Hello. Please help me to write:

1. Reaction paper .  I have attached 3 documents. The 1st one is “Reading Fiction”, 2nd ” Sample of Reaction Paper”, and 3rd one is ” Graduation”.

Please read them all , and complete reaction paper as described on the attached PDFs. Instruction for Sample Reaction Paper  is:  Discussed in the notes  are 6 elements of fiction: Tone, Plot, Characterization, Setting, Theme and Point of View. Choose one element (other than POV) and reflect on how Angelou uses it in her writing. Give specific examples and quotes from the text to show how she uses the element and its effect on the story. Be sure to quote correctly (using quotation marks and providing paragraph #s). Remember that reaction papers should be 1-2 pages, double-spaced. Also, in the Sample Paper is a brief sample of how to discuss one of the elements with examples from the text. The example discusses the use of point of view in the story.( PLEASE READ THEM CAREFULLY)

It`s a Literature course so everything in writing should be grammatically correct (very important)

2. Discussion.   Please read  “Graduation by Maya Angelou” and write a discussion paper.  Assignment:  What  does Angelou mean when she writes, “The white kids were going to have a  chance to become Galileos and Madame Curies and Edisons and Gaugins and  our boys (the girls weren’t even in on it) would try to be Jesse  Owenses and Joe Louises” (paragraph 40)? Should be 6-7 sentences. 

Academic Integrity.  Please keep in mind that  whenever you use someone else’s words—or their ideas,even if they are  expressed in your own words—you must give credit.This is true regardless  of where you find the words or ideas,whether it is a book,a magazine or  newspaper, television,or the Internet.This class will include  instruction on how to acknowledge your sources.Plagiarism,failing to  acknowledge sources or submitting someone else’s work as your own is a  serious offense.A plagiarized paper or test will receive a grade of F. 

74 Chapter 2 Education and Learning

k n e w c o u l d w r i t e , I w o u l d t e l l h i m I c o u l d w r i t e a s w e l l a s h e . T h e
n e x t w o r d w o u l d b e , ” 1 d o n ‘ t b e l i e v e y o u . L e t m e s e e y o u t r y i t . ” I
w o u l d t h e n m a k e t h e l e t t e r s w h i c h I h a d b e e n s o f o r t u n a t e a s t o
l e a r n , a n d a s k h i m t o b e a t t h a t . I n t h i s w a y I g o t a g o o d m a n y l e s –
s o n s i n w r i t i n g , w h i c h i t i s q u i t e p o s s i b l e I s h o u l d n e v e r h a v e g o t –
t e n i n a n y o t h e r w a y . D u r i n g t h i s t i m e , m y c o p y – b o o k w a s t h e
b o a r d f e n c e , b r i c k w a l l , a n d p a v e m e n t ; m y p e n a n d i n k w a s a
l u m p o f c h a l k . W i t h t h e s e , I l e a r n e d m a i n l y h o w t o w r i t e . I t h e n
c o m m e n c e d a n d c o n t i n u e d c o p y i n g t h e I t a l i c s i n W e b s t e r ‘ s S p e l l i n g
B o o k , u n t i l I c o u l d m a k e t h e m a l l w i t h o u t l o o k i n g o n t h e b o o k . B y
t h i s t i m e , m y l i t t l e M a s t e r T h o m a s h a d g o n e t o s c h o o l , a n d
l e a r n e d h o w t o w r i t e , a n d h a d w r i t t e n o v e r a n u m b e r o f c o p y –
b o o k s . T h e s e h a d b e e n b r o u g h t h o m e , a n d s h o w n t o s o m e o f o u r
n e a r n e i g h b o r s , a n d t h e n l a i d a s i d e . M y m i s t r e s s u s e d t o g o t o
c l a s s m e e t i n g a t t h e W i l k S t r e e t m e e t i n g h o u s e e v e r y M o n d a y a f –
t e r n o o n , a n d l e a v e m e t o t a k e c a r e o f t h e h o u s e . W h e n l e f t t h u s , I
u s e d t o s p e n d t h e t i m e i n w r i t i n g i n t h e s p a c e s l e f t i n M a s t e r
T h o m a s ‘ s c o p y – b o o k , c o p y i n g w h a t h e h a d w r i t t e n . I c o n t i n u e d t o
d o t h i s u n t i l I c o u l d w r i t e a h a n d v e r y s i m i l a r t o t h a t o f M a s t e r
T h o m a s . T h u s , a f t e r a l o n g , t e d i o u s e f f o r t f o r y e a r s , I f i n a l l y s u c –
c e e d e d i n l e a r n i n g h o w t o w r i t e .

1845

Graduation
M a y a A n g e l o u

T h e c h i l d r e n i n S t a m p s ‘ t r e m b l e d v i s i b l y w i t h a n t i c i p a t i o n . S o m e i
a d u l t s w e r e e x c i t e d t o o , b u t t o b e c e r t a i n t h e w h o l e y o u n g p o p u –
l a t i o n h a d c o m e d o w n w i t h g r a d u a t i o n e p i d e m i c . L a r g e c l a s s e s
w e r e g r a d u a t i n g f r o m b o t h t h e g r a m m a r s c h o o l a n d t h e h i g h
s c h o o l . E v e n t h o s e w h o w e r e y e a r s r e m o v e d f r o m t h e i r o w n d a y
o f g l o r i o u s r e l e a s e w e r e a n x i o u s t o h e l p w i t h p r e p a r a t i o n s a s a

‘A rural, segregated town in Arkansas.

Graduation Maya Angelou 75

k i n d o f d r y r u n . T h e j u n i o r s t u d e n t s w h o w e r e m o v i n g i n t o t h e
v a c a t i n g c l a s s e s ‘ c h a i r s w e r e t r a d i t i o n – b o u n d t o s h o w t h e i r t a l e n t s
f o r l e a d e r s h i p a n d m a n a g e m e n t . T h e y s t r u t t e d t h r o u g h t h e s c h o o l
a n d a r o u n d t h e c a m p u s e x e r t i n g p r e s s u r e o n t h e l o w e r g r a d e s .
T h e i r a u t h o r i t y w a s s o n e w t h a t o c c a s i o n a l l y i f t h e y p r e s s e d a l i t –
t l e t o o h a r d i t h a d t o b e o v e r l o o k e d . A f t e r a l l , n e x t t e r m w a s c o m –
i n g , a n d i t n e v e r h u r t a s i x t h g r a d e r t o h a v e a p l a y s i s t e r i n t h e
e i g h t h g r a d e , o r a t e n t h – y e a r s t u d e n t t o b e a b l e t o c a l l a t w e l f t h
g r a d e r B u b b a . S o a l l w a s e n d u r e d i n a s p i r i t o f s h a r e d u n d e r –
s t a n d i n g . B u t t h e g r a d u a t i n g c l a s s e s t h e m s e l v e s w e r e t h e n o b i l i t y .
L i k e t r a v e l e r s w i t h e x o t i c d e s t i n a t i o n s o n t h e i r m i n d s , t h e g r a d u –
a t e s w e r e r e m a r k a b l y f o r g e t f u l . T h e y c a m e t o s c h o o l w i t h o u t t h e i r
b o o k s , o r t a b l e t s o r e v e n p e n c i l s .

V

o l u n t e e r s f e l l o v e r t h e m s e l v e s
t o s e c u r e r e p l a c e m e n t s f o r t h e m i s s i n g e q u i p m e n t . W h e n a c –
c e p t e d , t h e w i l l i n g w o r k e r s m i g h t o r m i g h t n o t b e t h a n k e d , a n d i t
w a s o f n o i m p o r t a n c e t o t h e p r e g r a d u a t i o n r i t e s . E v e n t e a c h e r s
w e r e r e s p e c t f u l o f t h e n o w q u i e t a n d a g i n g s e n i o r s , a n d t e n d e d t o
s p e a k t o t h e m , i f n o t a s e q u a l s , a s b e i n g o n l y s l i g h t l y l o w e r t h a n
t h e m s e l v e s . A f t e r t e s t s w e r e r e t u r n e d a n d g r a d e s g i v e n , t h e s t u –
d e n t b o d y , w h i c h a c t e d l i k e a n e x t e n d e d f a m i l y , k n e w w h o d i d
w e l l , w h o e x c e l l e d , a n d w h a t p i t e o u s o n e s h a d f a i l e d .

U n l i k e t h e w h i t e h i g h s c h o o l , L a f a y e t t e C o u n t y T r a i n i n g
S c h o o l d i s t i n g u i s h e d i t s e l f b y h a v i n g n e i t h e r l a w n , n o r h e d g e s ,
n o r t e n n i s c o u r t , n o r c l i m b i n g i v y . I t s t w o b u i l d i n g s ( m a i n c l a s s –
r o o m s , t h e g r a d e s c h o o l a n d h o m e e c o n o m i c s ) w e r e s e t o n a d i r t
h i l l w i t h n o f e n c e t o l i m i t e i t h e r i t s b o u n d a r i e s o r t h o s e o f b o r d e r –
i n g f a r m s . T h e r e w a s a l a r g e e x p a n s e t o t h e l e f t o f t h e s c h o o l
w h i c h w a s u s e d a l t e r n a t e l y a s a b a s e b a l l d i a m o n d o r b a s k e t b a l l
c o u r t . R u s t y h o o p s o n s w a y i n g p o l e s r e p r e s e n t e d t h e p e r m a n e n t
r e c r e a t i o n a l e q u i p m e n t , a l t h o u g h b a t s a n d b a l l s c o u l d b e b o r –
r o w e d f r o m t h e R E . t e a c h e r i f t h e b o r r o w e r w a s q u a l i f i e d a n d i f
t h e d i a m o n d w a s n ‘ t o c c u p i e d .

O v e r t h i s r o c k y a r e a r e l i e v e d b y a f e w s h a d y t a l l p e r s i m m o n
t r e e s t h e g r a d u a t i n g c l a s s w a l k e d . T h e g i r l s o f t e n h e l d h a n d s a n d
n o l o n g e r b o t h e r e d t o s p e a k t o t h e l o w e r s t u d e n t s . T h e r e w a s a
s a d n e s s a b o u t t h e m , a s i f t h i s o l d w o r l d w a s n o t t h e i r h o m e a n d
t h e y w e r e b o u n d f o r h i g h e r g r o u n d . T h e b o y s , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d ,
h a d b e c o m e m o r e f r i e n d l y , m o r e o u t g o i n g . A d e c i d e d c h a n g e

76 Chapter 2 Education and Learning

f r o m t h e c l o s e d a t t i t u d e t h e y p r o j e c t e d w h i l e s t u d y i n g f o r f i n a l s .
N o w t h e y s e e m e d n o t r e a d y t o g i v e u p t h e o l d s c h o o l , t h e f a m i l –
i a r p a t h s a n d c l a s s r o o m s . O n l y a s m a l l p e r c e n t a g e w o u l d b e c o n –
t i n u i n g o n t o c o l l e g e — o n e o f t h e S o u t h ‘ s A & M ( a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d
m e c h a n i c a l ) s c h o o l s , w h i c h t r a i n e d N e g r o y o u t h s t o b e c a r p e n –
t e r s , f a r m e r s , h a n d y m e n , m a s o n s , m a i d s , c o o k s a n d b a b y n u r s e s .
T h e i r f u t u r e r o d e h e a v i l y o n t h e i r s h o u l d e r s , a n d b l i n d e d t h e m t o
t h e c o l l e c t i v e j o y t h a t h a d p e r v a d e d t h e l i v e s o f t h e b o y s a n d g i r l s
i n t h e g r a m m a r s c h o o l g r a d u a t i n g c l a s s .

P a r e n t s w h o c o u l d a f f o r d i t h a d o r d e r e d n e w s h o e s a n d r e a d y – 4
m a d e c l o t h e s f o r t h e m s e l v e s f r o m S e a r s a n d R o e b u c k o r M o n t –
g o m e r y W a r d . T h e y a l s o e n g a g e d t h e b e s t s e a m s t r e s s e s t o m a k e
t h e f l o a t i n g g r a d u a t i n g d r e s s e s a n d t o c u t d o w n s e c o n d h a n d
p a n t s w h i c h w o u l d b e p r e s s e d t o a m i l i t a r y s l i c k n e s s f o r t h e i m –
p o r t a n t e v e n t .

O h , i t w a s i m p o r t a n t , a l l r i g h t . W h i t e f o l k s w o u l d a t t e n d t h e 5
c e r e m o n y , a n d t w o o r t h r e e w o u l d s p e a k o f G o d a n d h o m e , a n d
t h e S o u t h e r n w a y o f l i f e , a n d M r s . P a r s o n s , t h e p r i n c i p a l ‘ s w i f e ,
w o u l d p l a y t h e g r a d u a t i o n m a r c h w h i l e t h e l o w e r – g r a d e g r a d u –
a t e s p a r a d e d d o w n t h e a i s l e s a n d t o o k t h e i r s e a t s b e l o w t h e p l a t –
f o r m . T h e h i g h s c h o o l s e n i o r s w o u l d w a i t i n e m p t y c l a s s r o o m s t o
m a k e t h e i r d r a m a t i c e n t r a n c e .

I n t h e S t o r e I w a s t h e p e r s o n o f t h e m o m e n t . T h e b i r t h d a y g i r l , e
T h e c e n t e r . B a i l e y h a d g r a d u a t e d t h e y e a r b e f o r e , a l t h o u g h t o d o
s o h e h a d h a d t o f o r f e i t a l l p l e a s u r e s t o m a k e u p f o r h i s t i m e l o s t
i n B a t o n R o u g e .

M y c l a s s w a s w e a r i n g b u t t e r – y e l l o w p i q u e d r e s s e s , a n d M o m m a 7
l a u n c h e d o u t o n m i n e . S h e s m o c k e d t h e y o k e i n t o t i n y c r i s s c r o s s –
i n g p u c k e r s , t h e n s h i r r e d t h e r e s t o f t h e b o d i c e . H e r d a r k f i n g e r s
d u c k e d i n a n d o u t o f t h e l e m o n y c l o t h a s s h e e m b r o i d e r e d r a i s e d
d a i s i e s a r o u n d t h e h e m . B e f o r e s h e c o n s i d e r e d h e r s e l f f i n i s h e d
s h e h a d a d d e d a c r o c h e t e d c u f f o n t h e p u f f s l e e v e s , a n d a p o i n t
c r o c h e t e d c o l l a r .

I w a s g o i n g t o b e l o v e l y . A w a l k i n g m o d e l o f a l l t h e v a r i o u s s
s t y l e s o f f i n e h a n d s e w i n g a n d i t d i d n ‘ t w o r r y m e t h a t I w a s o n l y
t w e l v e y e a r s o l d a n d m e r e l y g r a d u a t i n g f r o m t h e e i g h t h g r a d e .
B e s i d e s , m a n y t e a c h e r s i n A r k a n s a s N e g r o s c h o o l s h a d o n l y t h a t
d i p l o m a a n d w e r e l i c e n s e d t o i m p a r t w i s d o m .

Graduation Maya Angelou 77

T h e d a y s h a d b e c o m e l o n g e r a n d m o r e n o t i c e a b l e . T h e f a d e d
b e i g e o f f o r m e r t i m e s h a d b e e n r e p l a c e d w i t h s t r o n g a n d s u r e c o l –
o r s . I b e g a n t o s e e m y c l a s s m a t e s ‘ c l o t h e s , t h e i r s k i n t o n e s , a n d t h e
d u s t t h a t w a v e d o f f p u s s y w i l l o w s . C l o u d s t h a t l a z e d a c r o s s t h e
s k y w e r e o b j e c t s o f g r e a t c o n c e r n t o m e . T h e i r s h i f t i e r s h a p e s m i g h t
h a v e h e l d a m e s s a g e t h a t i n m y n e w h a p p i n e s s a n d w i t h a l i t t l e
b i t o f t i m e I ‘ d s o o n d e c i p h e r . D u r i n g t h a t p e r i o d I l o o k e d a t t h e
a r c h o f h e a v e n s o r e l i g i o u s l y m y n e c k k e p t a s t e a d y a c h e . I h a d
t a k e n t o s m i l i n g m o r e o f t e n , a n d m y j a w s h u r t f r o m t h e u n a c c u s –
t o m e d a c t i v i t y . B e t w e e n t h e t w o p h y s i c a l s o r e s p o t s , I s u p p o s e I
c o u l d h a v e b e e n u n c o m f o r t a b l e , b u t t h a t w a s n o t t h e c a s e . A s a
m e m b e r o f t h e w i n n i n g t e a m ( t h e g r a d u a t i n g c l a s s o f 1 9 4 0 ) I h a d
o u t d i s t a n c e d u n p l e a s a n t s e n s a t i o n s b y m i l e s . I w a s h e a d e d f o r t h e
f r e e d o m o f o p e n f i e l d s .

Y o u t h a n d s o c i a l a p p r o v a l a l l i e d t h e m s e l v e s w i t h m e a n d w e
t r a m m e l e d m e m o r i e s o f s l i g h t s a n d i n s u l t s . T h e w i n d o f o u r s w i f t
p a s s a g e r e m o d e l e d m y f e a t u r e s . L o s t t e a r s w e r e p o u n d e d t o m u d
a n d t h e n t o d u s t . Y e a r s o f w i t h d r a w a l w e r e b r u s h e d a s i d e a n d l e f t
b e h i n d , a s h a n g i n g r o p e s o f p a r a s i t i c m o s s .

M y w o r k a l o n e h a d a w a r d e d m e a t o p p l a c e a n d I w a s g o i n g
t o b e o n e o f t h e f i r s t c a l l e d i n t h e g r a d u a t i n g c e r e m o n i e s . O n t h e
c l a s s r o o m b l a c k b o a r d , a s w e l l a s o n t h e b u l l e t i n b o a r d i n t h e a u –
d i t o r i u m , t h e r e w e r e b l u e s t a r s a n d w h i t e s t a r s a n d r e d s t a r s . N o
a b s e n c e s , n o t a r d i n e s s e s , a n d m y a c a d e m i c w o r k w a s a m o n g t h e
b e s t o f t h e y e a r . I c o u l d s a y t h e p r e a m b l e t o t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n e v e n
f a s t e r t h a n B a i l e y . W e t i m e d o u r s e l v e s o f t e n : ” W e t h e p e o p l e –
o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i n o r d e r t o f o r m a m o r e p e r f e c t u n i o n . . . . ” I h a d
m e m o r i z e d t h e P r e s i d e n t s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s f r o m W a s h i n g t o n
t o R o o s e v e l t i n c h r o n o l o g i c a l a s w e l l a s a l p h a b e t i c a l o r d e r .

M y h a i r p l e a s e d m e t o o . G r a d u a l l y t h e b l a c k m a s s h a d l e n g t h –
e n e d a n d t h i c k e n e d , s o t h a t i t k e p t a t l a s t t o i t s b r a i d e d p a t t e r n ,
a n d I d i d n ‘ t h a v e t o y a n k m y s c a l p o f f w h e n I t r i e d t o c o m b i t .

L o u i s e a n d I h a d r e h e a r s e d t h e e x e r c i s e s u n t i l w e t i r e d o u t
o u r s e l v e s . H e n r y R e e d w a s c l a s s v a l e d i c t o r i a n . H e w a s a s m a l l ,
v e r y b l a c k b o y w i t h h o o d e d e y e s , a l o n g , b r o a d n o s e a n d a n o d d l y
s h a p e d h e a d . I h a d a d m i r e d h i m f o r y e a r s b e c a u s e e a c h t e r m h e
a n d I v i e d f o r t h e b e s t g r a d e s i n o u r c l a s s . M o s t o f t e n h e b e s t e d
m e , b u t i n s t e a d o f b e i n g d i s a p p o i n t e d I w a s p l e a s e d t h a t w e

78 Chapter 2 Education and Learning

s h a r e d t o p p l a c e s b e t w e e n u s . L i k e m a n y S o u t h e r n B l a c k c h i l d r e n ,
h e l i v e d w i t h h i s g r a n d m o t h e r , w h o w a s a s s t r i c t a s M o m m a a n d
a s k i n d a s s h e k n e w h o w t o b e . H e w a s c o u r t e o u s , r e s p e c t f u l a n d
s o f t – s p o k e n t o e l d e r s , b u t o n t h e p l a y g r o u n d h e c h o s e t o p l a y t h e
r o u g h e s t g a m e s . I a d m i r e d h i m . A n y o n e , I r e c k o n e d , s u f f i c i e n t l y
a f r a i d o r s u f f i c i e n t l y d u l l c o u l d b e p o l i t e . B u t t o b e a b l e t o o p e r a t e
a t a t o p l e v e l w i t h b o t h a d u l t s a n d c h i l d r e n w a s a d m i r a b l e .

H i s v a l e d i c t o r y s p e e c h w a s e n t i t l e d ” T o B e o r N o t t o B e . ” T h e
r i g i d t e n t h – g r a d e t e a c h e r h a d h e l p e d h i m w r i t e i t . H e ‘ d b e e n
w o r k i n g o n t h e d r a m a t i c s t r e s s e s f o r m o n t h s .

T h e w e e k s u n t i l g r a d u a t i o n w e r e f i l l e d w i t h h e a d y a c t i v i t i e s .
A g r o u p o f s m a l l c h i l d r e n w e r e t o b e p r e s e n t e d i n a p l a y a b o u t
b u t t e r c u p s a n d d a i s i e s a n d b u n n y r a b b i t s . T h e y c o u l d b e h e a r d
t h r o u g h o u t t h e b u i l d i n g p r a c t i c i n g t h e i r h o p s a n d t h e i r l i t t l e s o n g s
t h a t s o u n d e d l i k e s i l v e r b e l l s . T h e o l d e r g i r l s ( n o n – g r a d u a t e s , o f
c o u r s e ) w e r e a s s i g n e d t h e t a s k o f m a k i n g r e f r e s h m e n t s f o r t h e
n i g h t ‘ s f e s t i v i t i e s . A t a n g y s c e n t o f g i n g e r , c i n n a m o n , n u t m e g a n d
c h o c o l a t e w a f t e d a r o u n d t h e h o m e e c o n o m i c s b u i l d i n g a s t h e
b u d d i n g c o o k s m a d e s a m p l e s f o r t h e m s e l v e s a n d t h e i r t e a c h e r s .

I n e v e r y c o r n e r o f t h e w o r k s h o p , a x e s a n d s a w s s p l i t f r e s h
t i m b e r a s t h e w o o d s h o p b o y s m a d e s e t s a n d s t a g e s c e n e r y . O n l y
t h e g r a d u a t e s w e r e l e f t o u t o f t h e g e n e r a l b u s t l e . W e w e r e f r e e t o
s i t i n t h e l i b r a r y a t t h e b a c k o f t h e b u i l d i n g o r l o o k i n q u i t e d e –
t a c h e d l y , n a t u r a l l y , o n t h e m e a s u r e s b e i n g t a k e n f o r o u r e v e n t .

E v e n t h e m i n i s t e r p r e a c h e d o n g r a d u a t i o n t h e S u n d a y b e f o r e .
H i s s u b j e c t w a s , ” L e t y o u r l i g h t s o s h i n e t h a t m e n w i l l s e e y o u r
g o o d w o r k s a n d p r a i s e y o u r F a t h e r , W h o i s i n H e a v e n . ” A l t h o u g h
t h e s e r m o n w a s p u r p o r t e d t o b e a d d r e s s e d t o u s , h e u s e d t h e o c c a –
s i o n t o s p e a k t o b a c k s l i d e r s , g a m b l e r s a n d g e n e r a l n e ‘ e r – d o – w e l l s .
B u t s i n c e h e h a d c a l l e d o u r n a m e s a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e s e r v i c e
w e w e r e m o l l i f i e d .

A m o n g N e g r o e s t h e t r a d i t i o n w a s t o g i v e p r e s e n t s t o c h i l d r e n
g o i n g o n l y f r o m o n e g r a d e t o a n o t h e r . H o w m u c h m o r e i m p o r t a n t
t h i s w a s w h e n t h e p e r s o n w a s g r a d u a t i n g a t t h e t o p o f t h e c l a s s .
U n c l e W i l l i e a n d M o m m a h a d s e n t a w a y f o r a M i c k e y M o u s e w a t c h
l i k e B a i l e y ‘ s . L o u i s e g a v e m e f o u r e m b r o i d e r e d h a n d k e r c h i e f s . ( I
g a v e h e r c r o c h e t e d d o i l i e s . ) M r s . S n e e d , t h e m i n i s t e r ‘ s w i f e , m a d e

Graduation Maya Angelou 79

m e a n u n d e r s h i r t t o w e a r f o r g r a d u a t i o n , a n d n e a r l y e v e r y c u s –
t o m e r g a v e m e a n i c k e l o r m a y b e e v e n a d i m e w i t h t h e i n –
s t r u c t i o n , ” K e e p o n m o v i n g t o h i g h e r g r o u n d , ” o r s o m e s u c h
e n c o u r a g e m e n t .

A m a z i n g l y t h e g r e a t d a y f i n a l l y d a w n e d a n d I w a s o u t o f b e d
b e f o r e I k n e w i t . I t h r e w o p e n t h e b a c k d o o r t o s e e i t m o r e c l e a r l y ,
b u t M o m m a s a i d , ” S i s t e r , c o m e a w a y f r o m t h a t d o o r a n d p u t y o u r
r o b e o n . ”

I h o p e d t h e m e m o r y o f t h a t m o r n i n g w o u l d n e v e r l e a v e m e .
S u n l i g h t w a s i t s e l f y o u n g , a n d t h e d a y h a d n o n e o f t h e i n s i s t e n c e
m a t u r i t y w o u l d b r i n g i t i n a f e w h o u r s . I n m y r o b e a n d b a r e f o o t i n
t h e b a c k y a r d , u n d e r c o v e r o f g o i n g t o s e e a b o u t m y n e w b e a n s , I
g a v e m y s e l f u p t o t h e g e n t l e w a r m t h a n d t h a n k e d G o d t h a t n o
m a t t e r w h a t e v i l I h a d d o n e i n m y l i f e H e h a d a l l o w e d m e t o l i v e
t o s e e t h i s d a y . S o m e w h e r e i n m y f a t a l i s m I h a d e x p e c t e d t o d i e ,
a c c i d e n t a l l y , a n d n e v e r h a v e t h e c h a n c e t o w a l k u p t h e s t a i r s i n
t h e a u d i t o r i u m a n d g r a c e f u l l y r e c e i v e m y h a r d – e a r n e d d i p l o m a .
O u t o f G o d ‘ s m e r c i f u l b o s o m I h a d w o n r e p r i e v e .

B a i l e y c a m e o u t i n h i s r o b e a n d g a v e m e a b o x w r a p p e d i n
C h r i s t m a s p a p e r . H e s a i d h e h a d s a v e d h i s m o n e y f o r m o n t h s
t o p a y f o r i t . I t f e l t l i k e a b o x o f c h o c o l a t e s , b u t I k n e w B a i l e y
w o u l d n ‘ t s a v e m o n e y t o b u y c a n d y w h e n w e h a d a l l w e c o u l d
w a n t u n d e r o u r n o s e s .

H e w a s a s p r o u d o f t h e g i f t a s I . I t w a s a s o f t – l e a t h e r – b o u n d –
c o p y o f a c o l l e c t i o n o f p o e m s b y E d g a r A l l a n P o e , o r , a s B a i l e y a n d
I c a l l e d h i m , ” E a p . ” I t u r n e d t o ” A n n a b e l L e e ” a n d w e w a l k e d u p
a n d d o w n t h e g a r d e n r o w s , t h e c o o l d i r t b e t w e e n o u r t o e s , r e c i t –
i n g t h e b e a u t i f u l l y s a d l i n e s .

M o m m a m a d e a S u n d a y b r e a k f a s t a l t h o u g h i t w a s o n l y F r i –
d a y A f t e r w e f i n i s h e d t h e b l e s s i n g , I o p e n e d m y e y e s t o f i n d t h e
w a t c h o n m y p l a t e . I t w a s a d r e a m o f a d a y E v e r y t h i n g w e n t
s m o o t h l y a n d t o m y c r e d i t . I d i d n ‘ t h a v e t o b e r e m i n d e d o r s c o l d e d
f o r a n y t h i n g . N e a r e v e n i n g I w a s t o o j i t t e r y t o a t t e n d t o c h o r e s , s o
B a i l e y v o l u n t e e r e d t o d o a l l b e f o r e h i s b a t h .

D a y s b e f o r e , w e h a d m a d e a s i g n f o r t h e S t o r e , a n d a s w e
t u r n e d o u t t h e l i g h t s M o m m a h u n g t h e c a r d b o a r d o v e r t h e d o o r –
k n o b . I t r e a d c l e a r l y : C L O S E D . G R A D U A T I O N .

8 0 Chapter 2 Education and Learning

M y d r e s s f i t t e d p e r f e c t l y a n d e v e r y o n e s a i d t h a t I l o o k e d l i k e a
s u n b e a m i n i t . O n t h e h i l l , g o i n g t o w a r d t h e s c h o o l . B a i l e y w a l k e d
b e h i n d w i t h U n c l e W i l U e , w h o m u t t e r e d , ” G o o n , J u . ” H e w a n t e d
h i m t o w a l k a h e a d w i t h u s b e c a u s e i t e m b a r r a s s e d h i m t o h a v e t o
w a l k s o s l o w l y . B a i l e y s a i d h e ‘ d l e t t h e l a d i e s w a l k t o g e t h e r , a n d
t h e m e n w o u l d b r i n g u p t h e r e a r . W e a l l l a u g h e d , n i c e l y .

L i t t l e c h i l d r e n d a s h e d b y o u t o f t h e d a r k l i k e f i r e f l i e s . T h e i r
c r e p e – p a p e r d r e s s e s a n d b u t t e r f l y w i n g s w e r e n o t m a d e f o r r u n –
n i n g a n d w e h e a r d m o r e t h a n o n e r i p , d r y l y , a n d t h e r e g r e t f u l ” u h
u h ” t h a t f o l l o w e d .

T h e s c h o o l b l a z e d w i t h o u t g a i e t y . T h e w i n d o w s s e e m e d c o l d
a n d u n f r i e n d l y f r o m t h e l o w e r h i l l . A s e n s e o f i l l – f a t e d t i m i n g c r e p t
o v e r m e , a n d i f M o m m a h a d n ‘ t r e a c h e d f o r m y h a n d I w o u l d h a v e
d r i f t e d b a c k t o B a i l e y a n d U n c l e W i l l i e , a n d p o s s i b l y b e y o n d . S h e
m a d e a f e w s l o w j o k e s a b o u t m y f e e t g e t t i n g c o l d , a n d t u g g e d m e
a l o n g t o t h e n o w – s t r a n g e b u i l d i n g .

A r o u n d t h e f r o n t s t e p s , a s s u r a n c e c a m e b a c k . T h e r e w e r e m y
f e l l o w ” g r e a t s , ” t h e g r a d u a t i n g c l a s s . H a i r b r u s h e d b a c k , l e g s o i l e d ,
n e w d r e s s e s a n d p r e s s e d p l e a t s , f r e s h p o c k e t h a n d k e r c h i e f s a n d
l i t t l e h a n d b a g s , a l l h o m e s e w n . O h , w e w e r e u p t o s n u f f , a l l r i g h t .
I j o i n e d m y c o m r a d e s a n d d i d n ‘ t e v e n s e e m y f a m i l y g o i n t o f i n d
s e a t s i n t h e c r o w d e d a u d i t o r i u m .

T h e s c h o o l b a n d s t r u c k u p a m a r c h a n d a l l c l a s s e s f i l e d i n a s
h a d b e e n r e h e a r s e d . W e s t o o d i n f r o n t o f o u r s e a t s , a s a s s i g n e d ,
a n d o n a s i g n a l f r o m t h e c h o i r d i r e c t o r , w e s a t . N o s o o n e r h a d t h i s
b e e n a c c o m p l i s h e d t h a n t h e b a n d s t a r t e d t o p l a y t h e n a t i o n a l a n –
t h e m . W e r o s e a g a i n a n d s a n g t h e s o n g , a f t e r w h i c h w e r e c i t e d t h e
p l e d g e o f a l l e g i a n c e . W e r e m a i n e d s t a n d i n g f o r a b r i e f m i n u t e b e –
f o r e t h e c h o i r d i r e c t o r a n d t h e p r i n c i p a l s i g n a l e d t o u s , r a t h e r d e s –
p e r a t e l y I t h o u g h t , t o t a k e o u r s e a t s . T h e c o m m a n d w a s s o
u n u s u a l t h a t o u r c a r e f u l l y r e h e a r s e d a n d s m o o t h – r u n n i n g m a –
c h i n e w a s t h r o w n o f f . F o r a f u l l m i n u t e w e f u m b l e d f o r o u r c h a i r s
a n d b u m p e d i n t o e a c h o t h e r a w k w a r d l y H a b i t s c h a n g e o r s o l i d –
i f y u n d e r p r e s s u r e , s o i n o u r s t a t e o f n e r v o u s t e n s i o n w e h a d b e e n
r e a d y t o f o l l o w o u r u s u a l a s s e m b l y p a t t e r n : t h e A m e r i c a n n a –
t i o n a l a n t h e m , t h e n t h e p l e d g e o f a l l e g i a n c e , t h e n t h e s o n g e v e r y
B l a c k p e r s o n I k n e w c a l l e d t h e N e g r o N a t i o n a l A n t h e m . A l l d o n e

Graduation Maya Angelou 81

i n t h e s a m e k e y , w i t h t h e s a m e p a s s i o n a n d m o s t o f t e n s t a n d i n g
o n t h e s a m e f o o t .

F i n d i n g m y s e a t a t l a s t , 1 w a s o v e r c o m e w i t h a p r e s e n t i m e n t
o f w o r s e t h i n g s t o c o m e . S o m e t h i n g u n r e h e a r s e d , u n p l a n n e d , w a s
g o i n g t o h a p p e n , a n d w e w e r e g o i n g t o b e m a d e t o l o o k b a d . I d i s –
t i n c t l y r e m e m b e r b e i n g e x p l i c i t i n t h e c h o i c e o f p r o n o u n . I t w a s
” w e , ” t h e g r a d u a t i n g c l a s s , t h e u n i t , t h a t c o n c e r n e d m e t h e n .

T h e p r i n c i p a l w e l c o m e d ” p a r e n t s a n d f r i e n d s ” a n d a s k e d t h e
B a p t i s t m i n i s t e r t o l e a d u s i n p r a y e r . H i s i n v o c a t i o n w a s b r i e f a n d
p u n c h y , a n d f o r a s e c o n d I t h o u g h t w e w e r e g e t t i n g o n t h e h i g h
r o a d t o r i g h t a c t i o n . W h e n t h e p r i n c i p a l c a m e b a c k t o t h e d a i s ,
h o w e v e r , h i s v o i c e h a d c h a n g e d . S o u n d s a l w a y s a f f e c t e d m e p r o –
f o u n d l y a n d t h e p r i n c i p a l ‘ s v o i c e w a s o n e o f m y f a v o r i t e s . D u r i n g
a s s e m b l y i t m e l t e d a n d l o w e d w e a k l y i n t o t h e a u d i e n c e . I t h a d
n o t b e e n i n m y p l a n t o l i s t e n t o h i m , b u t m y c u r i o s i t y w a s p i q u e d
a n d I s t r a i g h t e n e d u p t o g i v e h i m m y a t t e n t i o n .

H e w a s t a l k i n g a b o u t B o o k e r T . W a s h i n g t o n , o u r ” l a t e g r e a t
l e a d e r , ” w h o s a i d w e c a n b e a s c l o s e a s t h e f i n g e r s o n t h e h a n d ,
e t c T h e n h e s a i d a f e w v a g u e t h i n g s a b o u t f r i e n d s h i p a n d t h e
f r i e n d s h i p o f k i n d l y p e o p l e t o t h o s e l e s s f o r t u n a t e t h a n t h e m –
s e l v e s . W i t h t h a t h i s v o i c e n e a r l y f a d e d , t h i n , a w a y . L i k e a r i v e r d i –
m i n i s h i n g t o a s t r e a m a n d t h e n t o a t r i c k l e . B u t h e c l e a r e d h i s
t h r o a t a n d s a i d , ” O u r s p e a k e r t o n i g h t , w h o i s a l s o o u r f r i e n d ,
c a m e f r o m T e x a r k a n a t o d e l i v e r t h e c o m m e n c e m e n t a d d r e s s , b u t
d u e t o t h e i r r e g u l a r i t y o f t h e t r a i n s c h e d u l e , h e ‘ s g o i n g t o , a s t h e y
s a y , ‘ s p e a k a n d r u n . ‘ ” H e s a i d t h a t w e u n d e r s t o o d a n d w a n t e d t h e
m a n t o k n o w t h a t w e w e r e m o s t g r a t e f u l f o r t h e t i m e h e w a s a b l e
t o g i v e u s a n d t h e n s o m e t h i n g a b o u t h o w w e w e r e w i l l i n g a l w a y s
t o a d j u s t t o a n o t h e r ‘ s p r o g r a m , a n d w i t h o u t m o r e a d o — ” I g i v e
y o u M r . E d w a r d D o n l e a v y . ”

N o t o n e b u t t w o w h i t e m e n c a m e t h r o u g h t h e d o o r o f f – s t a g e .
T h e s h o r t e r o n e w a l k e d t o t h e s p e a k e r ‘ s p l a t f o r m , a n d t h e t a l l o n e
m o v e d t o t h e c e n t e r s e a t a n d s a t d o w n . B u t t h a t w a s o u r p r i n c i p a l ‘ s
s e a t , a n d a l r e a d y o c c u p i e d . T h e d i s l o d g e d g e n t l e m a n b o u n c e d
a r o u n d f o r a l o n g b r e a t h o r t w o b e f o r e t h e B a p t i s t m i n i s t e r g a v e
h i m h i s c h a i r , t h e n w i t h m o r e d i g n i t y t h a n t h e s i t u a t i o n d e s e r v e d ,
t h e m i n i s t e r w a l k e d o f f t h e s t a g e .

82 Chapter 2 Education and Learning

D o n l e a v y l o o k e d a t t h e a u d i e n c e o n c e ( o n r e f l e c t i o n , I ‘ m s u r e 34
t h a t h e w a n t e d o n l y t o r e a s s u r e h i m s e l f t h a t w e w e r e r e a l l y t h e r e ) ,
a d j u s t e d h i s g l a s s e s a n d b e g a n t o r e a d f r o m a s h e a f o f p a p e r s .

H e w a s g l a d ” t o b e h e r e a n d t o s e e t h e w o r k g o i n g o n j u s t a s 35
i t w a s i n t h e o t h e r s c h o o l s . ”

A t t h e f i r s t ” A m e n ” f r o m t h e a u d i e n c e I w i l l e d t h e o f f e n d e r t o 36
i m m e d i a t e d e a t h b y c h o k i n g o n t h e w o r d . B u t A m e n s a n d Y e s , s i r ‘ s
b e g a n t o f a l l a r o u n d t h e r o o m l i k e r a i n t h r o u g h a r a g g e d u m b r e l l a .

H e t o l d u s o f t h e w o n d e r f u l c h a n g e s w e c h i l d r e n i n S t a m p s 37
h a d i n s t o r e . T h e C e n t r a l S c h o o l ( n a t u r a l l y , t h e w h i t e s c h o o l w a s
C e n t r a l ) h a d a l r e a d y b e e n g r a n t e d i m p r o v e m e n t s t h a t w o u l d b e
i n u s e i n t h e f a l l . A w e l l – k n o w n a r t i s t w a s c o m i n g f r o m L i t t l e R o c k
t o t e a c h a r t t o t h e m . T h e y w e r e g o i n g t o h a v e t h e n e w e s t m i c r o –
s c o p e s a n d c h e m i s t r y e q u i p m e n t f o r t h e l a b o r a t o r y . M r . D o n l e a v y
d i d n ‘ t l e a v e u s l o n g i n t h e d a r k o v e r w h o m a d e t h e s e i m p r o v e –
m e n t s a v a i l a b l e t o C e n t r a l H i g h . N o r w e r e w e t o b e i g n o r e d i n t h e
g e n e r a l b e t t e r m e n t s c h e m e h e h a d i n m i n d .

H e s a i d t h a t h e h a d p o i n t e d o u t t o p e o p l e a t a v e r y h i g h l e v e l 38
t h a t o n e o f t h e f i r s t – l i n e f o o t b a l l t a c k l e r s a t A r k a n s a s A g r i c u l t u r a l
a n c i M e c h a n i c a l C o l l e g e h a d g r a d u a t e d f r o m g o o d o l d L a f a y e t t e
C o u n t y T r a i n i n g S c h o o l . H e r e f e w e r A m e n ‘ s w e r e h e a r d . T h o s e
f e w t h a t d i d b r e a k t h r o u g h l a y d u l l y i n t h e a i r w i t h t h e h e a v i n e s s
o f b a b i t .

H e w e n t o n t o p r a i s e u s . H e w e n t o n t o s a y h o w h e h a d b r a g g e d 39
t h a t ” o n e o f t h e b e s t b a s k e t b a l l p l a y e r s a t F i s k s a n k h i s f i r s t b a l l
r i g h t h e r e a t L a f a y e t t e C o u n t y T r a i n i n g S c h o o l . ”

T h e w h i t e k i d s w e r e g o i n g t o h a v e a c h a n c e t o b e c o m e 40
G a l i l e o s a n d M a d a m e C u r i e s a n d E d i s o n s a n d G a u g u i n s , a n d o u r
b o y s ( t h e g i r l s w e r e n ‘ t e v e n i n o n i t ) w o u l d t r y t o b e J e s s e O w e n s e s
a n d J o e L o u i s e s .

O w e n s a n d t h e B r o w n B o m b e r w e r e g r e a t h e r o e s i n o u r w o r l d , 4 1
b u t w h a t s c h o o l o f f i c i a l i n t h e w h i t e – g o d d o m o f L i t t l e R o c k h a d
t h e r i g h t t o d e c i d e t h a t t h o s e t w o m e n m u s t b e o u r o n l y h e r o e s ?
W h o d e c i d e d t h a t f o r H e n r y R e e d t o b e c o m e a s c i e n t i s t h e h a d t o
w o r k l i k e G e o r g e W a s h i n g t o n C a r v e r , a s a b o o t b l a c k , t o b u y a
l o u s y m i c r o s c o p e ? B a i l e y w a s o b v i o u s l y a l w a y s g o i n g t o b e t o o
s m a l l t o b e a n a t h l e t e , s o w h i c h c o n c r e t e a n g e l g l u e d t o w h a t
c o u n t y s e a t h a d d e c i d e d t h a t i f m y b r o t h e r w a n t e d t o b e c o m e a

Graduation Maya Angelou 83

l a w y e r h e h a d t o f i r s t p a y p e n a n c e f o r h i s s k i n b y p i c k i n g c o t t o n
a n d h o e i n g c o r n a n d s t u d y i n g c o r r e s p o n d e n c e b o o k s a t n i g h t f o r
t w e n t y y e a r s ?

T h e m a n ‘ s d e a d w o r d s f e l l l i k e b r i c k s a r o u n d t h e a u d i t o r i u m
a n d t o o m a n y s e t t l e d i n m y b e l l y C o n s t r a i n e d b y h a r d – l e a r n e d
m a n n e r s I c o u l d n ‘ t l o o k b e h i n d m e , b u t t o m y l e f t a n d r i g h t t h e
p r o u d g r a d u a t i n g c l a s s o f 1 9 4 0 h a d d r o p p e d t h e i r h e a d s . E v e r y
g i r l i n m y r o w h a d f o u n d s o m e t h i n g n e w t o d o w i t h h e r h a n d k e r –
c h i e f . S o m e f o l d e d t h e t i n y s q u a r e s i n t o l o v e k n o t s , s o m e i n t o t r i –
a n g l e s , b u t m o s t w e r e w a d d i n g t h e m , t h e n p r e s s i n g t h e m f l a t o n
t h e i r y e l l o w l a p s .

O n t h e d a i s , t h e a n c i e n t t r a g e d y w a s b e i n g r e p l a y e d . P r o f e s –
s o r P a r s o n s s a t , a s c u l p t o r ‘ s r e j e c t , r i g i d . H i s l a r g e , h e a v y b o d y
s e e m e d d e v o i d o f w i l l o r w i l l i n g n e s s , a n d h i s e y e s s a i d h e w a s n o
l o n g e r w i t h u s . T h e o t h e r t e a c h e r s e x a m i n e d t h e f l a g ( w h i c h w a s
d r a p e d s t a g e r i g h t ) o r t h e i r n o t e s , o r t h e w i n d o w s w h i c h o p e n e d
o n o u r n o w – f a m o u s p l a y i n g d i a m o n d .

G r a d u a t i o n , t h e h u s h – h u s h m a g i c t i m e o f f r i l l s a n d g i f t s a n d
c o n g r a t u l a t i o n s a n d d i p l o m a s , w a s f i n i s h e d f o r m e b e f o r e m y n a m e
w a s c a l l e d . T h e a c c o m p l i s h m e n t w a s n o t h i n g . T h e m e t i c u l o u s
m a p s , d r a w n i n t h r e e c o l o r s o f i n k , l e a r n i n g a n d s p e l l i n g d e c a s y l –
l a b i c w o r d s , m e m o r i z i n g t h e w h o l e o f The Rape ofLucrece—it w a s
f o r n o t h i n g . D o n l e a v y h a d e x p o s e d u s .

W e w e r e m a i d s a n d f a r m e r s , h a n d y m e n a n d w a s h e r w o m e n ,
a n d a n y t h i n g h i g h e r t h a t w e a s p i r e d t o w a s f a r c i c a l a n d p r e –
s u m p t u o u s .

T h e n I w i s h e d t h a t G a b r i e l P r o s s e r a n d N a t T u r n e r h a d k i l l e d
a l l w h i t e f o l k s i n t h e i r b e d s a n d t h a t A b r a h a m L i n c o l n h a d b e e n
a s s a s s i n a t e d b e f o r e t h e s i g n i n g o f t h e E m a n c i p a t i o n P r o c l a m a t i o n ,
a n d t h a t H a r r i e t T u b m a n h a d b e e n k i l l e d b y t h a t b l o w o n h e r
h e a d a n d C h r i s t o p h e r C o l u m b u s h a d d r o w n e d i n t h e Santa Maria.

I t w a s a w f u l t o b e a N e g r o a n d h a v e n o c o n t r o l o v e r m y l i f e . I t
w a s b r u t a l t o b e y o u n g a n d a l r e a d y t r a i n e d t o s i t q u i e t l y a n d l i s –
t e n t o c h a r g e s b r o u g h t a g a i n s t m y c o l o r w i t h n o c h a n c e o f d e –
f e n s e . W e s h o u l d a l l b e d e a d . I t h o u g h t I s h o u l d l i k e t o s e e u s a l l
d e a d , o n e o n t o p o f t h e o t h e r . A p y r a m i d o f f l e s h w i t h t h e w h i t e –
f o l k s o n t h e b o t t o m , a s t h e b r o a d b a s e , t h e n t h e I n d i a n s w i t h t h e i r
s i l l y t o m a h a w k s a n d t e e p e e s a n d w i g w a m s a n d t r e a t i e s , t h e

84 Chapter 2 Education and Learning

N e g r o e s w i t h t h e i r m o p s a n d r e c i p e s a n d c o t t o n s a c k s a n d s p i r i –
t u a l s s t i c k i n g o u t o f t h e i r m o u t h s . T h e D u t c h c h i l d r e n s h o u l d a l l
s t u m b l e i n t h e i r w o o d e n s h o e s a n d b r e a k t h e i r n e c k s . T h e F r e n c h
s h o u l d c h o k e t o d e a t h o n t h e L o u i s i a n a P u r c h a s e ( 1 8 0 3 ) w h i l e s i l k –
w o r m s a t e a l l t h e C h i n e s e w i t h t h e i r s t u p i d p i g t a i l s . A s a s p e c i e s ,
w e w e r e a n a b o m i n a t i o n . A l l o f u s .

D o n l e a v y w a s r u n n i n g f o r e l e c t i o n , a n d a s s u r e d o u r p a r e n t s
t h a t i f h e w o n w e c o u l d c o u n t o n h a v i n g t h e o n l y c o l o r e d p a v e d
p l a y i n g f i e l d i n t h a t p a r t o f A r k a n s a s . A l s o — h e n e v e r l o o k e d u p
t o a c k n o w l e d g e t h e g r u n t s o f a c c e p t a n c e — a l s o , w e w e r e b o u n d t o
g e t s o m e n e w e q u i p m e n t f o r t h e h o m e e c o n o m i c s b u i l d i n g a n d
t h e w o r k s h o p .

H e f i n i s h e d , a n d s i n c e t h e r e w a s n o n e e d t o g i v e a n y m o r e
t h a n t h e m o s t p e r f u n c t o r y t h a n k – y o u ‘ s , h e n o d d e d t o t h e m e n o n
t h e s t a g e , a n d t h e t a l l w h i t e m a n w h o w a s n e v e r i n t r o d u c e d
j o i n e d h i m a t t h e d o o r . T h e y l e f t w i t h t h e a t t i t u d e t h a t n o w t h e y
w e r e o f f t o s o m e t h i n g r e a l l y i m p o r t a n t . ( T h e g r a d u a t i o n c e r e –
m o n i e s a t L a f a y e t t e C o u n t y T r a i n i n g S c h o o l h a d b e e n a m e r e
p r e l i m i n a r y . )

T h e u g l i n e s s t h e y l e f t w a s p a l p a b l e . A n u n i n v i t e d g u e s t w h o
w o u l d n ‘ t l e a v e . T h e c h o i r w a s s u m m o n e d a n d s a n g a m o d e r n
a r r a n g e m e n t o f ” O n w a r d , C h r i s t i a n S o l d i e r s , ” w i t h n e w w o r d s
p e r t a i n i n g t o g r a d u a t e s s e e k i n g t h e i r p l a c e i n t h e w o r l d . B u t i t
d i d n ‘ t w o r k . E l o u i s e , t h e d a u g h t e r o f t h e B a p t i s t m i n i s t e r , r e c i t e d
” I n v i c t u s , ” a n d I c o u l d h a v e c r i e d a t t h e i m p e r t i n e n c e o f ” I a m t h e
m a s t e r o f m y f a t e , 1 a m t h e c a p t a i n o f m y s o u l . ”

M y n a m e h a d l o s t i t s r i n g o f f a m i l i a r i t y a n d I h a d t o b e
n u d g e d t o g o a n d r e c e i v e m y d i p l o m a . A l l m y p r e p a r a t i o n s h a d
f l e d . I n e i t h e r m a r c h e d u p t o t h e s t a g e l i k e a c o n q u e r i n g A m a z o n ,
n o r d i d I l o o k i n t h e a u d i e n c e f o r B a i l e y ‘ s n o d o f a p p r o v a l . M a r –
g u e r i t e J o h n s o n , ^ 1 h e a r d t h e n a m e a g a i n , m y h o n o r s w e r e r e a d ,
t h e r e w e r e n o i s e s i n t h e a u d i e n c e o f a p p r e c i a t i o n , a n d I t o o k m y
p l a c e o n t h e s t a g e a s r e h e a r s e d .

I t h o u g h t a b o u t c o l o r s I h a t e d : e c r u , p u c e , l a v e n d e r , b e i g e a n d
b l a c k .

^Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Johnson in 1928; married Tosh Angelou
(divorced 1952); took the name of Maya Angelou in her early twenties.

Graduation Maya Angelou 85

T h e r e w a s s h u f f l i n g a n d r u s t l i n g a r o u n d m e , t h e n H e n r y R e e d
w a s g i v i n g h i s v a l e d i c t o r y a d d r e s s , ” T o B e o r N o t t o B e . ” H a d n ‘ t
h e h e a r d t h e w h i t e f o l k s ? W e c o u l d n ‘ t be, s o t h e q u e s t i o n w a s a
w a s t e o f t i m e . H e n r y ‘ s v o i c e c a m e o u t c l e a r a n d s t r o n g . I f e a r e d t o
l o o k a t h i m . H a d n ‘ t h e g o t t h e m e s s a g e ? T h e r e w a s n o ” n o b l e r i n
t h e m i n d ” f o r N e g r o e s b e c a u s e t h e w o r l d d i d n ‘ t t h i n k w e h a d
m i n d s , a n d t h e y l e t u s k n o w i t . ” O u t r a g e o u s f o r t u n e ” ? N o w , t h a t
w a s a j o k e . W h e n t h e c e r e m o n y w a s o v e r I h a d t o t e l l H e n r y R e e d
s o m e t h i n g s . T h a t i s , i f I s t i l l c a r e d . N o t ” r u b , ” H e n r y , ” e r a s e . ”
” A h , t h e r e ‘ s t h e e r a s e . ” U s .

H e n r y h a d b e e n a g o o d s t u d e n t i n e l o c u t i o n . H i s v o i c e r o s e o n
t i d e s o f p r o m i s e a n d f e l l o n w a v e s o f w a r n i n g s . T h e E n g l i s h
t e a c h e r h a d h e l p e d h i m t o c r e a t e a s e r m o n w i n g i n g t h r o u g h H a m –
l e t ‘ s s o l i l o q u y . T o b e a m a n , a d o e r , a b u i l d e r , a l e a d e r , o r t o b e a
t o o l , a n u n f u n n y j o k e , a c r u s h e r o f f u n k y t o a d s t o o l s . I m a r v e l e d
t h a t H e n r y c o u l d g o t h r o u g h w i t h t h e s p e e c h a s i f w e h a d a c h o i c e .

1 h a d b e e n l i s t e n i n g a n d s i l e n t l y r e b u t t i n g e a c h s e n t e n c e w i t h
m y e y e s c l o s e d ; t h e n t h e r e w a s a h u s h , w h i c h i n a n a u d i e n c e w a r n s
t h a t s o m e t h i n g u n p l a n n e d i s h a p p e n i n g . 1 l o o k e d u p a n d s a w
H e n r y R e e d , t h e c o n s e r v a t i v e , t h e p r o p e r , t h e A s t u d e n t , t u r n h i s
b a c k t o t h e a u d i e n c e a n d t u r n t o u s ( t h e p r o u d g r a d u a t i n g c l a s s o f
1 9 4 0 ) a n d s i n g , n e a r l y s p e a k i n g ,

” L i f t e v ‘ r y v o i c e a n d s i n g ^
T i l l e a r t h a n d h e a v e n r i n g
R i n g w i t h t h e h a r m o n i e s o f L i b e r t y . . . ”

I t w a s t h e p o e m w r i t t e n b y J a m e s W e l d o n J o h n s o n . I t w a s t h e m u –
s i c c o m p o s e d b y J . R o s a m o n d J o h n s o n . I t w a s t h e N e g r o N a t i o n a l
A n t h e m . O u t o f h a b i t w e w e r e s i n g i n g i t .

O u r m o t h e r s a n d f a t h e r s s t o o d i n t h e d a r k h a l l a n d j o i n e d t h e
h y m n o f e n c o u r a g e m e n t . A k i n d e r g a r t e n t e a c h e r l e d t h e s m a l l
c h i l d r e n o n t o t h e s t a g e a n d t h e b u t t e r c u p s a n d d a i s i e s a n d b u n n y
r a b b i t s m a r k e d t i m e a n d t r i e d t o f o l l o w :

” S t o n y t h e r o a d w e t r o d
B i t t e r t h e c h a s t e n i n g r o d
F e l t i n t h e d a y s w h e n h o p e , u n b o r n , h a d d i e d .
Y e t w i t h a s t e a d y b e a t

86 Chapter 2 Education and Learning

H a v e n o t o u r w e a r y f e e t
C o m e t o t h e p l a c e f o r w h i c h o u r f a t h e r s s i g h e d ? ”

E a c h c h i l d 1 k n e w h a d l e a r n e d t h a t s o n g w i t h h i s A B C ‘ s a n d
a l o n g w i t h ” J e s u s L o v e s M e T h i s 1 K n o w . ” B u t I p e r s o n a l l y h a d
n e v e r h e a r d i t b e f o r e . N e v e r h e a r d t h e w o r d s , d e s p i t e t h e t h o u –
s a n d s o f t i m e s I h a d s u n g t h e m . N e v e r t h o u g h t t h e y h a d a n y t h i n g
t o d o w i t h m e .

O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e w o r d s o f P a t r i c k H e n r y h a d m a d e s u c h
a n i m p r e s s i o n o n m e t h a t I h a d b e e n a b l e t o s t r e t c h m y s e l f t a l l a n d
t r e m b l i n g a n d s a y , ” I k n o w n o t w h a t c o u r s e o t h e r s m a y t a k e , b u t
a s f o r m e , g i v e m e l i b e r t y o r g i v e m e d e a t h . ”

A n d n o w I h e a r d , r e a l l y f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e :

” W e h a v e c o m e o v e r a w a y t h a t w i t h t e a r s
h a s b e e n w a t e r e d .
W e h a v e c o m e , t r e a d i n g o u r p a t h t h r o u g h
t h e b l o o d o f t h e s l a u g h t e r e d . ”

W h i l e e c h o e s o f t h e s o n g s h i v e r e d i n t h e a i r , H e n r y R e e d
b o w e d h i s h e a d , s a i d ” T h a n k y o u , ” a n d r e t u r n e d t o h i s p l a c e i n
t h e l i n e . T h e t e a r s t h a t s l i p p e d d o w n m a n y f a c e s w e r e n o t w i p e d
a w a y i n s h a m e .

W e w e r e o n t o p a g a i n . A s a l w a y s , a g a i n . W e s u r v i v e d . T h e
d e p t h s h a d b e e n i c y a n d d a r k , b u t n o w a b r i g h t s u n s p o k e t o o u r
s o u l s . I w a s n o l o n g e r s i m p l y a m e m b e r o f t h e p r o u d g r a d u a t i n g
c l a s s o f 1 9 4 0 ; 1 w a s a p r o u d m e m b e r o f t h e w o n d e r f u l , b e a u t i f u l
N e g r o r a c e .

O h , B l a c k k n o w n a n d u n k n o w n p o e t s , h o w o f t e n h a v e y o u r
a u c t i o n e d p a i n s s u s t a i n e d u s ? W h o w i l l c o m p u t e t h e o n l y n i g h t s
m a d e l e s s l o n e l y b y y o u r s o n g s , o r t h e e m p t y p o t s m a d e l e s s
t r a g i c b y y o u r t a l e s ?

I f w e w e r e a p e o p l e m u c h g i v e n t o r e v e a l i n g s e c r e t s , w e m i g h t
r a i s e m o n u m e n t s a n d s a c r i f i c e t o t h e m e m o r i e s o f o u r p o e t s , b u t
s l a v e r y c u r e d u s o f t h a t w e a k n e s s . I t m a y b e e n o u g h , h o w e v e r , t o
h a v e i t s a i d t h a t w e s u r v i v e i n e x a c t r e l a t i o n s h i p t o t h e d e d i c a t i o n
o f o u r p o e t s ( i n c l u d e p r e a c h e r s , m u s i c i a n s a n d b l u e s s i n g e r s ) .

1970

” I Just Wanna Be Average” Mike Rose 87

“I J u s t W a n n a Be Average”
M i k e R o s e

S o m e p e o p l e w h o m a n a g e t o w r i t e t h e i r w a y o u t o f t h e w o r k i n g
c l a s s d e s c r i b e t h e c l a s s r o o m a s a n o a s i s o f p o s s i b i l i t y . I t b e c a m e
t h e i r i n t e l l e c t u a l p l a y g r o u n d , t h e i r c o m p e t i t i v e a r e n a . G i v e n t h e
r i c h n e s s o f m y m e m o r i e s o f t h i s t i m e , i t ‘ s f u n n y h o w s c a n t a r e
m y r e c o l l e c t i o n s o f s c h o o l . 1 r e m e m b e r t h e r e d b r i c k b u i l d i n g o f
S t . R e g i n a ‘ s i t s e l f , a n d t h e t o p o g r a p h y o f t h e p l a y g r o u n d : t h e
s w i n g s a n d b a s k e t b a l l c o u r t s a n d p e e l i n g b e n c h e s . T h e r e a r e i m –
a g e s o f a f e w s t u d e n t s : E r w i n P e t s c h a u r , a m u s c u l a r G e r m a n b o y
w i t h a s t r o n g a c c e n t ; D a v e S a n c h e z , w h o w a s g o o d i n m a t h ; a n d
S h e i l a W i l k e s , e v e r y o n e ‘ s c u r l y – h a i r e d h e a r t t h r o b . A n d t h e r e a r e
t w o n u n s : S i s t e r M o n i c a , t h e t h i r d – g r a d e t e a c h e r w i t h b e a u t i f u l
h a n d s f o r w h o m I c a r r i e d a c a n d l e a n d w h o , t o m y d i s m a y , h a d
w e d d e d h e r s e l f t o C h r i s t ; a n d S i s t e r B e a t r i c e , a w o m a n t r u l y
c r a z e d , w h o w o u l d s w e e p i n t o c l a s s , e y e s w i d e , t o t e l l u s a b o u t
t h e A p o c a l y p s e .

A l l t h e h o u r s i n c l a s s t e n d t o b l e n d i i i t o o n e l o n g , v a g u e s t r e t c h
o f t i m e . W h a t I r e m e m b e r b e s t , s t r a n g e l y e n o u g h , a r e t h e t w o
t h i n g s I c o u l d n ‘ t u n d e r s t a n d a n d o v e r t h e y e a r s g r e w t o h a t e :
g r a m m a r l e s s o n s a n d m a t h e m a t i c s . I w o u l d s i t t h e r e w a t c h i n g a
t e a c h e r d r a w h e r l o n g h o r i z o n t a l l i n e a n d h e r s h o r t , o b l i q u e l i n e s
a n d b r e a k u p s e n t e n c e s a n d p u t a d j e c t i v e s h e r e a n d a d v e r b s
t h e r e a n d j u s t n o t g e t i t , c o u l d n ‘ t s e e t h e r e a s o n f o r i t , t u r n e d o f f
t o i t . 1 w o u l d h i d e b y s l u m p i n g d o w n i n m y s e a t a n d p a g e
t h r o u g h m y r e a d e r , c a r r i e d a l o n g b y t h e f l o w o f s e n t e n c e s i n a
s t o r y . S h e w o u l d t e s t u s , a n d I w o u l d d r e a d t h a t , f o r I a l w a y s g o t
C s a n d D s . M a t h e m a t i c s w a s a b i t d i f f e r e n t . F o r w h a t e v e r r e a s o n s ,
I d i d n ‘ t l e a r n e a r l y m a t h v e r y w e H , s o w h e n i t c a m e t i m e f o r m o r e
c o m p l i c a t e d o p e r a t i o n s , I c o u l d n ‘ t k e e p u p a n d s t a r t e d d a y d r e a m –
i n g t o a v o i d m y i n a d e q u a c y . T h i s w a s a s t r a t e g y I w o u l d r e l y o n a s
1 g r e w o l d e n I f e l l f u r t h e r a n d f u r t h e r b e h i n d . A m e m o r y : T h e
t e a c h e r i s f a c e l e s s a n d s e e m s v e r y f a r a w a y . T h e v o i c e i s f a i n t a n d
i s d i s c u s s i n g a n e q u a t i o n w r i t t e n o n t h e b o a r d . I t i s r a i n i n g , a n d I
a m w a t c h i n g t h e s t r e a m s o f w a t e r f o r m p a t t e r n s o n t h e w i n d o w s .

M c G r a w – H i l l H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n

A D i v i s i o n of T h e M c G r a w – H i l l C o m p a n i e s

75 T H E M A T I C R E A D I N G S : A N A N T H O L O G Y

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Contents
I n d e x o f R h e t o r i c a l M o d e s x v i i

P r e f a c e x x v

C h a p t e r 1
L A N G U A G E A N D
C O M M U N I C A T I O N 1

R i c h a r d R o d r i g u e z : “Aria” 3

“My m o t h e r ! My f a t h e r ! After English became my primary
language I no longer knew what words to use in addressing
my parents.”

M a x i n e H o n g K i n g s t o n : “Tongue Tied” 1 0

“During the first silent year, I spoke to no one at school, did not
ask before going to the lavatory, and flunked kindergarten.”

G l o r i a A n z a l d u a : “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” 1 5

“For a people who are neither Spanish nor live in a country in
which Spanish is the first language; for a people who live in a
country in which English is the reigning tongue but who are
not Anglo; for people who cannot entirely identify with either
standard (formal, Castillian) Spanish nor standard English,
what recourse is left to them but to create their own
language?”

G l o r i a N a y l o r : “A Question of Language” 2 2

“Words themselves are innocuous; it is the consensus that gives
them true power.”

V

Reading Fiction

Fiction creates imaginary worlds by telling stories written in prose (ordinary, unrhymed
language) about realistic characters, set in physical environments, and with attention to
descriptive detail.

Works of fiction ​narrate, ​or tell stories. Narrative is not specific to fiction or to any other
literary genre. Telling stories pervades almost every aspect of our daily lives. We learn
very early on how to recognize and tell stories, and we rely heavily on narrative to
organize and make sense of our experience. Even in our sleep, we tell stories in the
form of dreams. It is impossible to imagine our lives without these narratives; in fact,
every culture uses them to order and make sense of lived experience. Of course,
narrative fiction is not meant to recount actual events, though it may refer to real events
or real people. Rather than relate actual experiences, fiction uses narrative to shape
imaginary ones.

Works of fiction cannot be reduced simply to a listing of their narrative elements any
more than paintings can be reduced to technical aspects of drawing. However, it is
important to explore methods of fiction to enhance our understanding of a work of
fiction.

Elements of Fiction

Tone ​t​he tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be
cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and
so on. For instance, an editorial in a newspaper that described its subject as “not even
having the guts to do the job himself,” has a tone that is both informal and critical​.

The tone of a piece of writing depends on a confluence of different factors, including:

● The ​connotation​ of the words used: Are they positive or negative? What

associations do the words bring to mind?

● The ​diction​, or word choice​:​ Are there lots of thou’s and thine’s? Does the

writer use slang? Are the words long and technical, or short and childish?

● The use of ​figurative language​:​ Is there a lot of metaphor, hyperbole, or

alliteration? Does the language sound lofty and poetic?

https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/connotation

https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/diction

https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/figurative-language

● The ​mood​:​ How does the language make you feel as the reader? This can

reveal a lot about the tone of the piece.

All of these things work together to determine the tone of a piece of writing.

Plot​ is a literary term used to describe the events that make up a story, or the main part
of a story. These events relate to each other in a pattern or a sequence. The structure
of a novel depends on the organization of events in the plot of the story.

There are five main elements in a plot.

● Exposition​ or​ Introduction​–This is the beginning of the story, where characters
and​ setting​ are established. The​ conflict​ or main problem is introduced as well

● Rising Action​–Rising action occurs when a series of events build up to the
conflict. The main characters are established by the time the rising action of a
plot occurs, and at the same time, events begin to get complicated. It is during
this part of a story that excitement, tension, or crisis is encountered.

● Climax—In the climax, or the main point of the plot, there is a turning point of the
story. This is meant to be the moment of highest interest and emotion, leaving
the reader wondering what is going to happen next.

● Falling Action​–Falling action, or the winding up of the story, occurs when events
and complications begin to resolve. The result of the actions of the main
characters are put forward.

● Resolution​–resolution, or the​ conclusion​, is the end of a story, which may occur
with either a happy or a tragic ending.

The plot is what forms a memory in readers’ minds, allowing them to think about the
book and even making them want to read it again. By identifying and understanding the
plot, the reader is able to understand the message being conveyed by the author, and
the explicit or implicit​ ​moral​ of the story.

Characterization
Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a
character. Characterization is revealed through direct characterization and indirect
characterization. Direct characterization is when the author ​tells​ the audience what the
personality of the character is (shy, arrogant, patient, for example). Indirect
characterization ​shows​ things that reveal the personality of a character such as the
character’s speech, thoughts, effect on others, actions, the way a character looks and

https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/mood

Exposition

Introduction

Setting

Conflict

Rising Action

Falling Action

Resolution

Conclusion

Moral

Moral

dresses. Characterization cannot easily be separated from the other elements of fiction,
as it depends heavily on tone, plot, theme, setting, etc.

One obvious difference between the short stories we will be reading and novels is that
story writers develop characters rapidly and limit the number of developed characters.
Many short stories have only one ​round character; ​the other characters are frequently
flat. ​A character is said to be “flat” if it is one-dimensional or lacking in complexity.
Typically, flat characters can be easily and accurately described using a single word
(like “bully”) or one short sentence (like “A naive and idealistic school teacher with a
fragile heart of gold”). The important thing about flat characters is that they never
transcend or break with the formula that defines them​. ​A character is said to be “round”
if they are lifelike or complex. Round characters typically have fully fleshed-out and
multifaceted personalities, backgrounds, desires, and motivations. A round character
will have multiple facets to their personality. It would be difficult to describe a round
character using an adjective or a single sentence. Like real people, they’re complicated,
and sometimes their desires and motivations are contradictory. For more explanation
on round and flat characters, click on the video link below:

Setting​–​Setting is ​where ​and ​when​ a story or scene takes place. The ​where ​can be a
real place like the city of New York, or it can be an imagined location, like Middle Earth
in J.R.R. Tolkien’s ​The Lord of the Rings. ​Similarly, the​ when ​can be a real time period
(past or present) or imagined (the future). Other aspects that determine a setting include
landscape, architecture, time of day, social context, and weather. ​Unlike novels, short
stories usually work themselves out in a restricted geographical setting–in a single
place within a short period of time. Any consideration of a setting should include the
historical time when a story takes place and the social situation set in the story, as well
as the physical location of the events.

Theme​–​A theme is a universal idea, lesson, or message explored throughout a work of
literature. One key characteristic of literary themes is their universality, which is to say
that themes are ideas that not only apply to the specific characters and events of a story
or play, but also express broader truths about human experience that readers can apply
to their own lives. For instance, John Steinbeck’s ​The Grapes of Wrath​ ​(about a family
of tenant farmers who are displaced from their land in Oklahoma) is a book whose
themes might be said to include the inhumanity of capitalism, as well as the vitality and
necessity of family and friendship.

https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-grapes-of-wrath

Every work of literature—whether it’s an essay, a novel, a poem, or something
else—has at least one theme. Therefore, when analyzing a given work, it’s always
possible to discuss what the work is “about” on two separate levels: the more concrete
level of the ​plot​ (i.e., what literally happens in the work), as well as the more abstract
level of the theme (i.e., the concepts that the work deals with). Understanding the
themes of a work is vital to understanding the work’s significance.

Writers often use symbols to emphasize or hint at a work’s underlying themes. Spotting
symbolism at work in a text can help you know where to look for its main themes.
Broadly defined, a symbol is anything that represents another thing. In literature, a
symbol is often a tangible thing—an object, person, place, or action—that represents
something intangible. Symbols might occur once or twice in a book or play to represent
an emotion, and in that case aren’t necessarily related to a theme. However, if you start
to see clusters of similar symbols appearing in a story, this may mean that the symbols
are part of an overarching motif, in which case they very likely ​are ​related to a theme​.​In
the ​Lord of the Rings​, the One Ring is a symbol for power, selfishness, and greed.
Everyone wants it and many characters are willing to kill for it. Some begin with good
intentions, but ultimately the Ring corrupts them and bends them to its will. The
symbolism of the story implies that power seduces, corrupts, controls, and destroys
people who are attached to it, just as the Ring does to its owners.

Point of View​–
Point of view (POV) is what the ​character​ or narrator telling the ​story​ can see
(his or her perspective). The author chooses “who” is to tell the story by

determining the point of view. Depending on who the narrator is, he/she will be

standing at one point and seeing the ​action​. This viewpoint will give the narrator
a partial or whole view of events as they happen. Many stories have the

protagonist​ (the main character) telling the story, while in others, the narrator
may be another character or an outside viewer, a narrator who is not in the

story at all. The narrator should not be confused with the author, who is the

writer of the story and whose opinions may not be those written into the

narrative​.
Although there are several possibilities for POV in a narrative,

generally, the brevity of the short story makes the first-person or

limited omniscient narrations the most frequently used points of view

for these works.

Types of Point of View:

https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/plot

https://literaryterms.net/character-flashcards/

https://literaryterms.net/story/

https://literaryterms.net/action/

https://literaryterms.net/protagonist/

https://literaryterms.net/narrative/

● First person:​ First person POV means that the story is told from the
perspective of a narrator who speaks in the first person (I, we, my,

our).As a result we are seeing events through the eyes of the character

telling the story.

● Third person:​ With third-person point of view, the narrator is describing
what’s seen, but as a spectator. If the narrator is a character in the story,

then we are reading what he or she observes as the story unfolds. This

narrator has three possible perspectives.

1. Limited – In limited third-person, the narrator sees only what’s in

front of him/her, a spectator of events as they unfold and unable to

read any other character’s mind.

2. Omniscient – An omniscient narrator sees all, much as an all

knowing god of some kind. He or she sees what each character is

doing and can see into each character’s mind. This is common with

an external character, who is standing above, watching the action

below (think of a person with a crystal ball, peering in).

3. Limited Omniscient – The limited omniscient third-person narrator

can only see into one character’s mind. He/she might see other

events happening, but only knows the reasons of one character’s

actions in the story.

● Second person:​ In second person POV, the narrator is speaking to YOU.
This isn’t very common in fiction, unless the narrator is trying to talk to

the reader personally. We see second-person point of view mostly in

poems, speeches, instructional writing, and persuasive articles.

Point of view is important in a story because it helps the reader understand

characters​’​ feelings and actions. Each character will have his or her own
perspective, so whoever is telling the story will impact the reader’s opinion of

other characters and events.

https://literaryterms.net/character/

Reaction Paper # 2—After reading this week’s notes “Reading Fiction” and “Graduation” by Maya

Angelou, complete reaction paper 2 as described below.

Discussed in the notes this week are 6 elements of fiction: Tone, Plot, Characterization, Setting, Theme

and Point of View. Choose one element (other than POV) and reflect on how Angelou uses it in her

writing. Give specific examples and quotes from the text to show how she uses the element and its

effect on the story. Be sure to quote correctly (using quotation marks and providing paragraph #s).

Remember that reaction papers should be 1-2 pages, double-spaced.

Below is a brief sample of how to discuss one of the elements with examples from the text. The example

discusses the use of point of view in the story:

Maya Angelou’s story “Graduation,” is told from first-person point of view, told through the

main character, Marguerite Johnson. Although it is not yet clear who the narrator is within the first 5

paragraphs, in paragraph 6 Angelou writes, “In the Store I was the person of the moment.” Thus, we are

introduced to the narrator of the story. The rest of the story uses pronouns such as we, me, my which

solidifies the narrator’s point of view.

Hearing the story unfold from first-person POV gives credibility to the theme of the story.

Maguerite Johnson is one of the graduates excited to be graduating, and is present at every point of the

story—from the events leading up to the day, the events during the ceremony, and her feelings about

what has occurred.

In paragraph 7, she tells us, “My class was wearing buttery-yellow piqué dresses, and Momma

launched out mine.” She goes on to describe the expert way her mother crafted her dress. It is clear

from all of her descriptions that she, her family and the community looked toward the day with great

anticipation, even though as the narrator states, “I was only twelve years old and merely graduating

from the eighth grade” (paragraph 8). She goes on to explain that many teachers in the Arkansas Negro

schools had the same diploma but were able to teach. This shows that at the time, an eighth-grade

graduation was quite an achievement which could lead to possible (anticipated) professions…

(continued)