Tuesday, 5/1: Cry

* Pray

* Cry

Note that the plot has a new strand enter in Book II: James Jarvis, father of Arthur Jarvis.  For a time, we have the story retold through a new father's eyes.  Later, the plots timelines will join.

Note four of the words we use to discuss character: flat (simple, not complex; often a minor character), round (developed, complex; often a main character), static (stays the same), dynamic (changes).  One character can be a combination (flat and static; flat and dynamic), or even somewhat mixed:
- Stephen Kumalo is definitely round and not flat. We see him sin, repent . . . sin, struggle, repent, and reconcile in numerous places.
- Stephen Kumalo is also dynamic, as he goes from a state of ignorance to a state of experience (with respect to Gertrude, Absalom, and Johannesburg). Stephen Kumalo's character may be considered static, since he remains true to his faith.  Still, Kumalo is more clearly dynamic, for his faith is tested, and he does rise and fall and rise again. 
- Thus, Stephen must be round and can not be considered flat.  He is dynamic--though some aspects of his character may be or seem static.

 - Ch. 22: Motif: Fear.  Kumalo cannot face his fear (seeing James. "And Kumalo trembles, and does not look at him any more.  For how does on look at such a man?" (199).
-  Ch. 23: Third-person narrator as shifted to a white perspective.  Other narrative voices chime in over the course of the chapter.  Motif and symbol: Gold (202).  Allusion ("burns bright in the forest of the night" alludes to William Blake's "Tiger, Tiger.")
- Ch. 24: Character development: James Jarvis comes to terms with his son's death ("He was not afraid of the passage and the stain [blood] on the floor; he was not going that way any more, that was all" (209)).  Key question: Expedient vs. right (near the top of pg. 208). 
- Ch. 25: Theme and Motif: Fear.  Kumalo is confronted unexpectedly by his fear: facing James Jarvis.  Character development: Jarvis, "I understand what I did not understand.  There is no anger in me" (214).
- Ch. 26: Contrast: John Kumalo speaks again (contrast with Msimangu .  Characterization: Metaphorically, he is the great bull; he is the lion. 
- Ch. 27: Character development: Gertrude struggles with her place.  Will she be a nun?  What will she do?
- Ch. 28: Theme: Racial reconciliation: A "young white man" and Msimangu helps Stephen after the sad sentencing: "For such a thing is not lightly done" (237).
- Ch. 29: Motif: Fear "Have no doubt it is fear in the eyes" (245).  Stephen lies to John, briefly, out of spite for John's son taking no blame.  Characters show epithets associated with them.  Mrs. Lithebe: "people were born to do such kindness" (247).  Msimangu: "I am a weak and sinful man, but God put His hands on me, that is all" (248-249).  Gertrude disappears.  The reader will not know more.

Book II ends

* Grammar: We will work on a new section on our block day, time permitting.

* Perrine's
- Per. 2 review Frost poem in Perrine's
Note that a symbol is a person, place, thing or idea that represents
something else. Writers often use a snake as a symbol for evil, as in Nathaniel
Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown." Commonly used symbols include the eagle
(strength), a flag (patriotism), and the sea (life).  Colors are often symbolic in stories (green is life; white is purity, life, death; black is confusion, death; red is anger, war, energy; etc.).  

HW: Read ch. 33-34

Monday, 4/30/12: Cry review

* Pray

* Review Cry

- Ch. 13: Reference (Isaiah 42:6; 42:16; 40:28; 40:30-31); motif (fear); symbol (golden); allusion ("transfigured" and "lifted")
- Ch. 14: Motif ("Have no doubt it is fear in their eyes" pg. 128)
- Ch. 15: Theme (forgiveness; faith in God).  Some things are God's secret; praying for understanding of a pain/issue/etc. right when one is hurt is often unwise; pray for endurance; pray for faith; pray for others.
- Ch. 16: Theme (restoration, forgiveness; Stephen Kumalo needs to more fully forgive his soon-to-be daughter-in-law)
- Ch. 17: Theme (racial reconciliation and faith; Mr. Carmichael will defend Absalom pro deo)

Book II
- Ch. 18:  Motif; repetition (opening of "Book II" parallels "Book I")
- Ch. 19: Exposition (James Jarvis is Arthur's father; a narrative thread is explored through James Jarvis).  Paton retreats a few paces, chronologically in the story, in order to pick up this strand. 
- Ch. 20: Reference and Allusion: Abraham Lincoln (alludes to the righteous social concerns of Arthur Jarvis).  Through Arthur's unfinished lecture/manuscript, Paton preaches his social doctrine.
- Ch. 21: Character development.  James, who does not agree with his son's ideas, is now being drawn in by them as they are Arthur's last words.  Theme: title development, "But there was no one to cry" (186).  Notice that Arthur's focus is on "Christian civilization" (187).  Dynamic character: James Jarvis admits to his wife that the manuscript is "worth reading" and tells her to read it (189). 

* Perrine's
Ch. 6, Poem #1, "The Road Not Taken"by Robert Frost on pg. 807.  Read and consider.  Many Americans interpret this poem's message as individuality ("I took the [road] less traveled by,/ And that has made all the difference").  This is a poor interpretation.  Can you find the line in the poem that refutes this?  So, what does that conclusion mean?   

HW: Cry, ch. 31-32