RR #5

Reading Response #5 Questions - Must be AT LEAST 500 WORDS!

1.  In literature, the word agency means, “the freedom and capacity to live or act in a defined world.”  And so, when you look at the character of Antigone, to what extent does she have agency in the play?  In what ways have you seen her act on her own ability to live and survive in this particular world?

2.  Discuss the irony behind the role of Teiresias in the play.

3.  Taking into account the conflict between Antigone and Creon, is there any way to tell what point of view Sophocles, the playwright, holds towards the conflict and what might the evidence be for the playwright's point of view?

Reading Response #4
The Lesson
Han Rong Ma
3/14/15
           In the story, Ms.Moore wants to achieve the teaching of middle school students a "lesson" to teach students about something valueable. It is necessary of teaching the students how to be responsible for their behaviors, what should do and what should not do. For instance, in the story, while looking at the window of the toy store, Sugar asks: "we could steal?" I was shocked, thinking Sugar does not realize the how serious the circumstance was until she saw the price tag of toy, it is something their age could not afford to buy. And the end, although not everyone getting what Ms. Moore trying to hit up in the lesson, but at least one of the students realizes what was occuring to her. She accomplished getting that one student to learn her "Lesson", the only way for her to ever afford the good things of life is to become educated, knowledge is money. She realizes what to do in the future, the "lesson" did not go wasted on her.

            Han Rong Ma
            EN 102
            2/25/15
            Reading Response #3
            The story is a captivating tale of a relationship between two trouble makers in Harlem neighborhood. As I was reading the story I had a feeling that like I've been into the same situation as he was when trying to fix things with his brother. As the older brother we had to take care of the younger in the family by doing something that they might see it and understand as if we are interfering with their personal life which may lead to problems. I am an only child, but I have a very good friend since kindergarden.
            Sometimes it is hard for me to show him my feeling when it comes to giving him advice I do not really know where to start. But the narrator of the story seems to have real feeling for his blooded brother who is actually younger than him, but his kind of afraid letting his feeling out and also he feels the responsible  for his brother because his mom told him to look after him. In my opinion memories its important in this story because as the author was narrating the story he was remembering things that had happen to him in the past. Flashback, the time in the story throws back and forth between the past and the present. Like when the narrator hears his students, they remind him of his brother at that age. And it was difficult to accept the facts that their father is passed away, no longer exists in the same world as them. Its like he is narrating the story he has a lot of flashbacks. In today's world, people would always try to ignore the bad memories but in this story mostly all the memories that he have were bad memories that affected him.

            Han Rong Ma
            EN 102
            2/25/15
            Reading Response #3
               The short story 'Barn Burning' is written by William Faulkner is loyalty in my opinion, for family still more important than standing up for what is right. He describes the theme through the conflicts that takes place in the story. The first conflict was when the little kid, the daddy and the white guy were in the court. They were in the court because the white man stepped in horse dropping and went to Snopes' house, wiped it in his rug. Abner Snopes is accused of burning down his landlord's barn because the other day the white man's barn was burned and the only person he suspected was the the kid's daddy. When they are in the court the kid has a conflict. He would has to choose whether he should tell the truth about his daddy burned down the barn or lie and stick up for his daddy. It is obvious to see that Sarty planned to lie in court even though he did not want to. His father knows that Sarty wants to tell the truth and assumes his son planned to betray him, but he feels powerless. The landlord, Mr. Harris, tells the Justice of the Peace that Sarty, Snope's son knows the truth. Sarty's knows his father wants him to lie to defend him. Before he has to testify, the justice and the landlord take pity on him. This initial tension between what Sart wants and what his father wants lasts the rest of the story a new begin.

Moliesa Yashin Reading Response

The Lesson

1. What does Miss Moore hope to accomplish during the class outing? What lesson does she want to teach? Does it need teaching? Why? To what extent does Miss Moore's method of teaching succeed?

I think Miss Moore had more than one objective in carrying out the class tour. I think she wanted her class to learn about the importance of education, life and to be more serious with their school work. I think she did this so as encourage them to be more responsible. It is evident that they are poor and come from poor families that do not take them seriously. Due to the lack of supervision on their families behalf they act out and behave very irresponsible. In this regard, Miss Moore is trying to teach them to take their education more seriously so as to live a comfortable life and others do not look down at them as they do now. The parents seemed to be very much interested in having Miss Moore the teacher I think because she seem to be well respective by the way she carried herself and they thought this was best for their children. I think when children are this way they definitely need the guidance from an adult so as to lead them to the right path (one that would be beneficial for them and secure a good future). When we grow up very irresponsible and carefree we tend to be this way all our lives until something really bad happens to teach us a lesson. Maybe Miss Moore just want them to not have to go through this and to make a solid and stable future from young.

I think that her methods of teaching her class this lesson were not clear enough and it caused them to act out and not to take it seriously. At the end they took her money and ran away. She should have been more cleared and expressive in her approach to help them since I think they felt like they were being attacked.

RR #4 the lesson

           I don't read a lot of stories, and this was exactly why. Reading this story was one of the hardest things I have ever done. The narrator had no sense of grammar neither did any of the characters. It was very tough for me to read. Although it was very tough for me to read, it was also a very interesting read. Even though it was a tough read, I would like to believe tht i got the message that this story was trying to convey. I believe that Miss Moore is trying to teach the kids how unfair and one sided theiss world is. She takes the kids to a toy store and shows them how the poor and middle class cannot afford these types of luxuries and only the rich can afford it.
           In this story, one of the kids goes on to explain how with a thousand dollars a rich man can give a child one toy, but they will be able to feed 7 kids for a year. This is a very powerful message because it is saying that a rich person does not understand the value of a dollar as much as a poor man does. This is only because the poor has so little that much appreicate everything they have. Miss Moore tries to treach these kids the value of the dollar and that they should never think of it as an object but a way to survive. At the end of the story, the point gets across to every single child and Miss Moore has successfully taught her lesson.

RR#4 - The Lesson

Shaun Singh
Professor Corona
English 102
13 March 2015

The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara was a rather interesting read to say the least, if only because of the fact that it was something that made me quite nostalgic whilst reading. The bulk of what I read these days are mangas like Oyasumi Punpun and Solanin by Inio Asano that cover subject matter which most people would consider to be empathetic to a painfully realistic degree. Hell, even the stuff that I read that isn't manga tends to be engrossed in intense subject matter like Our Happy Time by Gong Ji-Young and Life of Pi by Yann Martel. It isn't often that I come across something that I can find empathetic that doesn't make me depressed as all hell. Leave it to English class to give me a pleasant reading that makes me yearn for the summers I spent as a child at home with a tutor.

On another note, it still baffles me as to how the wealthy think that charging hundreds of dollars for children's toys is a good idea. If I were in FAO Schwarz or any of those fancy toy stores and looked at those prices, I think I might've fainted, and I know damn well my father would have an aneurysm if he saw how much they charged for that fancy ship. To hell with wanting the best for my kids, they better be satisfied with a public school education, a paddle-ball, some cricket bats, and a few sets of board games. Okay, that's a bit hyperbolic but what rational human being would spend $1000-something on a toy ship? Surely there must be wealthy parents out there that can agree it's nothing more than a frivolous waste of money and would settle for something like a $20-$30 chemistry set. That toy ship costs a little less than 2/3rds of my apartment's rent! I could go ahead and move into a studio apartment in College Point with that kind of cash, or buy ~360 gallons of regular gasoline from the local petrol station. I could actually put a down payment on that Farsi class I've been meaning to take for God knows how long, and so on and so forth.

I envy the wealthy, but I don't envy their lack of pragmatism.

Pak-tung Le

Professor Rachel Corona

English 102

14 March 2015

            After reading “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara it is possible to conclude that it was written to illustrate socio-economic factors growing up in the late 60’s or the early 70’s.

            Miss Moore was a well-educated woman who wanted to teach the children that she took on the outing that what the children thought as their entire world was not necessarily true. Bambara uses Miss Moore to teach the children that with hard work, individuals can better themselves. There is a world that exists which allows children to have possessions that these kids currently do not have, nor had they experienced. The outing also gave these adolescents a glimpse into what Miss Moore had constantly told them. There was a need to work and better themselves or they will not be able to get rewards that they desire.

            When children are growing up, their environments influence them. These environmental influences might be where they live, family life, racial prejudices or a lack of money. What sometimes occurs is that parents and society do not succeed in teaching children that you can always strive to be better. You should not be ashamed of your background because with hard work, you will be able to succeed in changing your life and that you should not feel intimidated by those who might have more than you. The example that Bambara uses to illustrate this is to show Sylvia and Sugar’s reactions to the Catholic Church and FAO Schwarz. The two girls felt intimidated and ashamed of themselves when at both of those places, but the two girls had every right to be in both of them. Miss Moore was also trying to teach the children that there will always be a place that intimidates you in life, however, you need to understand that you have the right to be there and experience things. If you do not believe that you are able to move forward, or feel you do not deserve to have the things that you strive to get, you will not be able to achieve your goal.

            The lesson that Miss Moore was trying to teach them needs to be taught to all children. The lesson of believing in yourself and working hard is something that underprivileged kids need to learn. The greatest assets they have is their mind and abilities to work hard. If they do not use either of them, they will be destined to fail. Miss Moore was somewhat successful in that they children were able to grasp that what the people who shopped at FAO Schwartz spent on toys would allow each child’s family to eat and buy things to take care of their household needs. Sylvia will think about their outing. She appears not to want people to be better than her so perhaps she will be one of the individuals that will get out of there. Doing so, she will no longer feel ashamed upon entering any establishment or feeling she is not worthy to do so.

Nicholas Hu

Reading Response 4

The Lesson Question 1

                In The Lesson, Miss Moore tries to teach the kids about their social status. She wants them to know about the real world, and how to be an adult. She doesn't only teach them about their social status, she tries to just generally make them smarter. She asked them to calculate the amount of tip needed for the cab driver. Giving the cab driver a dime as tip for an 85 cent ride was pretty close to how much Miss Moore wanted them to pay.

                 I think teaching them these lessons is very necessary for their futures. The kids don't seem like the bunch who would try and do well in school. They were raised in such a way that led them to how they are.  I think if it weren't for Miss Moore, they'd grow up to be delinquents or such. I think this is relatable to any society now. Looking back at the story you can assume that the economic status of those kids is not that great. These kids are known to steal things, and bully other kids for their money. You see this kind of stuff portrayed in movies and television, and we've all seen how they turn out as adults. Miss Moore is doing good work.

                Miss Moore's teaching does succeed, when they go to the museum and look around. They see expensive items such as a boat and a microscope. Some of the kids have interest and Miss Moore tells them about it. Out of all the kids, Sugar is the one who realizes how that money used in buying the boat could be for helping out her own family. It's later when she realizes the worth of a the 35$ toy. She could use that to help, rather than her own personal needs.

Camilo Arango

Reading response

1.  What does Miss Moore hope to accomplish during the class outing?  What lesson does she want to teach?  Does it need teaching?  Why?  To what extent does Miss Moore's method of teaching succeed?

I think Miss Moore is trying to introduce the children to a new side of life that  they were not aware of before. She is trying to show them that there are beautiful things outside of the slums where they occupy their time. By broadening the horizons of these kids, she is trying to show those kids how the world is out of their community, showing them the unfairness to which they are part. She is trying to show them how the segregation has affected the economic status between social classes  where one of those toys could easily maintain the house living expenses of a family back at their place. She wants to teach them that there are so many things out there that could only be theirs, but the only way to get them is by opening their hearts and minds and accept the knowledge that Miss Moore have been trying to inculcate in them. Moreover, they should strive to be better.

Miss Moore is a knowledgeable black woman in a society where black people are seen as less educated and violent. She is trying to change this by teaching a lesson to these kids. A lesson that will make them realize of the inequality. And encourage them to change these presumptions. This lesson might not have made a big change on their mindset, but I am sure it has take deep root in their vision of society.

Crystal Williams 
Professor Raquel Corona 
English 102 
13 March 2015

Reading Response #4

The Lesson

1.  What does Miss Moore hope to accomplish during the class outing?  What lesson does she want to teach?  Does it need teaching?  Why?  To what extent does Miss Moore's method of teaching succeed?

This story really spoke to me. Miss Moore intended to show the inner city children the reality of their lives. Their are clear inequalities between themselves and other people in the United States. This lesson is still important to be taught today. There are clear differences between people in this country, mostly with people of color. I do feel that there is another part that should have been taught in conjunction with the original lesson: the case of reparations. Now, the whole point of distributing the wealth is for everyone to have a equal crack at success (page 6). How can we ever expect to be a post racial society that preaches to be a melting pot when we can not pay back the ones that have died building this country? There are companies still thriving off of slave money. Whole countries stay afloat thanks to the 1000 plus years of free labor. Studies have shown that African Americans make up 40% of the economy. And we fight over crumbs. 

As far as how much the teaching succeeded, I believe it was successful. I believe that the lesson hit everyone in different ways. For example, the narrator of the story was affected by the lesson even though she trie to act differently. Through out the story, the speaker's vernacular became more coherent at different points in the story, which is a testament to the teachings of Miss Moore. On page six, Sugar expresses her understanding of the situation presented to her, "this is not much of a democracy if you ask me. Equal chance to pursue happiness means an equal crack at the dough, don't it?" The children also expressed an understanding of the price of food in comparison with the price of a sail boat. However, it is important to note the manner in which the narrator tries to prevent Sugar from speaking. In every revolution, there is always one that does every thing in their power to disrupt the movement. It's a sad truth. Look at the case of Malcom X. It is always one of your own that wants things to stay the same. 

Now for my personal response. What really bothers me about this story is that is parallels how the children and parents act in my after school program. The parents treat the program as if it is a baby sitting service. The children emulate the crabs in a barrel mentality that holds the whole community back. It's depressing to
See the mentality of the people in this story. They used Miss Moore like she was a babysitting service. They didn't like her speech. Hated her education and the way she dressed. She disrupted their reality and pulled their stagnant souls from self perpetuated oppression. She represented a way out. These people are complacent with their placement in life, but will complain in an instant for what they feel they deserve. It's like this confusion that leads to insanity. This insanity leads to destruction. Destruction leads to death. This is one of the reasons that we are in the state that we are on now. Look at the neighbourhoods. You can't even go to the corner store with out being accosted by some random fool with a chip on their shoulder. Miss Moore sees a community that needs raising. A conscienseness that needs a tune up. And she understands the importance of training a child to be leaders of tomorrow. Your oppressors will NEVER give you the keys to your salvation. Children are not even taught slavery, one of the biggest atrocities to ever happen on earth. Children need to learn truth for young so they recognise the falicies in our "post racial" United States today.

Reading Response #4 Recitatif

From the reading I understood that Twyla and Roberta come from a different background and race. It all indicates that one of the girls is white and the other is African American. Throughout the story there were some clues that made me think that Twyla was the white girl. For example when they first met Twyla remembered some of the things that her mother had told her about Roberta’s race and she didn't want to be roommates with her. Roberta didn't know how to read, while Twyla did and we have to keep in mind that this was written during the civil rights and back then it was very rare to see a black girl who knew how to read. Later on when the moms visited them, Twyla’s mom (Mary) had all the features to be a white irresponsible mother. While Roberta’s mother seemed to be black because she’s described as being big and religious and did not want to shake Mary’s hand because of her bad influence. Later on when they saw each other again at the bussing controversy, Roberta accuses Twyla of kicking Maggie (the lunch lady) because she was black. Even though this was not true, it made me ask myself why would anyone accuse someone of being racist against someone of their same race?But as I kept reading there were a lot of other clues that made me think that Roberta was the white girl, but Morrison never really specifies which girl is which.

I think Toni Morrison presents this story in the way she does in order to play with the reader’s mind into figuring out which girl is which race. And to show that at the end of the day race does not matter because we’re all humans and our actions determine who we are. Just like it happened with the two friends, when they were still children they did not pay attention to any of these things and got along without any sing of racism against each other, but when they grew up their races kept them apart. And it was at the end that they realized that they were letting race keep them apart and being the friends they once we. And instead of focusing on their differences they brought up what had made them friends the first time they met, which were their mothers.

Ronise Felix

Homework

Reading response

English

From the clues provided by the narrator, how do you figure out the race and class backgrounds of the two main characters, Twyla and Roberta?  Why do you think Toni Morrison presents this in the way she does?  What is she trying to show her readers?

The “Recitatif” story writing by Toni Morrison. They explain about the friendship between the narrator Twyla and Roberta. At first they grow up in an orphanage for girl. They were there not because they were orphans but because the mother of Twyla like or choose to dance she does not have time to take care of her. However, the mother of Roberta was sick that’s why she could not take care of her. It’s hard to figure out the races of the girls but one think that make me figure out the race and the class of the two main characters is when the mother of Twyla and the mother of Roberta come to see them. The mother of Roberta did not want to shake hand with Twyla’s mother. I think Roberta’s mother was white and Mary the mother of Twyla was black because at that time racism existed so she feels that she is better than Twyla’s mother.  Furthermore, the mother of Twyla did not bring any food for her, but the mother of Roberta brought her good food “chicken legs and ham sandwiches and orange and a whole box of chocolate-covered graham and she drank milk.” This sentence makes me realize that the mother of Twyla did not even have opportunities to bring something for her little girl. So they were poor. I think the narrator choose to write like that to make us able to distinguish the two races and classes of these two girl that grow together in an orphanage. Also, the narrator wants to demonstrate the difference between black and white at that time. I think through the story she try to explain that white and black can be have different color of skin but they both can achieve something example get married and have children. What I very like in this story is that; at first Roberta did not know how to read and white but in the future she learns how to white. The narrator makes me realize that is never too late to go to school and she value school because read and white could make have a better place in society.

She also value friendship even though a little bit of jealousy were between them when they grow up but they still reminisce the ancient time and they friendship continue.

Reading Response #4 Miss Moore hopes to accomplish teaching the students a lesson.she wants to teach the students exactly what sugar says on page 603 "I don't think all of us here pit together eat in a year what that sailboat costs". Yes it does need teaching because of the mindset that the students have, the things they say and do. In the passage while looking in the window of the toy store sugar asks "Can we steal" I feel as though sugar didn't realize how serious the situation was until she seen the prices of the toys that herself and her friends couldn't afford. The extent in which Miss Moore method succeeds is atleast one of the students realized what was occurring around her. although everyone didn't get something out of the lesson she accomplished getting through to one of the students.

Reading Response #4 The Lesson

1.  What does Miss Moore hope to accomplish during the class outing?  What lesson does she want to teach?  Does it need teaching?  Why?  To what extent does Miss Moore's method of teaching succeed?

        Miss Moore was trying to show the group of children the difference between economic classes. From the story you can see that the children are from low-middle to low economic families. When they looked at the expensive toys, the children felt like they could never save enough to buy them. Miss Moore wanted to show them that unlike rich children, they would have to take more time to save their money to get what they want in life. Unlike the higher economic classes that are able to obtain things easier and more efficiently, people from a lower economic stand point(like the children in the story) have to work harder to get those things.

        I believe that this was a lesson the children needed to learn because it was able to show them how much easier things are for others compared to them. Her method succeeds to a certain degree (except for the case of Sylvia who only cared about the $4). It let them see their own current economic positions and let them see even if for second(until they get interrupted by getting hurts by the others) how they would be able to reach that position someday.

 What does Miss Moore hope to accomplish during the class outing?  

        Miss Moore as well educated person understand the unfair and hypocrisy that is our society where socioeconomic status of any people play the my role. miss Moore wants that children who live in a poor neighborhood or slum expand their horizon beyond their community. Children must be awareness how cruel is the life, and show them that just one toy from a luxury toy store in down town, NY can feed seven family. As small, we do not care about things that is surrounding us that's why Silvia at the beginning of the trip she feels uncomfortable, and miss Moore said "keep the change" but then she realize that there is a big gap between rich and poor, not far from her home. She is upset by the inequality. Miss Moore encourage children to act positive because poverty does not mean stupid or lack of desire. And miss Moore hope that trip change children's mind and know that if others can have this type of life's style you can too. this trip also mean that those children now might have a goal in their life, not just because of having a life of luxury because the limit in life is in their mind. The lesson here is that it's does not matter if you are poor or not those children have to  wake up and demand their fair share of economic resources, and also empower through education to fight against the system. If you do not know you never will claim.

      Miss Moore knows that her students come from poor families.  In order for such a condition to be changed, Miss Moore wants the kids to understand the excesses of wealth in society, and specifically how some people have too much (cost of the toy sailboat) and others have so very little.  The fact that Sylvia is disgruntled by the thoughts generated in her mind by the excursion demonstrates the field trip's success. 

Reading Response # 4
Question # 2
           In the short story “The Lesson” Miss Moore takes the group of children to a FAO Schwartz toy store in Manhattan . One can be lead to believe that by taking them to a store where they can’t afford anything, she wants them to see that there is more to life beyond what they are accustomed to and that education is very essential to achieving a better life. She wants them to realize what they may consider excessive spending is very trivial to the people that shop at that store, and that not everyone has the same social standing.  She is hoping that by introducing them to this side of life they will somehow be motivated to strive for better and rise above their current situation. The children needed to learn this lesson since it is quite clear they weren’t even aware that a toy could cost that much or that someone would even spend that much on a toy. They couldn’t fathom the idea of anyone spending so much on a toy when that money could feed an entire family for quite some time. From the story it seems like these children have spent their entire lives in a bubble surrounded by people in the same socioeconomic situation as them. They weren’t aware that there was more to life than what they knew and Miss Moore simply opened up their eyes to the other side of life. Her little experiment got a few members of the group thinking and comparing their socioeconomic situation with the people that are in a higher social position. It gave them reason to pause and wonder how they can achieve such success or in Sylvia’s case how she can beat them at their game.

Reading Response #4: The Lesson

Stacey McDonald

EN-102

March 12, 2015

Reading Response #4

           

            In “The Lesson,” by Toni Morrison, I believe that Miss Moore is hoping to teach her group of local, under privileged children just how unfair the world can really be. Based on the location, which is 1970’s NYC, most likely Harlem, each and every one of these kids comes from a family that is extremely poor, and Miss Moore is the new, sophisticated, and intelligent woman on the block. The neighborhood parents all jump at the opportunity to expose their children to a woman like her, probably so that they will learn that there is more to life than “the block.” During their summer break she brings them to Fifth Avenue, which to most people in New York, is a symbol of money and power within itself. As they go from expensive store to expensive store, it is no surprise that these kids are baffled by the price tags. There’s a paperweight, which most of the kids don’t even know the purpose of, for $480! That’s an outrageous price in 2015, let alone the 70’s. There are expensive and meaningless items everywhere, but to be honest, I’m not sure any of this hit the kids until they found the sailboat. For $1,000, there were children given this toy just to destroy it, because it didn’t matter, their parents could always buy a new one. For these kids from Harlem, $1,000 was not okay to just throw away. That money could feed their whole family, or pay the rent for months in advance. Not money to be spent on a toy that could make for 50 cents, or buy at the dollar store.

            I believe that Miss Moore wanted them to see that they need to work their hardest in life not to let others put them down, that they would always need to be one step ahead of everyone else or they would be living the same, deprived lives for a long, long time. Nothing is handed to you, and these kids, in the eyes of society, are already at such a disadvantage. Poor little urban children, they’ll never have the expensive sailboat. They’re too worried abut what will happen if mom and dad can’t make the rent this month, or if a bill is higher than expected and they can’t buy enough food. For inner city kids, this was a reality in the 1970’s, and it’s a reality in 2015. Miss Moore taught these kids that life is unfair by taking them out of their comfort zone and into a place where the wealthy thrive. Hopefully at least one of them got to escape the life of poverty that has been thrust upon them, and I hope they realize they have Miss Moore to thank for that.  

Reading Response #4

Hello there,

I apologize for how long it took me to get these questions posted.  This week was an especially tough one for me and I'm sorry!  Below you'll find the questions for this week.  Please choose ONLY one question to answer in your reading response!

Thank you,

Raquel Corona

--
Recitatif

1.  From the clues provided by the narrator, how do you figure out the race and class backgrounds of the two main characters, Twyla and Roberta?  Why do you think Toni Morrison presents this in the way she does?  What is she trying to show her readers?

The Lesson

1.  What does Miss Moore hope to accomplish during the class outing?  What lesson does she want to teach?  Does it need teaching?  Why?  To what extent does Miss Moore's method of teaching succeed?