...“The Welcome Table” Arlene Randolph ENG 125 Introduction to Literature Cicely Young, Instructor November 11, 2013 The Welcome Table The title of the story would lead you to believe that this particular “table” would be welcoming, warm and inviting and the people sitting behind the table would receive you joyfully and happily. It is unfortunate that not all “welcome tables” fit this description. This story captured my interest two ways: because I am familiar with the author, Alice Walker, and having read her Pulitzer Prize book “The Color Purple”. In addition, Ms. Walker established an image at the beginning of the story. As noted in the text an image is a distinct representation of something that can be experienced and understood through the senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste). (Clugston, 2010) With the description of the old woman’s attire I was able to picture in my mind exactly what she was wearing and even that she had cataract. “There was a dazed and sleepy look in her aged blue-brown eyes”. (Clugston, 2010) The setting of this story takes place in Georgia during a time when this woman did not have an automobile and had to walk ½ a mile to church. It took place at a time when all parishioners were not allowed to worship at the same church. While reading this story, I found that this old woman was not welcomed in this particular church (table) that she found herself in, I believe, because she was African American and it was a Caucasian...
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...I read “The Welcome Table by Alice Walker. The Welcome Table is told in the third person and shifts the point of view from which the story is told. The theme of this story is a simple, but good one. The theme of this is about an old, rundown black woman who staggers the necessary distance in the freezing cold to attend an all-white people church. What captured my interest about this short story is the religious symbolism. Per R. Wayne Clugston “a symbol is an object, person, or action that conveys two meaning: its own literal meaning and something it stands for as well” (Clugston, 2010, p.480). It is filled with symbolism of life and death; good and evil; love and hatred; and peace and anger. Throughout this paper, Alice will demonstrate the significance of how the application of point of view, setting, and symbolism plays a role contributing the theme of a story. In the story, a black woman enters a “white” church. She is a woman of faith; “there was a dazed and sleepy look in her aged blue–brown eyes” (Clugston, 2010) blue symbolizes a peacefulness that this woman has because of her faith. She is not a welcomed visitor to this congregation, though. The parishioners feel “a fear of the black and the old” (Clugston, 2010), the use of the word black is not just to tell us the color of her skin, but to symbolize evil. This is further supported in the words, “many of them saw jungle orgies in an evil place” (Clugston, 2010). The interesting thing about evil here is that...
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...The Welcome Table Tameeka Smith-Ashby ENG 125: Introduction to Literature Instructor: Sarah MacDonald In every story characters pose drama, and excitement to capture the readers attention. What may be deceptively hidden behind the words of the author is the heart of the story, which is considered to be the theme. The theme is what stays in your mind, it’s what makes you wonder how and why. This literary element is a must, when constructing any style of literature. There is a need to captivate the reader while allowing their mind to roam, seeking message is direct. In Alice Walker’s short story “The Welcome Table” I found the theme to be that of sorrow. She sets the ambience with a portrayal of an elderly poor black lady. In my opinion this woman is walking with sorrow, she doesn’t have much and is looked down on as nothing though the people in her community. Even though, Alice Walker demonstrates this premise as she places the elderly lady in a church that is restricted for whites only. When most people think a church is a place we’re many can go to worship the elderly woman shown very early that it wouldn’t be as easy. “The young usher, never having turned anyone out of his church before, but not even considering this job as that (after all, she had no right to be there, certainly), went up to her and whispered that she should leave.” R.W. Clugston Journey into Literature (2010). The elderly woman cannot seem to escape the sorrow that has become her life, she...
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...2 The latest version of this guide can always be found at http://nofilmschool.com/dslr 2010-2012 Ryan Koo This document is licensed under Creative Commons, so the following freedoms apply. However, I would request you do not email this PDF to a friend; instead, please send them to http://nofilmschool.com/dslr where they can get their own copy of the guide for free. Thanks very much. You are free: to Share — to copy, distribute and transmit the work to Remix — to adapt the work Under the following conditions: Attribution — You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work). Noncommercial — You may not use this work for commercial purposes. Share Alike — If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar license to this one. You can find out more about this license at: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ nofilmschool.com/dslr 3 Most people would charge good money for this guide, but I’m giving it away free. In return, I ask that you please help support NoFilmSchool! You can do this via the following: Share the guide If you have a blog or website, please write a post telling others about NoFilmSchool (and the DSLR Guide)! If you don’t have a website, please share NoFilmSchool via Facebook, Twitter, or any other social network. Also, be sure to friend us on: Facebook...
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...In social psychology there are many aspects of the things that we do in our daily lives that have been scientifically investigated through scientific method for the sake of getting to know human behavior and to put reasoning behind the thought, feeling and behavior of human beings as they are influence by our environment and others, basically why we do what we do. Social psychology looks at a wide range of social topics some of which are perception, behavior, conformity, aggression and prejudice to name a few. This paper will highlight a few of the terminologies and theories in this discipline also give overview to some of these afore mentioned topics. Starting with the terminology used in social psychology we look at the concept of self, it is stated in the text Introduction to Social Psychology self-concept “is the collection of things you know about yourself—such as your overall cognitive understanding (learned beliefs, attitudes, and opinions) about yourself” (Feenstra, 2011). Looking at this statement, it can be determined that the ideas learned throughout life about one’s self is a product self-concept. Self schema is what is understood and gathered from self-concept. Text defines self-schema as “organizing this information, affecting how we view the world and takes in information” (Feenstra, 2011). What are gathered from a person as far as the sports they may play, going to church and time spent with my family are all things that can attribute to ones self-concept...
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...In this paper I will compare and contrast 2 short stories; “Country Lovers”(Gordimer) and “The Welcome Table”(Walker). Race and Ethncity are alive in the short stories “Country Lovers” and “The Welcome Table”. The stories place at almost the same time, in different countries, but they both show racial discrimination toward the main character. “Racism is an enduring, salient aspect of social and global structures. It is based on demonstrably false theories of racial differences appropriated by a culture in order to deny or unjustly distribute social privileges, economic opportunities, and political rights to the racially stigmatized groups. Racism, thus, structures social differences, power, and culture, as when, according to George Fredrickson, “one ethnic group or historical collectivity dominates, excludes, or seeks to eliminate another on the basis of differences that it believes are hereditary and unalterable” (Racism, 2002). It could be argued that racism is the a theme in both of these stories, but I don’t feel that way at all. I feel that Racism is a big part of each of the stories, but not the main theme of the story. In “The Welcome Table,” judgment and death are the main themes and in Country Lovers it is love and betrayal. Now yes, racism could be the third theme of the stories. Because without racism in each of the stories, you will not have a plot. The author of the each story approached the subject of racism in different ways. I will look at the...
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...“The Gift of the Magi” – Deciphering the Theme Scott Cole ENG 125 Introduction to Literature Professor Patricia Vineski 6 Oct 2013 The theme of a story, as I’ve learned, is much more than what happened; this is the plot. Instead, the theme is much more; it “tells you what the story is about” (Clugston, 2010, para. 7.1). In order to decipher what the theme is, our text tells us to ask the question “how” a few different ways in order to come to a final conclusion. “How does the writer use setting to narrow the underlying idea? How do characters make particular aspects of the underlying idea clear? How does conflict reveal the strength or worth of the underlying idea?” (Clugston, 2010, para. 7.1). So, throughout this essay, I will be asking these questions, in order to come to a final conclusion as to what the theme of “The Gift of the Magi” really is. I will also discuss the plot, as well as some symbolism in the story that expands on the theme of the story. The plot, for The Gift of the Magi, is a short story about a couple, housed in a tiny apartment, living paycheck to paycheck. Christmas is just a few days away, and the Della, whom is the wife in the story, is struggling to find the perfect gift for her husband. Finally, after searching all over town, she comes across a fancy watch chain that is $20, and decides she must have it; the dilemma is she only has $1.87 to spend. After careful thought, she decides she will cut off her long, beautiful hair...
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...Discrimination and Racism in Country Lovers and the Welcome Table Donna Robertson ENG 125: Introduction to Literature Lyndsey Lefebvre November 18, 2012 Discrimination and Racism in Country Lovers and the Welcome Table Racial discrimination has affected black people in the United States and Africa for many years. Although racial discrimination is against the law in both countries many people believe that racism still exists and there is significant evidence to support many racial discrimination claims. While many racist people has believe throughout time that their behavior is appropriate; two short stories which are Country Lovers and The Welcome Table illustrate these behaviors and allow the reader to interpret, understand and feel the suffering of two black women caused by painful racism. Both stories enlighten the reader on how one ethnicity believe that they are superior to the other and proves that racism is practiced through ignorance and hatred. This essay will compare and contrast the racial theme of the short stories “Country Lovers” written by Nadine Gordimer and “The Welcome Table” written by Alice Walker. Both of these short stories share the same theme, which is centered on racism, but the theme is not limited to racism it also includes love, hardship, rejection, and death. Both stories share racial tension between two ethnic groups, as well as pain suffered as a result of racism. Both of these literary pieces give the reader awareness...
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...Reading Reflection: The Welcome Table Yvette Young McLean Introduction to Literature Instructor Lyndsey Lefebvre September 2, 2013 Reading Reflection: The Welcome Table This short story captured my attention because the woman described in the opening of this story and throughout this story, reminded me of my grandmother and some of the stories she shared with me telling of the prejudices she suffered as a child that carried over into her adulthood. As I began to read, The Welcome Table, I began to visualize or imagine a “grandmotherly” type woman preparing to get ready for church. As she put on her “Sunday’s best”, it was apparent that her clothes were old and worn. Not only were her clothes old and worn, the features of her face told the story of her life. As the woman approached the steps of the church, she is met with people who whispered unspeakable things about her and stares from those same people. There were stares filled with fear; fear of her color, fear of the known and the unknown. This woman was not welcomed in the church as she soon found out when she was asked to leave and when she didn’t leave, she was physically removed. Alice Walker was born during an era long before the Civil Rights Movement. Though not clearly stated, one can deduce from her writings in this story and in her book, The Color Purple, that she was met with prejudicial whispers and stares. “Issues of race and gender form the center of her literary work and her social activism...
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...The Welcome Table by Alice Walker Melissa English ENG125 Instructor Abby Forster January 14, 2013 The Welcome Table The Welcome Table is a short story written by Alice Walker. It is written in third person point of view. “The omniscient technique is used in this story and is particularly effective in allowing the reader to understand the old woman’s predicament and how she, and others, dealt with it” (Clugston, 2010). In this essay, I will explain the meaning of this story as well as the realities to racism and hate. The story begins by describing the elderly African-American woman. She was dressed in her Sunday church clothes that was old and falling apart. She had an old corsage pinned to her dress. The shoes she wore were high-heeled and polished. A silk scarf was used as a hair-band which was greasy from her oily pig-tails. Her aged eyes were blue-brown in color and were nearly blind. She was lean but old and wrinkled. Her skin was ashy. After walking many miles, she came upon a church. It was a white people’s church. She had walked alone to the big church. After walking a half a mile to the church, she was sweaty and clammy. She stopped on the steps of the church to rest before going inside. When she went into the church, the reverend stopped her. She brushed passed him and sat on the back bench. It was cold outside and near about just as cold inside the church. She sat there shivering from cold as everyone noticed as they went to sit up...
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...Alice Walkers “The Welcome Table” Is told from a third person omniscient point of view. The old (woman) stood with eyes uplifted in her Sunday–go–to–meeting clothes: high shoes polished about the tops and toes, a long rusty dress adorned with an old corsage, long withered, and the remnants of an elegant silk scarf as head rag stained with grease from the many oily pigtails underneath. Perhaps (she) had known suffering. There was a dazed and sleepy look in (her) aged blue–brown eyes. But for (those) who searched hastily for "reasons" in that old tight face, shut now like an ancient door, there was nothing to be read. And so (they) gazed nakedly upon their own fear transferred; a fear of the black and the old, a terror of the unknown as well as of the deeply known. Some of (those) who saw (her) there on the church steps spoke words about (her) that were hardly fit to be heard, (others) held their pious peace; and (some) felt vague stirrings of pity, small and persistent and hazy, as if (she) were an old collie turned out to die. The symbols that stood out were the apparel that the old woman was wearing. The description of the old woman and what she was wearing made this story come to life. The narration of this story was vivid and reveals the feelings of the people involved. First Person refers to self as I did the job, I made the call or I read the newspaper. Second person though rarely used refers to the “you” point of view such as “if you are going to do the job you...
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...Compare and Contrast the Literary Work “The Welcome Table” VS “ Country Lovers” “The Racial Conflicts And Discrimination In The Welcome Table And Country Lovers” Katie McWilliams Instructor: Heather Peerboom 10/30/2014 Introduction I chosen to compare and contrast the literary works, “country Lovers” by Nadine Gordimer and “The Welcome Table” by Alice Walker, the theme being race / ethnicity. Theme: “The Racial Conflict and Discrimination In The Welcome Table And Country Lovers.” I want to explore the difference lives’ of these two woman was face with, and the way the narrator made me feel while I was reading the story of two black woman. Two strong black women that face all types of problems life had to offer them. These two stories shows feeling, pain, hate, and disappointments in Country Lovers and The Welcome Table. Both of these women had to struggled with their emotions and all they had to go through. Both stories are told in third person omniscient point of view, you can tell by the way the narrator describe the characters and how they’re feeling in both story. “The Welcome Table,” the old woman had her faith to guide her. To carrier her through the hard times. All she wanted was just to attend church. There is a rascal tension centered on both of these stories, in “Country Lovers” the black woman in this story was a pretty black woman fell in love with someone she grow up with a white man, she had a baby for him...
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...From ancient times, in every culture, humans have told stories to explain what goes on in the world around them, to honor people,to celebrate achievements,and to communicate human value ( Chugston, 2014). Both of these short stories achieved this goal. Each story was able to captivate you. The authors made you fall in love with the characters. You wanted to read more. “The Welcome Table” and “Country Lovers” showed sides of racism that took place in completely different parts of the world. Each author used their literary and keen writing skills in order to get the reader to completely understand the point each one of them was trying to make. In the short stories, “The Welcome Table” by Alice Walker and “Country Lovers by Nadine Gordimer, Racism is the theme and highlight of each one. Both stories are discussing racial issues but they are two completely different stories and the authors begin each one in a completely opposite fashion. '”The Welcome Table” was written by Margaret Walker. Walker was published under her maiden name. She was best known for her poem "For My People," published in 1942, and her best-selling novel, Jubilee, based on her what her family went through during slavery and immediately after the Civil War, it was published in 1966. She was born in Birmingham, Alabama., Walker was a resident of Jackson, Miss., and was a professor emeritus at Jackson State College. She taught English and was also a director of the Institute for the Study of History, Life...
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...Comparison Essay 1 Thesis: The literary works The Welcome Table by Alice Walker / what it's like to be a black girl by Patricia Smith represent African American women who have faced challenges of sexism, racism and stereotypes in American life. Racism and Sexism are questions that I will discuss and examine. I will compare tand contrast similarities of both poems. I will explain and give examples to show how these two poems exhibit different scenarios but similar views about how race and ethnicity can affect women of color based on prejudice and stereotypes. The main character is a nearly blind, old black woman with a lean build and a grayish tone to her skin. She wears a mildewed black dress with missing buttons and a grease-stained head rag covering her pigtails. She has blue-brown eyes, is ashen in appearance and much wrinkled. She is perspiring from her walk and is shivering from the cold. She enters the white Church and sits, singing in her head. She is physically thrown out of the church. After the woman is turned away she begins to feel a sense of loneliness, and an outcast. “She sees Jesus walking down the highway and is giddy with joy. Jesus tells her to follow him and she does, walking alongside him. He looks just like she thought he would, and he listens to her sing and talk to him. She feels great beside him and can walk as long as he wants. (Smith,).The women in my opinion feel that God...
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...Home Page » English and Literature The Welcome Table In: English and Literature The Welcome Table I read “The Welcome Table by Alice Walker. The Welcome Table is told in the third person and shifts the point of view from which the story is told. The theme of this story is a simple, but good one. The theme of this is about an old, rundown black woman who staggers the necessary distance in the freezing cold to attend an all-white people church. What captured my interest about this short story is the religious symbolism. Per R. Wayne Clugston “a symbol is an object, person, or action that conveys two meaning: its own literal meaning and something it stands for as well” (Clugston, 2010, p.480). It is filled with symbolism of life and death; good and evil; love and hatred; and peace and anger. Throughout this paper, Alice will demonstrate the significance of how the application of point of view, setting, and symbolism plays a role contributing the theme of a story. In the story, a black woman enters a “white” church. She is a woman of faith; “there was a dazed and sleepy look in her aged blue–brown eyes” (Clugston, 2010) blue symbolizes a peacefulness that this woman has because of her faith. She is not a welcomed visitor to this congregation, though. The parishioners feel “a fear of the black and the old” (Clugston, 2010), the use of the word black is not just to tell us the color of her skin, but to symbolize evil. This is further supported in the words...
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