...Close Reading Fanon “The Fact of Blackness” “All the same, the Jew can be unknown in his Jewishness. He is not wholly what he is. One hopes, one waits. His actions, his behavior are the final determinant. He is a white man, and, apart from some rather debatable characteristics, he can sometimes go unnoticed.” (Fanon 8) In this passage from Fanon’s “The Fact of Blackness” there is a central message that Fanon is trying to portray. Fanon is comparing the hate in the world towards Jews and the hate towards Blacks. What he establishes is that the Jews are able to hide within their society because when a Jew is not easily visible based on appearance, whereas a black person is easily identifiable. The only thing that sets a Jew apart from other white men are his religious beliefs, but a black man cannot hide from his appearance and experiences the hatred of the world even more. An interesting part of the passage is when Fanon writes, “One hopes, one waits” because it builds suspense within the reader as if he were the one waiting and hoping not to get caught. Fanon does this to emphasize how the Jews were able to go unnoticed and did not have to be discriminated on a daily basis because of their religious beliefs. The simple sentence that Fanon is able to bring about these emotions within the reader where they feel not only how the Jew would feel trying to hide the fact that he is Jewish, but also how the black man feels in that situation. The Jew knows that the can...
Words: 795 - Pages: 4
...Jocelyn Dill Professor Samuels English 102-05 23 October 2012 Close Reading Analysis: The Gilded Six-Bits In Zora Neale Hurston’s short story “The Gilded Six-Bits,” there are many aspects that can be analyzed. However, I found it interesting that the act of objectification is reoccurring in this story from beginning to end. Objectification means to make a person or thing into an object rather than a human being or what it is. The character, Otis D. Slemmons, plays a very pivotal part in this story. His perception of wealth also plays an important role since the whole turning point of the storyline happens because of it. Mister Slemmon’s wealth and possessions cause everyone to be drawn to him. He himself allows women to treat him as an object rather than a person. Joe is extremely mesmerized by Slemmons. As soon as he hears of his presence, Joe can’t say enough about him to Missie May. She even gets to the point of exhaustion with Joe going on and on. “‘A new man done come heah from Chicago and he done got a place and took and opened it up for an ice cream parlor’” (Hurston 285). “‘Yeah he’s up to date. He got de finest clothes ah ever seen on a colored man’s back’” (Hurston 285). Slemmons is a symbol of wealth and admiration. He is also the cause of all the drama that takes place in this story. Missie May gives us the impression that she is a loyal, faithful wife to Joe. However, after Slemmons comes to town, we learn that is not true. Slemmons is...
Words: 869 - Pages: 4
...Close-reading Exercise #2 Identify and analyze the style of narration; if you detect parody here, identify at least three substantial details the suggest or emphasize this. This passage occurs in the first half of the novel Ulysses by James Joyce and provides the reader with third person narrative and free indirect discourse. The style of writing in this passage mimics the writing present in romance fiction or women’s periodicals such as Gerty’s beloved Princess Novelettes. Joyce sarcastically mocks romance fiction by using an excess of descriptive, sentimental and metaphorical language. Phrases such as “spiritual in its ivory purity”, “delicate as the faintest rosebloom”, and “her rosebud mouth was a genuine Cupid’s bow” all over-emphasize...
Words: 720 - Pages: 3
...When Odysseus slaughtered the suitors, he spared the lives of Medon the herald and the minstrel Phemios (xxii, 320). However, he didn’t spare the life of the priest Leiodes. Why didn’t Odysseus spare Leiodes’ life? According to The Odyssey, “he [Leiodes] was the only man to whom their [the suitors] evil deeds were hateful and indignant with the others” (xxi, 146). He also tried to stop the suitors from courting Odysseus’ wife, although unsuccessful (xxii, 315). Leiodes was the “sacrificial priest’’, why didn’t Odysseus take pity on him (xxi, 146)? Leiodes saw the error in the ways of the suitors, but he was killed all the same. Yes, he did partake in the courting and eating at Odysseus’ house, but was it really justified to murder him? Sparing Medon the herald I can understand, he was a loyal servant, like Eurykleia. The situation with the bard would be understandable, too. Phemios said to Odysseus that “your own son will tell you that I did not want to frequent your house and sing to the suitors after their meals, but they were too many and too strong for me, so they made me”, and Telemakhos did confirm the bard’s statement (xxii, 350). Maybe the priest also didn’t want to partake in the activities of the suitors; maybe he was forced to participate, just like Phemios. What really puzzles me is when Odysseus said to the herald “…that you may know in the future, and tell other people, how greatly better good deeds prosper than evil ones” (xxii, 371). If because...
Words: 432 - Pages: 2
...this week’s poem selection. I am bringing forth my thoughts, feelings and understandings of what I have read. This week’s poem that I have chosen is a “Woman’s Work”, by Julia Alvarez. As I begin to pick out the poem that I desired. I had to ask questions in analyzing what I was going to read. Questions to help me understand what the author is trying to say. On pages 766-767, Alvarez gives her description of a working woman in a poetic form. From my understanding, in line 1, Alvarez is stating that a woman work is not a high art (Alvarez, Pg. 766). However, in detail she explains the different types of challenges the character known as “the woman”, who struggles as she does her basic routine of cleaning. As I ponder on this week’s readings, I find myself thinking on how my Ancestors had to work in the cotton field and their master’s home. Also, tending to their needs. They really went through a lot and some even died so that there next generation could not experience the hardship. What I am stating, is that there comes a time in someone’s home that an individual has to sacrifice their lives so that their children can have better ones. People may not like the situation that there in but they are seeing the big picture and that is the future that lies ahead. In line 3, Alvarez states that the woman is keeping her house as if the address was their heart. Like the saying “your home is where your heart” (Alvarez, Pg. 766). When you find a place in your heart where your...
Words: 783 - Pages: 4
...Questions for Close Reading 1. The selection’s thesis is “Before a teacher can expect students to concentrate, he has to get their attention, not matter what distractions may be at hand” (Sherry 1). 2. Sherry considers the diplomas meaningless because the vanity of the graduating students would be questioned by the employers when they discover that the graduates are semiliterate. 3. Sherry thinks is wrong to pass such student because once the student graduates the employers would expect the student to have basic skills. But because the student was passed, they never go to master those skills since they thought they had already master them. 4. Sherry thinks that teachers should motivate students to focus on school despite that many distractions...
Words: 557 - Pages: 3
...Jessica Hamilton English 307 1/11/12 Response Essay “ Roland Barthes' “The Death of the Author” In his essay, “ The Death of the Author”, Roland Barthes argues against the classic criticism. He argues that classic criticism imposes limits upon the text itself by focusing on the author rather than the text. He argues that writing is the “ destruction of every voice, of every point of origin.” (Barthes 185) Barthes argues that there is no such thing as an author. He believes that there is only a scriptor whose ideas are not entirely original. Barthes also argues that because the author has numerous influences, we as readers and critics can never know the true influences. Barthes argues that it is necessary to analysis the linguistics of the text because it is not a voice that speaks but the language. He goes further to point out that it is only in the reader that the text has any meaning and because of this the presence of the author is minimized because the text becomes open to numerous interpretations that the author may not have originally intended. Barthes also implies that the death of the author makes the reader more significant because they become the creative force of the text rather than the author. Barthes also argues that the moment “ the author enters into his own death, writing begins.” (Barthes 185) Within “ The Death of the Author”, Barthes issues the question of “who is speaking”. (Barthes 185) He highlights his theory with his example of Sarrasine by...
Words: 616 - Pages: 3
...It Might Have Gone Something Like This In “Queen of Knives”, Neil Gaiman exemplifies how unreliable our narrator is in dealing with death and derangement. Through this naïve narration, we are presented with a story in which the narrator; a young boy at that time, recalls how a magician vanishes his grandmother during a magic show. Upon closer analysis we will see that Gaiman actually implies that the grandmother has died causing the grandfather to go crazy from the death of his wife. In order for our narrator to cope with traumatic experience of losing a loved one and witnessing his grandfather lose his mind he blends the story with memories. The poem is set up as a flashback which further gives credibility to our narrator’s erroneous memory. My analysis will scrutinize the diction used throughout the poem as well as the crucial symbolism in order to uncover the hidden meaning behind the text. When someone reads “Queen of Knives” for the first time it is likely that they will ponder the outcome with confusion. They may also conclude that the grandfather murdered the grandmother or that she ran off with the magician. It is understandable to arrive at this conclusion when the literal meaning of the passage points to such answers, but once we examine how dynamic this piece of literature is we can conclude much deeper meanings. Gaiman himself stated that this poem was like his other work “Mr. Punch;” a story in which a young boy’s grandfather went mad. The songs Daisy Bell and...
Words: 1518 - Pages: 7
...Close Reading of Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 46” Of the many themes explored in Shakespeare’s Sonnets, number 46 explores an idea that only a few others (24,38,47) touch upon—the roles of the eyes and the heart in the manifestation of love. Utilizing conceit—or a fanciful form of extended metaphor—Shakespeare tackles the extant renaissance notion of the eye and the heart from a more infatuating, legal standpoint. In the case of number 46, the verdict is simple: lustful, longing eyes will always be able to gaze upon potential lovers; but passionate hearts will always have the power to become intertwined. In almost perfect iambic pentameter, the sonnet maintains a common structure with most of Shakespeare’s sonnets. Its rhyme scheme, which appears to be simply alternating as ABAB, does however have some deviances 1. In the end, it seems to formulate to ABAB || CDCD || EFEF/FF ||. In terms of syntactical construction the sonnet may be divided into four units—three quatrains of four lines, however concluding with a couplet. Because #46 is of the harder sonnets in terms of understanding—due to it’s extended metaphor and legal jargon—I will break up the text along with citing the OED in order to convey it’s underlying meaning. 1 Mine eye and heart are at a mortal war / 2 How to divide the conquest of thy sight; / 3 Mine eye my heart thy picture's sight would bar, / 4 My heart mine eye the freedom of that right. || ------------------------------------------------- 1 The rhyme...
Words: 1176 - Pages: 5
...Kevin White 11.11.14 English 110 Project 2 If We Must Die Close Reading Claude McKays poem “If we must Die” has a strong underlying meaning that is brought out by a few lines within the middle of the poem. The quote goes from line 5 till the end of line 8. The quote has some serious power behind it and brings the whole meaning of the poem together. It develops the idea that if one were to die that it be a noble and honorable death as if you were to die a hero. If a hero were to die that is exactly the way there would go out, holding their head high and proud. McKays poem develops the idea of a hero and if one were to die a hero that they would let it be a nobly proud and honorable death. When the poem is first read it is vague exactly what McKay is referring to. But after rereading and analyzing specific parts of the poem lots of conclusions can be derived. Certain lines in the poem are what can make the argument so strong. The main quote that allows one to believe in such argument is on line 5 through 8. “If we must die—oh, let us nobly die, So that our precious blood may not be shed In vain; then even the monsters we defy, Shall be constrained to honor us though dead!”(CITE***) This quote has a lot of meaning behind it in the sense that it highlights the main idea of the whole poem about noble and honorable death as a hero. There are certain word within the quote that help defy the main idea of the poem. They are certain words that really exemplify the main meaning...
Words: 743 - Pages: 3
...An associate from New York City immediately stood and asked, “Do you consider us competition or partners?” The VP answered without skipping a beat, “You are Apple’s competition.” I guess there shouldn’t have been a gasp and rumble throughout the room, but 100+ Authorized Resellers and VARs suddenly realized that they faced an uphill battle. Many would close their doors in the months to come. As an Authorized reseller I bought our Apple branded products from first tier distributors such as Ingram Micro and Tech Data with only small price variances based on the size of the Purchase Order. Smaller PO’s were often ignored or faced delays in shipping. A big reason for the gasp in the room was the increasing trend of Apple product scarcity for resellers. While Apple’s new retail stores had full shelves we had to fight over the leftovers. Often this meant we missed out on the initial surge of purchases made by early adopters. (Eventually Apple would release game-changing products like the iPhone and not allow Apple resellers to sell them.) When Apple opened their new store 5 minutes from one of mine I was forced to pivot or close my doors. We changed from being an Apple Reseller who sold some accessories to more of a system integrator and service provider. In some ways we were similar to a VAR but we did not sell to a high-end niche market such as professional videographers or musicians. We sold to the general public so we got very good at asking questions such as: “What are going...
Words: 392 - Pages: 2
...organization or any relationship. Also, we learned about the different kinds of negotiation. First, the Integrative negotiation which is you have some alternatives in order to make the deal. Second, the Distributive negotiation, it is that every person has an opinion and is sticking with it and you may use some cleverness before you make a deal. We used the Distributive negotiation tactic against our opponent. The game we played during class was whether or not we should close or open our store on Sunday. At the same time, if we closed and other team is open we will lose $ 40,000. But if both teams will open their store we will both lose $ 20,000. Then, we decided to open on Sunday. Also, the other team did the same thing. I think our choice was right because we guaranteed that we will not lose more than $ 20,000. In my opinion, if we negotiated with our compactor, it would have been helpful. Maybe we could have reached a great deal. Such as, we could set a schedule for the both stores and decide who opens or closes on Sunday. That would have given our employees a break. At the same time, we will keep our profit. From that experience, I learned to listen and talk with anyone before I make my last decision and find the best solution that will work for me and the other person. For example, when I travel to any city or country, I try to find places that can give me the cheapest price than the other places by promising them that I will buy the merchandise from then and not go to the...
Words: 300 - Pages: 2
...when he was 12-years old learning the business as well as the secrets of the old family recipes. Throughout its history, the restaurant has been through a couple name changes but now operates as Drexler’s World Famous Bar-B-Que and continues to be a “family affair.” The business has strong underlying values and continues to be successful as patronage increases, yet the Drexlers never really considered moving from their original location. They did however, close the restaurant in 1994 to expand and remodel, doubling business when they reopened. Mrs. Scott, head of the family and James’ mother, influences the values and culture of the organization along with her honesty, hard work, and treating people fairly. She is always moving through the restaurant inquiring about individual needs. The restaurant also gives back to the community through sponsorships for softball and Boy Scouts. While they are successful and business seems to be growing every year, their hours of operation do not seem to be too flexible or adaptable as they close at 6:00 p.m. and are closed on Sundays and Mondays. 1. What roles do values play in how Drexler’s Bar-B-Que interacts with its neighbors and customers? Values play a major role in how this restaurant interacts with its customers. It begins by the role Mrs. Scott plays. She seems to be very attentive when it comes to the customers by constantly providing excellent service to individual needs with a smile, and her treating everyone fairly and with...
Words: 578 - Pages: 3
...emergency closing notice is posted on www.Mass.gov managers have been unsure as to whether they can close the office immediately or must wait for a formal message from DTA senior staff. This uncertainty, coupled with a lack of clear emergency closing protocols, has resulted in staff concerns. To ensure safety for all staff and appropriate service to clients balanced with a prompt, professional response to an emergency closing notice the protocols below are to be followed: During inclement weather or other events that may cause office closing it is imperative that management monitor the mass.gov website for emergency messages and alerts. If it is not possible to monitor the website due to interrupted service (i.e., power outage, etc.) contact a Regional Director immediately by either calling their direct line or the Field Operations response number: 617-348-8420. Assure staff that they can opt to leave the office prior to an official closing notice using their own time if they have safety or other concerns. If office coverage becomes a concern due to the number of staff requesting to leave you must contact a Regional Director. When an emergency closing notice has been posted on www.Mass.gov and the closing time is in the future do the following: Note the time designated as closing time and inform staff and visiting service providers of the notice to close and the designated closing time. Determine which services can be provided prior to closing and...
Words: 562 - Pages: 3
...coordination - His eyes and hands must be able to work together so that his hands can process and complete tasks that his eyes and brain tell him to, like hitting a ball or drawing a picture. ▸ Visual perception - He must be able to organize objects, words and numbers he sees on a printed page so that he can better remember them. A lack or deficiency in any of these visual skills can mean your child will have problems learning and may develop problems associated with straining to see, like chronic headaches and fatigue. Your child may not even know he has a problem with his vision so you must pay attention to common indicators of vision difficulties like holding paper close to eyes to read, constant rubbing and blinking of eyes, tilting head to one side to read, avoiding reading and frequent headaches. When you call us at Best Dental Direct at (800) 208-0026 to ask about our vision insurance, you’ll be taking a step in the right direction when it comes to making your child successful in school and safeguarding his eye health. To find out more about us and the insurance we offer, visit us online at...
Words: 534 - Pages: 3