*What is the rhetorical argument behind the comparison of the moon to a "white man's bloodshot eye" on page 110?
*What is the tone of the two paragraphs on pages 110 and 111, beginning with "Into the doors and into the soft lights..."?
*What is the rhetorical effect of the italicized passage?
*What phrase does the narrator use to describe Bledsoe's position relative to the trustees around him? Why is this significant?
*How is allusion used during Rev. Barbee's sermon?
*How is simile used to express the effect of the Founder's death?
*How are sound devices connected to the word "black" in the latter part of Rev. Barbee's sermon?
*What is the rhetorical effect of Rev. Barbee's blindness?
*What images does the narrator see as he leaves the chapel?
More "solemn masks" on page 111, this time alluding to the students. Why are these "masks" necessary, do you think?Wow, Barbee is quite a speaker- beautiful oration- inspiring, except for the constant creepy cult vibe...I agree with the narrator that Bledsoe is not going to be receptive to his case after that sermon.
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Edith Wharton
John Steinbeck
Mark Twain
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Ralph Ellison
Alice Walker
5 comments:
The tone of the paragraph that starts on page 110 is almost bitterness. The narrator doesn't want to go to but he has to. The narrator proves that he is upset about having to go when he talks about sitting doen and saying he is "bending his body to its agony". The narrators exaggerations make it clear to the reader that the narrator does not want to be there and is only there because Dr. Bledsoe told him to be.
being blind seems to be a recurring symbol in this book. as with the founder's statue, the reverend seems to be blind to something, in this case the founder. he exemplifies the founder, as does everyone else, enormously, making him sound like a hero. but the founder's empty philosophy of educated blacks gaining equality is one which ellison does not agree with. the reverend is blind to the truth that the founder wasnt really all he was cracked up to be.
When reading through the sermon of the reverend I noticed not only the separation of white and black as races but as he describes the funeral he uses the word black to describe the mood and the feelings. Then he uses the term "white handed glove" which is symbolic as white handed gloves are normally used only on special occasions. off topic comment, I'm insane posting at 2 AM the same day marching band camp starts. ha ha.
The narrator is told that he is not in trouble, but has to attend the sermon. The preacher speaks long about 'The Founder' as if he is a world leader. The narrator dosn't know Barbee and would rather not be attending. The fact that he uses the phrase 'solomn masks' does, as Mrs. Heartz suggested, give the preaching an almost cult-like appearance; mostly due to the fact that the people on the train believed so strongly in what the faonder believed in.
Rev. Barbee uses allusion in his sermon to make the Founder appear to be some to be revered and worshipped in a spiritual way. Barbee mentions "the humble carpenter of Nazareth" when explaining how the Founder was a prophet of his people. Barbee alluded to Moses with the quote "LET MY PEOPLE GO" in his description of the Founder's struggles to lead people away from prejudice. Clearly, using these types of references illustrates how Rev. Barbee is trying to show the Founder as more than just a man.
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