The Bluest Eye: AUTUMN

Chapter 1

1) Comment on the opening line of this rather complex opening line.

2) How does Claudia feel about her neighbour, Rosemary Villanucci? Pick out two key quotes.

Hatred
She hates / loathes / detests / can’t stand / can’t bear Rosemary because / as / since + REASON
Anger
Claudia feels anger towards Rosemary because ...
She is angry at / with Rosemary since ...
She resents the fact that ...
She resents the way that ...

3) “Adults do not talk to us” (Page 5), “Our illness is treated with contempt” (Page 6), and

“I think of somebody with hands who does not want me to die.” (Page 7).

a. What reproaches does she make to adults and how they treat children? Use some of the following expressions.

Reproach
She blames adults for....
She accuses them of....
She approaches adults with....
She criticises adults for (not)...

b. How appropriate is the description of Claudia’s mother’s love for her children as “tough love”?

4) Read pages 7-9 and identify what Claudia and Frieda learn from the adults’ conversation.

5) Mr Henry

a. Read page 10 and contrast Mr Henry’s treatment of the girls with the way the parents treat the girls. Use contrast words: whereas / while / unlike + Noun or Pronoun

b. “We loved him. Even after what came later, there was no bitterness in our memory of him.” What did come later?

6) Read pages 10 -12 and say what we learn about each of the different members of the Breedlove family: Cholly, Sammy, Pauline and Pecola.

7) Read pages 12-16 and find the following elements:

a. Shirley Temple

b. the blue-eyed baby doll and Raggedy Ann dolls

c. Bojangles

d. Shirley Temple cup

Find quotations for each of these objects to show exactly how Claudia feels about them. How does Pecola feel about them? Use some of the expressions below.

Hatred
She finds the doll nauseating / disgusting : loathesome/ repugnant / repellant since ...
She is repelled by it since / as / because ...
The reason why she feels such disgust for the doll is that ...
Admiration
She is in awe of ...
She admires / appreciates the doll because ...
She thinks highly of ...
She is impressed by ...

8) On page 17 Claudia’s mother criticises Pecola for drinking too much milk and so appears to be quite harsh and stern. Find evidence on pages 17-23 of a softer side to Mrs MacTeer.

9) How does this scene on pages 17-23 show the children’s innocence?

Chapter 2

10) Pages 24-27- how does the description of the Breedlove house differ from the primer extract at the top of page 24? Pick out a key quote to sum up the house.

11) Identity: read pages 28-29.

a. “They believed they were ugly.” (¨Page 28)

b. “They had looked about themselves and saw nothing to contradict the statement; saw, in fact, support for it learning at them from every billboard, every movie, every glance.”

What is Toni Morrison saying about how identity is created? What effect do certain images have on black people’s identity?

12) Describe the Breedlove family’s relationship. How does this make Pecola feel? Look at the passage on pages 33-34.

Wish
Pecola wishes that she could...
She wishes that her parents would (not)...
She wishes she + past tense

13) Read pages 34-37 and identify the symbols used by Morrison.

Symbols / What do they represent?
Blue eyes
Dandelions (pissenlit)
Mary Jane sweets

14) Note down how Mr Yacobowski treats Pecola with contempt (mépris). Find key quotes showing this.

15) On page 38 Pecola thinks: “Love Mary Jane. Be Mary Jane.” How does this foreshadow later events?

16) Read pages 38-44 concerning the three prostitutes.

a. How do the three women treat Pecola? Contrast it with other people in the town.

b. Pick out words linked to the lexical field of affection.

c. These women are not accepted in society, yet they seem happy. How does this differ from Pecola’s own position in society?

d. Comment on the three women’s names.

e. Comment on the song that Poland sings at the end of the chapter.

The Bluest Eye: WINTER

Description of Mr. MacTeer (page 61)

  1. The story opens with Claudia's homage to her father: “My daddy's face is a study” (61). She uses winter metaphors and similes to describe him. Find the similes and metaphors at the beginning of this chapter.
  1. Comment on the way he is described.

Maureen Peel (62-63)

  1. Read pages 62-63. How do Frieda and Claudia feel about Maureen Peal. Use either of the below expressions to help with your thoughts.
  2. They resent the fact that ...
  3. They are jealous of Maureen because / as / since she ...
  1. How do the other people feel about Maureen and why? Use any of the below expressions to help with your thoughts. Try to find quotes to substantiate all answers.
  2. She is lauded by the teacher since ...
  3. The other students sing her praises since / as / because
  4. The reason why she is admired by everyone is because ...

Pecola and Maureen Peal (62-74)

  1. Read page 65 and comment on why the black children pick on Pecola. How do Frieda and Claudia react to this?
  1. Contrast Pecola and Maureen and how the two girls are treated differently by the boys. Why do you think it is important for Pecola to have a friend like Maureen Peal?
  1. Find an image to describe Maureen’s hair on page 62. Comment on the irony of that image and why Morrison decides to make use of it.
  1. Pick out the elements which show that society regards white as beautiful.

Geraldine’s Story (81-93)

  1. Look back at story of the “thin brown girls” (81-85). Make a list of their characteristics (at least seven ideas). e.g. They straighten their hair. OR They live in quiet neighbourhoods.
  1. Geraldine is one of these girls. What “white things” does she seem to be obsessed with?
  1. Geraldine distances herself from what she terms “niggers.” Make a link to Maureen Peal and her attitude to Frieda and Claudia.
  1. What differences does she make between the two groups?

“Coloured people” / “Niggers”
  1. Inside the house on pages 89-90. Pick out elements to describe the house. The nice tidy house reflects Geraldine’s desire to do what?
  1. Symbolism: Look at the description of the cat on pages 90. Who or what do you think it symbolises? Pick out relevant quotes.
  1. On page 92 we can see how Geraldine views black people. Use any of the expressions below to make sentences about how she feels about them.
  2. She looks down on black people since ...
  3. She does not hold black people in high esteem since ...
  4. The reason why she despises black people is ...
  1. Geraldine’s viewpoint on pages 91-92. Look at her thoughts when she sees Pecola. Pick out the key elements and comment on her feelings. Here are some expressions to help.
  2. She is afraid of / scared of ...
  3. She despises / hates / loathes / can’t bear / can’t stand ...
  4. The reason why she hates Pecola so much is that she reminds her of ...
  5. Pecola is the epitome of everything that Geraldine ...

The Bluest Eye: SPRING

Chapter 6

1) What has happened to Freida in the opening chapter?

2) Compare the different ways in which people react to the event:

Person / Reaction
Frieda
Her parents
The neighbours
Claudia

Can you explain why people react differently to this event?

3a) « Ruined » : explain its meanings: (page 78)

« Like the Maginot Line. She's ruined. »

« Miss Dunion came in ..... and said I might be ruined. »

b) What definition of « ruined » do the two girls understand?

c) How do they hope to save Frieda?

4) Describe in five sentences the area in which Pauline Breedlove works (see pages 80-81)

......

5) The final scene between Pauline and Pecola: what is your personal reaction to this scene?

......

6) Write 5 sentences of CONTRAST saying how Mrs Breedlove treats her own daughter and the other little girl:

......

7) Language Techniques: identify the techniques below and EXPLAIN their effect on us:

a. « letting the laughter fall like a wash of red leaves all around us » (pg 81)

b. « soft gray houses leaning like tired ladies » (pg 81)

c. « when she saw us fear danced across her face » (pg 84)

d. « she spit out the words to us like rotten pieces of apple » (pg 85)

e. « Mrs Breedlove hushing and soothing the tears » (pg 85)

8) How does the reader feel about Mrs Breedlove at the end of this chapter?

SPRING: Chapter 7

1) Narrative voice: identify the two different narrative voices in this chapter and explain their effect on the reader and why Toni Morrison has chosen to adopt two different voices:

Narrative Voice One / Narrative Voice Two
First person narrative: Pauline
Allows us to « hear » her voice and get closer to the character / Third person narrator

2) Pauline Breedlove: ID Card

Name: Pauline WilliamsHome:

Brothers/Sisters: Mother's Job:

Physical appearance:Activities as a child:

How did she meet Cholly:New home with Cholly:

Problems in the marriage:Free Time:

Children: Job:

3) How do you feel about Pauline Breedlove after reading this chapter?

4) How has her life damaged her?

5) Write down your ideas about the ways in which mother/daughter relationships are presented in the novel.

SPRING: Chapter 8 Cholly's Life

1) Pick out FOUR key events in Chollys' life which have an important effect on him and say why you have chosen that event:

Event in Cholly's life / Effect it has on him

2) Who are the following people:

Samson Fuller:Blue Jack:

Aunt Jimmy:M'Dear:

Darlene:

3) Personal response: Does reading about Cholly's dysfunctional childhood have an effect on how you view the moment when he rapes Pecola? Why/why not?

4) How are GENDER relations presented in this part of the novel i.e. male/female relationships? Are they generally positive or negative? Give examples from the novel to support your answer.

SPRING: Chapter 9: Soaphead Church

1) Elihue Micah Whitcomb is also black. What else does he have in common with Geraldine and Maureen Peal?

2) What is Morrison saying about these black people and their own attitudes to being black?

3) Narrative techniques: name two narrative techniques used in this chapter. What effect do they have on the reader? Why has Toni Morrison used them?

4) Think about the following: Compare the way in which Junior and Soaphead Church treat Pecola. Is she treated worse by one than the other? If so, which one and why? Do you think it is important that each relationship involves animals: Junior and the cat, Soaphead and the dog.

5) Choose FIVE sentences / expressions in SPRING which you found particularly beautiful or well written and say why you have chosen them:

......

......

The Bluest Eye: SUMMER

Chapter 10 (187-192)

  1. Look at the following quotes and comment on what they say about people's attitudes at the time:
  2. “Lord. Have mercy. That dirty nigger” (189).
  3. “How come she didn't fight him?” (189)
  4. “She be lucky if it don't live. Bound to be the ugliest thing walking” (189).
  5. “Ought to be a law: two ugly people doubling up like that to make more ugly” (190).
  1. Personal reaction: are you surprised by people's reactions to what has happened to Pecola? Do you feel the same? Why/why not?
  1. What is Frieda and Claudia’s reaction to Pecola and her baby?
  1. How do Frieda and Claudia feel about Pecola?
  1. List two reasons Claudia wants Pecola’s baby to live.
  1. What do they do in an effort to save Pecola’s baby? Reflect back to the second Prologue as well when answering this question.
  1. Look at the description of the imagined baby: “It was in a dark, wet place, its head covered with great O's of wool, the black face holding, like nickels, two clean black eyes, the flared nose, kissing-thick lips, and the living, breathing silk of black skin” (190).
  1. This description is from whose point of view?
  1. What does this tell us about her view of definitions of beauty?
  1. Do you think Geraldine, Maureen Peal, Soaphead Church would agree?

Chapter 11 (193-206)

  1. Pecola has now created her own imaginary friend as she feels so alone. This is another example of a narrative technique used by Morrison. What does this technique allow Morrison to do?
  1. Reading between the lines: in this imaginary conversation we learn a lot about Pecola and what has happened to her. Explain each of the following:
  1. “Ever since I got my blue eyes she look away from me all the time” (195).
  1. “After that first day at school when I had my blue eyes. Well the next day they had Mrs Breedlove come out. Now I don't go anymore” (197).
  1. “He just tried see? He didn't do anything. You hear me?” (199)
  1. “I don't mean about the first time. I mean about the second time, when you were sleeping on the couch” (200).
  1. “The bluest eyes in the whole world” (203).
  1. Personal reaction: What do you think Pecola is a victim of? Can someone / something be blamed for what has happened to her?
  1. Do you think anything could have been done to save Pecola? Try to link your answer to the text.
  1. Overall this story presents the tragic consequences of racism in/on the identity and feelings of self-worth for black children. In your opinion, has the pressure society exerts changed since that time? Discuss the message a black child might receive today concerning physical beauty.