PURPOSE: Using sticky notes demonstrates that your brain is actively engaged in a dialogue with the text. The notes are evidence of your reading experience on the page because you are able to “stick” it right next to the part of the text that gave you that thought.

WHAT TO NOTE: You should make marginal notes about characters, plot details and connections and personal reactions. You should also try to make notes related to the notes and questions for each chapter. You will be graded on notes that fall into the four main focus areas. You should try to comment, not just summarize. DO NOT just make one kind of note. Instead, vary the types of notes. Part of your grade will be the quality and types of notes that you make.

AREAS TO NOTE: There are FOUR main focus areas:

Fear: Mandela talked about what he fears and does not fear. How does fear impact the characters in the novel?

Children: Mandela talked about the importance of children in his interview. How are children important to Kumalo throughout the novel? How is this reflective of what Mandela says?

Leadership: Think about what Mandela says makes a good leader. How do the “leaders” in the novel compare to what Mandela says are important qualities for a leader to have?

Forgiveness: Mandela says that for peace you must talk to your enemy. How does what he says relate to the forgiveness in the novel?

*****Use the dictionary in the back of the book to help you understand some of the unfamiliar words.*****

Name ______Period ______

Use the chart to keep track of DUE DATES for the reading.

Due
Date / Chapters
Tues. 3/25 / 1-5
Thurs. 3/27 / 6-8
Tues. 4/1 / 9-12
Thurs. 4/3 / 13-17
Tues. 4/8 / 18-23
Thurs. 4/10 / 24-29
Tues. 4/15 / 30-36

Individual Grade (100 points) Notes should:

  • Be IN the book and the note should be by the part in the book that it goes with. Do not do on a separate sheet of paper.
  • Be legible
  • Span the novel and not just a few chapters- consistency is the key.
  • Give evidence that you read and you were engaged. Be meaningful- do more than JUST make emotional and personal connections like “I agree” or “Wow that’s neat!”
  • They should be specific to the text at hand and make sense given the location of the note. They should NOT JUST be at the end of chapters.
  • Show evidence of connections and interactions with the text in ways that help you analyze what is happening and that note your questions. They should not look as though they were copied from Cliff’s Notes or Spark Notes.
  • Be reflective of the FOUR main focus areas- label F, CH, L, FG and comment
  • Be related to the notes and questions.
  • These must be completed in order to work within pairs and groups on the Travel Log.

Cry, the Beloved Countryreading notes and questions

BOOK 1: Chapter 1-5

  • There is a dual nature to the land. Think about how this mimics the how different races are treated.
  • Young people have left the valley. Think about the impact that would have on communities. And they never write home.
  • The Child helps us to understand Kumalo’s position in his tribe, but think about the things she is impressed by in his home-he is not a rich man.
  • There is a lot of emotion over one letter. Think about why.
  • Think about Kumalo’s wife and how she must feel.
  • While waiting for the train, a man asks Kumalo to do something.***
  • Kumalo is clearly nervous through the journey on the train.
  • On page 47 there is an odd description of lights- think of NYC Times Square and how odd that would look to someone who has never seen it before. The author makes us feel how Kumalo feels.
  • Something terrible happens to Stephen in the city.
  • Pay attention to the headlines and how they are worded. Think about the impact of the word choice.
  • Fear rules the land in Johannesburg. Think about why and how the reader knows this from these chapters.
  • There is talk about Stephen’s brother John.

BOOK 1: Chapter 6-8

  • There is information about Gertrude and Stephen finds her. Take note of her “condition.”
  • Stephen finds his brother and John explains why he left the tribe.
  • Think about how John fits or does not fit Mandela’s explanation of a leader.
  • Msimangu and Stephen have an important conversation about power and love on page 70-71.
  • Something happens on their journey to Johannesburg.
  • Take note of Dubula and why he is more of a threat to the government than Stephen’s brother John- again think about the qualities of a leader.
  • They arrive in Alexandria and talk to a woman where Absalom lived.
  • Stephen and Msimangu see something involving the bus boycott on the way home. Think about what Msimangu means by, “It beats me?”

BOOK 1: Chapter 9-12

  • Chapter 9 opens with many “voices” in South Africa. These are not necessarily characters that the reader knows or will ever see again. This is to give the reader an understanding of what life is like for them in SA now.
  • “Let” means rent.
  • Pay attention and note the living conditions here.
  • At the beginning of Chapter tenthere is significance of Stephen playing with the child (his nephew).
  • They travel to Shanty Town, the reformatory, and Pimville looking for Absalom. They get information about him along the way. They don’t find him, but do find his girlfriend. Note the reactions of Msimangu and Stephen to the “girl.”
  • In the beginning of chapter 11 the reader learns about Arthur Jarvis and what happened to him (from both the conversations and the news article).
  • Chapter 12 is similar to chapter 9 in that you hear about all the different fears of people in the country. Note the different types of people and their fears
  • Each person is “crying” in chapter 12 and giving their opinion to the solution to the “native problem.” Some are very racist.
  • Stephen continues to search to find Absalom and finds out more information.

BOOK 1: Chapter 13-17

  • Stephen goes with Msimangu to Ezenzeleni and takes some time to think. Note what he thinks about and the kind of realization he has there.
  • Msimangu preaches while they are there. Note Kumalo’s impression of him.
  • What does Stephen mean when he says to Msimangu, “Brother, I am recovered”? How did Msimangu help him recover?
  • Stephen has a conversation with Absalom. How is fear involved here?
  • Note what happens between John and Stephen at the end of Chapter 14.
  • Think about the conversation Kumalo and father Vincent have about fear and sorrow.
  • Stephen has a conversation with Absalom’s girlfriend. What is decided?
  • Make sure you know who Mr. Carmichael and what his is going to do.

BOOK 2: Chapter 18-23

  • The beginning of Book II opens very much like the opening page of Book I. Think about why Alan Paton does this.
  • Jarvis discusses the “native problem.”
  • Jarvis learns of his son’s murder. Think about how the author communicates his pain.
  • Look at the writing Arthur Jarvis was completing when he was interrupted and murdered.
  • Note how James Jarvis feels about his son’s mission to help natives.
  • Note Mrs. Jarvis’s reaction to the murder of her son.
  • Note the books and pictures in Arthur’s office.
  • Note James Jarvis’s reaction to his son’s writings.
  • There are a few “firsts” for James at the funeral of his son- what are they?
  • Mr. Harrison expresses many views about natives and the “native problem.”
  • Arthur makes a claim about Christianity and the “native problem>”
  • Why are the last four words that Arthur wrote so moving and ironic?
  • Think about the description of the law and judges on pages 157-58
  • Note Absalom’s plea and what he says about fear.
  • Gold is found and everyone seems excited except the author gives the impression that it is NOT a good thing. Think about the technique he uses to communicate this.

BOOK 2: Chapter 24-29

  • James reads one of Arthur’s papers and it hurts him deeply.
  • Make sure you pay attention to how the letter helps the reader understand the motivations of the character of Arthur Jarvis.
  • Stephen and James meet unexpectedly- why?
  • John Kumalo speaks and again there is talk about leadership here and its relationship to the “one thing lacking” in John Kumalo.
  • Mrs. Lithebe is upset with Gertrude.
  • Again newspaper headlines and stories come into play.
  • Gertrude is thinking about something and asks for the girl’s help.
  • There is a large explanation about the judge and the law. Why does it come before the ruling?
  • Absalom’s reacts to the verdict. The girl and Absalom meet again. Stephen meets with Absalom. Stephen and John have a heated discussion.
  • Msimangu does something to make Stephen Weep.
  • Something happens at the very end of chapter 29- maybe not such a surprise.

BOOK 3: Chapter 30-36

  • Stephen returns home and the people are very happy.
  • There is trouble in Ndotsheni and Stephen goes for help.
  • There is a little white boy and he is very important. Pay attention to him
  • Someone is dying and will die before the end of the novel.
  • Mr. Carmichael writes to Stephen.
  • There is a change in weather and it is significant.
  • Stephen and James meet at the church.
  • The Bishop is not so nice to Stephen.
  • James does something BIG.
  • An Agricultural teacher comes.
  • Stephen goes up to the mountain
  • There is discussion of fear at the end and for what all of Africa is waiting.