GENG 260 1st EditionExam# 1 Study Guide Lectures: 1 - 18Lecture 1 (January 14)I. African American Folktales- Oral vs. Printed: Literary scholars would go to plantations to hear, then write down African American stories. Since most African Americans were illiterate at the time, this is the only way their stories had been documented. - Pros and Cons of Printing Oral Stories:o Pros- -It preserves a communal tradition, which otherwise could be lost-It gives historical insightCommitting the tradition to paper is very important and is considered a real art.o Cons--Difficult to recreate sounds and voices-There could be a loss of rapid-fire, and the storytelling experience-Writers being unsure if they should use “Phonetic” spelling and dialect- Phonetic Dialogue- spelling how things sound. - Pros and Cons of Phonetic Dialogueo Pros- Authenticityo Cons- Hard to read, and could be demeaning or offensive.II. Myth and Legend: Discussion on “All God’s Chillen Had Wings”- Myth- a traditional story, typically involving supernatural beings or forces, which provides an explanation or justification for something. - Question- What’s the symbolic significance of slaves taking flight?-Freedom: no limits while flying, you can go anywhere-Death: spiritual freedom-Escape: running away- Legend- a traditional story, especially one handed down by tradition from early timesand popularly regarded as historical (real)- Question- Did they really fly? - Reasoning- To believe something as crazy as humans flying, is like believing something as awful as slavery is okay, when it is not.III. Playing the Fool vs. Being the Fool: Discussion on “Deer Hunting Story” - How does the slave seem foolish?-The slave seems foolish because he doesn’t shoot the deer because he says he didn’t see a deer, only a white man with chairs on his head. This statement makes him seem stupid to Ole Massa.- How does Ole Massa seem foolish?-Ole Massa seems foolish because he tried to get a slave to do something for him, and got nothing in the end. - Question- Why does the slave choose to appear foolish? -He chooses to act stupid because he doesn’t want to shoot the deer.- Brer Rabbit: The Trickster Figureo Trickster- animals or characters who seem weak, but get what they want by tricking otherso Amoral- Humorous and serious with using indirect attacks on society.- Brer Rabbit (Brother Rabbit)o Seen in African and Cherokee traditionso Trickster figures are usually depicted as hares, spiders, or monkeyso Seen in the Uncle Remus StoriesIV. Past and Present- Joel Chandler Harris- wrote down the Tar Baby story after listening to someone tell it.He profited from it while the story teller got nothing in return. The dialect of this story is seen as demeaning and degrading. - Julius Lester- “The voice is more that of a presence”- Character: personality invested with distinctive attributes and qualities by a novelist or dramatist.- Caricature: grotesque or ludicrous adaptations of a person. Lecture 2 (January 16)I. Ethnic Notion Questions:1. What are the consequences of caricatures?- The consequences of African Americans being portrayed as dumb, dangerous, and scary- looking people, is that white Americans would believe that is what they were like. There were white people that had never seen an African before so this would be their first assumption of them.- “On Being Brought from Africa to America” (1773) by Phillis Wheatley. - Discussion question: -Is Phillis Wheatley saying she’s thankful for being taken from her home and being introduced to Christianity and reading and writing? OR-Is she being sarcastic and saying she didn’t need to be saved? -The point of these questions is to show that there is many ways of interpreting whatWheatley meant. Lecture 3(January 21). Discussion about the Frederick Douglas narrative:- Where would it be without William Lloyd Garrison? He acted as a hype man for Douglass, meaning he got people excited to hear from him, telling people they should listen to him and be interested in what he has to say. III. Slave Narratives: 4 phases1. Loss of Innocence: Dehumanization- The moment one realizes their situation as a slave.2. Resolve to free oneself-“I’m going to get free”3. Pivotal Moment: Escape-“I’m ready to escape, now I need a plan”4. Success/ join the cause for abolition-No more worrying about being sent back, now help the cause for others- Examples of dehumanization seen in Frederick Douglass’s narrative:-Not knowing his own birthday/age-Being separated by his mother, and not being told of her death, or being able to attend her funeral-Not having a bed, or enough sleep-Only given 1 set of clothes per year and a small portion of food per month.-Many children running around naked because they’re not old enough to receive their own allowances (clothes and food) yet.Lecture 4 (January 23). Discussion Question for EssayDirections: Write a question and answer it all in one paper. Use evidence from the text and thinkabout where you would go for evidence to persuasively answer your question.Different types of questions:- Factual Questions- yes or no/ true or false, these use evidence straight from the book.- Ex.) “What do you think? / How does this make you feel?” These are the questions you want to AVOID.- Interpretive Questions- evidence that comes from analysis of the text. This is the type of question you DO want to use.Guidelines for Discussion Questions- Think of text as an argument that’s hard to read; questions should focus on what Douglass means, (or what the author of the reading you choose means) to better understand how it’s made or why its important/ significant.- Demonstrable- ask- Specific- Are there specific places to go?- Contestable- the question has different ways to be answered. - Significant- why is it important.Lecture 5 (January 28)I. Discussion of the Narrative of Frederick Douglass- In-Class question #1: Which of the following is considered one of the phases of a slave narrative? Answer: Dehumanization (phase 1)- Opinion question: Which is more essential to Douglass’s freedom?a. Literacyb. A plan to physically escapePhase 2: Resolution to free oneself-What to think about:- How can he achieve both these things?- For him, are they connected?- What’s the use of being literate if you can’t do anything with it because you’re a slave?Phase 3: What is his pivotal moment?Examples of pages 424 and 427- Looking back at Aunt Hester, why