Week 3Week 3

– – Cofer, Danticat, and Cofer, Danticat, and KomunyakaaKomunyakaa

Cofer’s “Silent Dancing” - Cofer’s “Silent Dancing” - LanguageLanguage

Ortiz-Cofer uses untranslated Spanish in her Ortiz-Cofer uses untranslated Spanish in her essay. essay. What is the effect on the reader? Is the effect What is the effect on the reader? Is the effect different depending on whether the reader is a different depending on whether the reader is a Spanish-speaker or not? Spanish-speaker or not? What is the purpose of pointing out that Cofer’s What is the purpose of pointing out that Cofer’s mother refused to cook with cans whose labels mother refused to cook with cans whose labels she couldn’t read or that she felt comfort in the she couldn’t read or that she felt comfort in the barrio where people spoke a common barrio where people spoke a common language?language?What is the relationship between culture and What is the relationship between culture and language portrayed?language portrayed?What role does the silence of the movie play in What role does the silence of the movie play in relation to culture and language?relation to culture and language?

Cofer – StructureCofer – Structure

Cofer’s narrative is spliced with Cofer’s narrative is spliced with scenes from the home movie, her scenes from the home movie, her dreams and memories, and present dreams and memories, and present reflections. reflections.

How are these all connected in the How are these all connected in the essay?essay?

What effect does this technique have What effect does this technique have on the reader?on the reader?

Cofer - PerspectiveCofer - PerspectiveWhat does Cofer choose to focus on in her What does Cofer choose to focus on in her essay (like her childhood), and what does essay (like her childhood), and what does she choose to leave out?she choose to leave out?We see Cofer watching other people in her We see Cofer watching other people in her movie and in her past. What effect does movie and in her past. What effect does that produce on the relationship between that produce on the relationship between reader and author?reader and author?Her impressionistic and subjective Her impressionistic and subjective perspective constructs her message. perspective constructs her message. What is her message?What is her message?

Danticat’s “Westbury Court” - Danticat’s “Westbury Court” - LanguageLanguage

Though Danticat describes what may Though Danticat describes what may appear to be a terrible place filled with appear to be a terrible place filled with tragedy and crime, her tone is tragedy and crime, her tone is understated, matter-of-fact. understated, matter-of-fact.

What is the effect of writing about horrible What is the effect of writing about horrible events in an unaffected tone, making such events in an unaffected tone, making such events appear ordinary?events appear ordinary?

Do you think she is disturbed by these Do you think she is disturbed by these shocking events?shocking events?

Danticat - StructureDanticat - StructureThe ending of the essay is a kind of The ending of the essay is a kind of departure from the rest of the essay’s departure from the rest of the essay’s straightforward narrative. straightforward narrative.

How does the ending with “Sometimes it’s How does the ending with “Sometimes it’s too late to say ‘I shouldn’t have’” affect too late to say ‘I shouldn’t have’” affect our understanding of the essay?our understanding of the essay?

How would the essay be affected if the How would the essay be affected if the ending were not such a reflection, but only ending were not such a reflection, but only the end of the fire incident?the end of the fire incident?

Danticat - PerspectiveDanticat - PerspectiveThis is a personal essay of a childhood This is a personal essay of a childhood event.event.When is Danticat presenting the events as When is Danticat presenting the events as they appeared to her as a child?they appeared to her as a child?When is she presenting them as the When is she presenting them as the reflective, experienced adult?reflective, experienced adult?Consider her presentation of her addiction Consider her presentation of her addiction to to General HospitalGeneral Hospital and her questioning and her questioning her own memory. How much of the essay her own memory. How much of the essay is structured to echo an aftershock-like is structured to echo an aftershock-like effect?effect?

Komunyakaa - LanguageKomunyakaa - LanguageKumanyakaa uses poetic language in his Kumanyakaa uses poetic language in his essay. Where do you find metaphors? essay. Where do you find metaphors? Descriptive phrases?Descriptive phrases?

Consider the possibilities for the meaning Consider the possibilities for the meaning of the word “Blue” in the title.of the word “Blue” in the title.

Komunyakaa – StructureKomunyakaa – StructureThe essay takes place one summer, beginning on The essay takes place one summer, beginning on the first day of Kumanyakaa’s work at the factory the first day of Kumanyakaa’s work at the factory and ending with his leaving. and ending with his leaving.

Though the structure is confined to this one time Though the structure is confined to this one time period, Komunyakaa manages to consider the period, Komunyakaa manages to consider the nature of factory work, education, war, class, and nature of factory work, education, war, class, and fantasy. How does the structure limit or shape fantasy. How does the structure limit or shape his thematic concerns.?his thematic concerns.?

Komunyakaa - PerspectiveKomunyakaa - PerspectiveKomunyakaa differs from his fellow Komunyakaa differs from his fellow workers in so far as he is educated, suffers workers in so far as he is educated, suffers from his memories of war, and aspires to from his memories of war, and aspires to do move up the academic ladder. do move up the academic ladder. However, he does not judge his fellow However, he does not judge his fellow workers. Her merely reports what occurs workers. Her merely reports what occurs to his mind and what he sees and hears, to his mind and what he sees and hears, including dialogue. How does his including dialogue. How does his presentation of “self” affect the essay? presentation of “self” affect the essay?