggest the main point of the passage (and a big point of the plot) is Ruth’s pregnancy, Lauren investigates and discovers (courtesy of http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1940s.html) that $10,000 would be equivalent to about $145,000 today, Rachel tries to “assimilate” her vocabulary into the discussion, and Kayla shares a collage inspired by Benetha’s interest in Africa:

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In their first podcast, Lauren wonders how “improper” grammar affects the tone and mood of the book, Kayla compares the arguing of Ruth and Walter to Napoleon and Snowball in Animal Farm, Michael investigates the music of the 1940’s and 50’s, Rachel finds onomatopoeia, Jasmine “doggedly” decodes the text, Jeppe sees Ruth’s fainting spell as a major plot element, and Anastasia uses the play’s directions and descriptions to draw the living room (below; notice the stains below the furniture):

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A controversial story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

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