Green River College An American Childhood Discussion

Please Answer Question 2 only!

Please remember to develop your response thoroughly, paying close attention to sentence mechanics, unity, support, and coherence. Use direct textual support (paraphrase and quotation) to illustrate any generalizations you make.

Please read other students’ prior entries to be sure that you don’t merely repeat what has already been said. In addition, be sure to respond crtitically to another student’s posting after you make your initial posting. The deadline for your first posting is noon Friday; the deadline for your second postiing is 11:00 p.m. Sunday.

BE SURE TO MODEL YOUR POSTS ON THE EXAMPLES IN “PAGES”–IT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD CRITIQUE/SECONDARY POST.

Respond to one of the following sets of questions:

“Salvation”

1) Although Langston Hughes’ experience is culturally specific, his narrative deals with the kind of “loss-of-innocence” experience most adolescents face at some point. What is the nature of Hughes’ (the boy’s) conflict? How does Hughes use imagery to build tension and suspense in his narrative? How does he create tonal complexity through “comic relief”? What is Westley’s purpose in the story? What is the significance of Hughes’ experience?

“An American Childhood”

2) Annie Dillard’s “portrait” of her mother contains no physical description of her mother, yet Dillard “shows” a great deal about her mother through other techniques/strategies. Why do you think Dillard omits a physical description of her mother? How does she “show” her mother’s character? How would you sum up the mother’s personality?