This is a blog for students in Mr. Agostino's period 3 and 6 English 11 classes to use as a forum for meaningful discussion about Ernest J. Gaines's novel A Lesson Before Dying.
i think that Jefferson does not see Miss Emma, Tante Lou and Reverend Ambrose when he they visit him because he does not care about life anymore. He sees no reason to make conversation or take part in any normal activity the other people do. He knows he is going to die no matter what and sees no reason to make others happy when he is miserable. Grant tries to convince him to make the people he loves happy. "you can talk like that; you know you go'n walk out here in a hour. I bet you wouldn't be talking like that if you knowed you was go'n stay here." Jefferson said(pg. 129) Jefferson knows he has no way out and sees no point in life anymore.
Grant is the kind of person where he jsut lets his beleifs go because nothing in his life seems to work out the way he wants. He hates where he lives but can't leave and he knows he isn't making a difference in his students lives or in jeffersons life. "Because i know damn well I'm not doing any good, for you orany of the others." He knows he is making no difference so he sees no reason to believe in anything
I think that Jefferson didn’t see that because he already doesn’t really care about anything in life or any effort that everyone is doing for him. And I don’t know why he like to be in that way with the person that really care him, they care that much for him that miss Emma didn’t care about embarrass herself (pg.133) just to try to make the visit to Jefferson more comfortable, but he doesn’t even care about, nothing matter to him, he said. That effort that Miss Emma did to make this visit comfortable was in vain. I think that they should understand him and how he feels, because it’s horrible be sentence to death for something that you didn’t do, but what is done is done and he doesn’t have a change to live anymore and I think that even he knows that he going to die he should be grateful for all the things that his godmother had done for him...
I think that Grant is the kind of person that he is because everything that he wants in his life doesn’t work out in the way that he want it to be. For example he wants to leave from where he lives, but he can’t, he feels like he were in jail because he can’t do whatever he wants, and he have to do what his aunt wants him to do, miss Emma and his aunt wants him to do Jefferson a “man” something that he doesn’t know how it do it and he doesn’t want to do it and he think that there is no possible way that a teacher can change a man mind and make him think that he is not a hog, even though he going to die anyways.
1. Do you agree with Grant that there are no changes occuring and that he is making no difference in anyones life? (pg. 151)
2. Do you think it is significant that the kids in the play had bad grammar and why do you think the whole description of the play was included in the book?
I think that Jefferson is not paying attention to them, or does not see them because he knows that anything they try to do and anything they say will not get him out of the situation he is in. As in pg. 129 "I do not know when i am going to die Jefferson. Maybe tommorow maybe next week maybe today. Thats why I try to live as well as I can everyday and not hurt people. Especially people who love me, who have done so much for me, people who have sacrificed for me. I do not want to hurt those people. I want to help those people as much as I can." He is trying to say to jefferson do not treat the people you love the way you are doing now to your family. Jefferson does not change himself after this and still treats them the way he has been
I think that Grant is a type of person that is annoyed in life because of his color he is not acquainted as a man of knowledge and all the hard things in life he had to go through to get where he is now. As in chapter 17 Pg. 127 a prisoner says "well, well, well, if it aint Mr. Rockafeller". I think the prisoner is making fun of grant and all his power because he is jealous of grant and his knowledge.
For the first question I agree with Alex. Jefferson really doesn't care about much and is pretty much set on dying. He doesn't have much to live for and since he is dying, why be nice and respectful and polite? Also Kylie, you made a good point in saying that there's no reason in his mind to make people happy when he is miserable. I agree with that. As for Austin, I agree with when you said that he is just stuck in this situation and can't get out.
For the second question, Kylie makes a very good point in saying he is convinced that he is not helping himself or anyone. It's true that he thinks he is no good, it's just the person he is. It is possible, as Austin states, that Grant's personality is due to race because he may think that, if he were white, he could be happier and do more. That's possible. Alex, when you said he feels like he's in jail i thought that was a good point because maybe he and Jefferson are very much alike, in their own different jail cells. Jefferson in a literal one and Grant in a metaphorical one. I like that idea. Interesting. Thanks guys.
I believe nothing is happening and nothing is changing for the sole reason that Grant does not believe in himself. He says "She was right; I was not happy."(pg.151) He needs to pick himself off his (rear end) and believe in himself. I think that once he does that then everything will come together. He'll be able to be happy. He'll be able to help Jefferson and, in turn, he'll be able to help himself. I think that the only reason he does not feel like he is doing anything and isn't succeeding and doing anything is his self esteem. He needs to raise it to better himself and the people around him.
I think that the reason that they put in the kids having bad grammar was to exemplify the lack of learning that goes on. It may be to portray how bad of a teacher Grant is. Although when it says "I had heard the same carols all my life, seen the same little play, with the same mistakes in grammar,"(pg.151)it makes me think that he is just the same old kind of teacher because it has had the same mistakes in grammar. This may be to say that he is not the right man to teach Jefferson how to be a man. Also I believe that they put in the whole play to just show what Grant has had to sit through each year. How it has to get boring and monotone. I believe it was just to put into our heads how long Grant has been around that school.
I’m agree with Mr. Grant because it is true that anything had change since he were a kid until now, everything is still the same like it was before. People are wearing that same old clothes and still doing all the old things that they used to do. And I think that he is kind of frustrated because he wants to see changes in people, and he wants people to find another way to live but that like never is going to happen. He is already tired of see the same things over and over again. I think that is the problem that makes him feel in that way. He probably think that what is the point of teach kids that when they grow up their going to be the same and that they never going to have any opportunity just like he’s teacher Antoine said to him before… “Next year it would be the same, and the year after that, the same again” that’s what Mr. Grant said during the Christmas’s party. That’s how frustrated he is with the situation that he is living that for more extra effort that they do or himself do nothing is going to change…
I think that it is very significant that the kids have that grammar because there’s no way possible that a kid could learn something leading a life as they are its not fear for any child having a life in that way. They have to work before go to school and after. That’s why I think that they have that bad grammar and those problems to understand the class. And I think that when the white inspector went to the class to see how advance they were, but when he tested the kids he just started to laugh because the kid doesn’t even know the pledge. But I’m not against the kids because they already have a very good reason to be in the way that they are, and even if they want and try to learn when they grow up they will be like Jefferson or Mr. Grant if they don’t leave the south.
Why do you think that Grant has had this bad outlook on life since the beggining of the book? Do you think a certain source has caused this outlook that Grant has?
Do you think all the references of trees in this book have some significance?(pg. 154)
I think Grant gets this bad outlook on life from the racism he has experienced. The fact that he was the only person from his town to go to the University is a big contributor I believe. I think though that Grant is on his way to change. "I caught myself grinning like a fool." Grant says this on page 186. I don't think that he would have smiled at all for any reason in the beginning of the book. This shows that he has changed or is in the process. He has never had a reason to smile before this event and now, because of these opportunities to smile, he is.
I think it does. Not in the sense that the trees are significant but in the sense that nature is significant and he is starting to notice it more so now, later in the book. He starts talking about nature more frequently now, as on page 154 "The sky was overcast, and there was a chill in the air... Flocks of blackbirds followed the tractors, searching in the fresh, uncovered earth for insects and worms." I think that as Grant is changing, he is changing massively. He is not only changing toward how he acts but he is also finding the good things in life. He is smiling and enjoying more. I believe that these references to nature support that he is changing.
I think that Grant is having those outlooks about life because he is tired of the segregation of everything in the south. One day Grant was driving to a bar at Bayonne and on his way there he saw a lot of bad things, he saw a school for a white kids and one for the blacks and those things make Grant feel kind of bad, because he is looking that nothing is changing everything is going to be in the way that always. And I think that he started to hate life like that because he can’t believe that people can thread other people but of different skin color. Another thing that can make him feel in that way could be all the things that his teacher Antoine told him one time when Grant used to go to school. The teacher told him not just him for all others kids that were in there in the class room, that for more work or effort that they try to make to change their life, everything is going to be the same. Just like Grant all the studied that he did was not enough to give him that life that he wants to live.
I don’t really think that trees have a significant meaning. Honestly I don’t understand this question and is hard for me try to answer it, because I don’t know all the trees that they said and those stuffs, but if the trees would have a significant mean could be example of Jefferson. The trees could mean the short life that Jefferson have or that there is not way possible that a trees could survived the season When started to loses the leafs. And this is the same that is going to happen with Jefferson that there is not possible way that they could help him from his near death.
I don’t really think that trees have a significant meaning. Honestly I don’t understand this question and is hard for me try to answer it, because I don’t know all the trees that they said and those stuffs, but if the trees would have a significant mean could be example of Jefferson. The trees could mean the short life that Jefferson have or that there is not way possible that a trees could survived the season When started to loses the leafs. And this is the same that is going to happen with Jefferson that there is not possible way that they could help him from his near death.
i think that Grant has had a bad outlook on life for most of the book because he he thinks he can never accomplish anything. He knows the white people are only going to constantly try to bring him down and no matter how educated he is he can never make a very big change in any ones life. however, i think he is beging to see that he can be happy and make a difference. "i was feeling very good, and i wanted to tell it to her before anyone else." (pg. 194) he finally was communicating with Jefferson and making progress that he couldnt wait to tell vivian.
I think the fact that trees are being mentioned constantly is significant. like we talked in class sycamore trees grow in Africa which i find interesting. I also think it is significannt because Jefferson notices what is going on outside, like the type of day it is, and realizes he will never be able to experience these things while he is in jail and after he dies. "the kind of day i want?" (pg. 170) Jefferson does see why it matters what he wants he is going to die anyway.
I think that Grant has many reasons to go back to Jefferson. As he explains, he needs Jefferson more than Jefferson needs him. Also, Grant is pressured by his Tante Lou. He says "I wasn't crazy about the idea of being at the courthouse at the same time as the minister, but one look from my aunt, and I decided that I would go along, at least once."(pg.187) Another reason I believe is that Vivian wants him to. I feel that Grant would do basically anything to please Vivian. I also believe that Grant's conscious, he knows, would eat at him if he did not go to see Jefferson.
I believe that Grant goes on explaining what a friend or hero is in order to get through to Jefferson what is the right thing to do. If he understands what these things are, maybe he can form around the meanings and be what he wants to be. Also I believe he makes this an excuse to tell Jefferson what he means to Miss Emma once again. Maybe this time he can actually get through to him. In other occurrences, Grant has tried but has failed. "'Will you be her friend? Will you eat some of the gumbo? Just a little bit? One Spoonful?' He made a slight nod. I smiled at him again"(pg.191) This says that Grant actually got through to him and he was successful in trying to persuade Jefferson to be a friend and hero to Miss Emma.
I think that Grant actually needs jefferson and that is why he came back. Also I think that Grant wants Jefferson to become a man because he is always talking about his accomplishments never matter to anyone and I think if he fullfills this task it will have a lot of meaning to people and they will treat him with respect and appraisal of acomplishing this task. "When we came to the restroom marked WHITE MEN, he went inside. We waited for him along the wall. Five minutes later, he came out with another white man". I think this symbolizes the respect that Grant does not have and this is why he came back to accomplish this task with Jefferson.
I think that Grant is explaining to Jefferson the meaning of a friend and a hero because Grant is probaly trying to explain to Jefferson that he was a Hero to his parents and family until he was convicted. Grant also says "I could never be a hero. I teach, but I don't like teaching. I teach becasue it is the only thing an educated black man can do in the south today"(pg.191). Grant admits this because even though he teaches it does not mean that he is a hero. I think what grant means in this passage is that even though people are succesful does not mean they are heroes, it is the everyday people that are nice and are there for there families, those are the real heroes, I think Grant means.
Do you think that Vivian would have actually walked out if she was in the same situation as Grant in the bar? Or do you think she would have done the same thing?(pg.205-206)
What do you think the purpose of Jefferson first entry to his notebook is? (pg.220)
i think that Grant continues to go to Jefferson because he feels like as he tries to teach jefferson he can learn fron it too. "i need you much more then you could ever need me" Grant says to Jefferson on pg 193. Grant needs jefferson to show him how to be slefless and act like a man to help the people he loves. He needs Jefferson to do what he can't.
I think Grant is telling Jefferson what a friend and a hero is because that is what he believs a real man is. He believes that if Jefferson can become these things he can prove to everyone that he is a man and not a hog."i want you to show them that you are a man -more a man then they could ever be." pg. 192
I think Vivian would have done the same thing. I think the only reason she is mad is because this could cause problems in her own life. Her husband could take the kids away and she could get fired for being associated with the fight. "all they can do is fire me. Maybe he'll take the childre. But you weren't thinking about that." pg 206
I think the purpose of the journal entry was to show that Jefferson really didnt believe he was a hog and that he was human. He alos wrote about a dream where he was about to die and he wasnt scared. I think this means he has finally accepted that he is going to die and that before he dies he will try to be a man. "Man walk on two foots; hog walk on four hooves." pg. 220
Good entry Kylie. Since no one has posted I guess I have to just sum up yours. I agree with both of your answers/comments. I do believe that Vivian would do the same thing. I just wasn't sure what other people would think. Also I agree that Jefferson has accepted it. I believe that he has accepted that he is going to die for a long time and since Grant has started getting through to him, Jefferson has started believing that he is not a hog, but a human. Good answers.
Since no one posted questions here's my summary of an article: On page 227, Jefferson says something interesting. He says "it look like the lord just work for wite folks cause ever sens i wasn nothin but a litle boy i been on my on haulin water to the fiel on that ol water cart wit all them dime bukets..." I see this as very very significant because all along Reverend Ambrose has been preaching to Jefferson to believe in God but it turns out that he does but not in a sense that Ambrose would want. Jefferson believes that God exists but not for helping the blacks, only the whites. For all Jefferson thinks, God is against him. This is important because we learn that he does not have faith in God so we can only assume that the only faith he has is in Grant, or maybe even himself too.
since there are no questions for 29 here is my summary: On page @32 Jefferson shows that he is changing. "shef guiry ax me what i want for my super an i tol him i want nanan to cook... tol him jus a little ice crme in a cup.." Jefferson is no longer being greedy and trying to show affection to his nanan by asking for her cooking.
READ THIS!!!!!!READ THIS!!!!!READ THIS!!!! I do not know who is suppose to post questions for 30 and 31 but if I am, here are mine, if someone else is supposed to post please disregard these.
What do you think caused Jefferson to have this new outlook on life in these last few chapters?
Why do you think Grant was asking all those questions in chapter 31? ( pg. 249, 250, 251)
Well I think that Jefferson have this new outlook in his life because now he saw that people really care about him not just because he going to die if not because they already care about him before he get in jail. You can see that in chapter 29 on his diary he wrote everything that he never had get in his life and every single thing that is happening like his godmother never had give him a kiss before and now she did or when he wants to tell Mr. Grant that he like him but he doesn’t know how say it because he never had said this to nobody and nobody never had said that to him. That thing that doesn’t happened before and that is happening now is what had make Jefferson changed from what people call him to a Man.
I think that Grant is asking all this question to himself because I think that now he feels a little bit guilty about what is going to happen to Jefferson and now he feels like he haven’t do enough to Jefferson. And now he is wondering about how Jefferson is feeling knowing that he just have a few hours of life or is he made Jefferson doesn’t believe in God… I think that you can see that in chapter 31 Mr. Grant care too much more than anyone else. He wants to be there with Jefferson on his last steps but he knows that he is not stronger enough to go with him… and I think that Grant is feeling like this because at the beginning of the story he doesn’t care about anything that have something to be with Jefferson and now he saw that Jefferson was a real Man but he doesn’t have time to show anyone that he is a real Man…
I think that Jefferson is showing a difference because he is relizing he is a personb and he has a purpose in life. Instead of wasting his life he can set an example for other black poeple and show the white people that he is a man. "nobody aint ever been that good to me an make me think im sombody" (pg. 232) He finally feels like people care for him and that he can have an affect on their lives.
I think Grant was asking all the questions because he couldnt make sense ofe Jefferson dying. He doesnt understand how people can just kill someone. He also cannot comprehend hwo Jefferson could spend hios last few hours just waiting knowing he is going to die. He can't imagine doing that and he really does not want jefferson to die.
Jefferson completely changed as a person. He has changed outlooks on everything through his life. He looks up to Grant and sees that he wants to be like Grant. Grant has done what he set out to do. Jefferson has simply found a new way of looking at life and likes it. Even though this is not a quote from the two chapters with the questions but on page 234, Jefferson says "tell them im strong tell them im a man." He says this and this may be the first real realization for the reader that Jefferson has changed. The first words that distinctively spell out that he has changed. I believe it happened because of Grant, plain and simple.
I think that Grant is pondering what has become of him and what he has done as a person in life. I feel that he is regretting not giving him more even though Jefferson feels he basically owes his life to Grant. He feels that he has taken God away from Jefferson and somehow persuaded him not to believe in Him. "Is He with you, Jefferson? He is with Reverend Ambrose, because Reverend Ambrose believes. Do you believe, Jefferson? Have I done anything to make you not believe? If I have, please forgive me for being a fool."(pg 249)
1) I think that Jefferson believes he has changed and has begun to think that he is actually a human being rather than an object or an animal. He knows who he is and I think that this is because of Grant. He has made him understand the concept that "Man walk on two foots; hogs on four hoofs."(220). He explains that he understand the concept that Grant has been trying to get through Jefferson's head. He finally understands and believes that he is not an animal anymore. He is a man.
2) I believe Grant tells Jefferson that he believes in God because he actually has began believing. Grant, through teaching Jefferson, has taught himself what is right in the world and that includes God. He did not begin coming into the jail preaching God but I think he has seen the light through Jefferson's curiosity of the subject. On page 223 Jefferson asks the questions "You believe in God, Mr Wiggins?" and furthermore when Grant says yes he asks "How? I think this makes Grant say what he really contemplates and believes what he is saying. It makes him actually believe for the first time since he went to the university and lost his faith.
chapter (28) Well I think that Jefferson does not think that he is a hog anymore because he already learned the lesson that everyone had try to teach him especially Grant… I think that the notebook that Grant gave to him was very helpful to Jefferson and all the efforts that people made for him to make his short life comfortable. I think that the notebook was the most helpful thing to Jefferson because when he was written his thoughts he could see what was wrong and what he should do to makes thing different as they were before…and all the things that Grant had done for him and all the people makes Jefferson see that he is not a hog that he is a man…
Well I don’t think that Grant believe in God or in Heaven at all, because he said that if God is good and everything how he let that people judge innocent to death or how God doesn’t help black peoples… and when Grant tells Jefferson about God and Heaven I think that he was lying because Grant told to reverend Ambrose that he doesn’t believe in God or anything like that but reverend Ambrose asked him to lie to Jefferson about that because he wants that Jefferson feels good even thought he knows that he going to die… but even thought Grant doesn’t believe in God I think that he did a very good job telling Jefferson about him..
Well I think that Vivian would walk away from the bar because I think that she is more like educated than Grant and she knows that if she would had done the same thing that Grant did its would be for nothing because that would not help at all…but I don’t understand why those guys was saying those stuff about Jefferson if one day they could be in the same situation as Jefferson and I bet that Grant or Vivian wouldn’t said that about them…but I think that what Grant did was very good to defend Jefferson because those guys doesn’t have the rights to judge peoples that its not even guilty..
I think that the purpose of Jefferson first entry to his notebook was to reflection about everything that he knows that was wrong and he wants to let everyone knows how he feels and how he is changing and also I think that he wants that Grant sees what kind of thing he have never got from anyone like anyone had never tell him that somebody likes him or things like that. Or when he gets the first kiss from his godmother and he starts to think that why she gave that kiss now and she never did that before. And when he feels that nobody cares about him but them he sees that he was so wrong about that.
I would say that all of you had really good answers to my questions. I pretty much agree with all of you with the first question that Grant is tired of the racism in the souh and that is why he wants to run away with vivian.
For the second question I agree with dan that they are making these suggestions about the earth around them be3cause it symbolizes that these will the last months that jefferson has to live on earth so they try to make as many connections to the earth as they can before they die
I agree with all the posts on my first question because I do agree withall you guys that Jefferson wants to show that he is a man to the white men and he is not a hog anymore.. to be continued bell rang
continued i bieleve that Jefferson has changed and that is why he is not a hog in his mind anymore and i Agree with them about those statements.
For question 2 I agree with Rafeal about how he sAid that Grant feels guilty that he is not there and what is going to happen to Jefferson that is why he is asking all those questions to himself. Also another reason could be that Grant was scared for Jefferson and that is why he is asking all those questions. But all in all the responses were very good.
In chapter 29 I think that Jefferson is finally showing affection by asking sherrif Guidry that he wants nanan to cook for his last dinner instead of having a whole gallon of ice cream for himself, because i think initially Jefferson said that he wants a whole gallon of ice cream to himself, because he was being selfish but now he wants his nanan to cook because he is showing affection. Also this is the chapter if i am right that he writes in his diary that he is not a hog anymore because he is becoming a man one step at a time in the se last chapters.
1. Why do you think Jefferson didn't see or that his stares were blank in the jail cell with Miss Emma, Tante Lou, and Reverend Ambrose?
ReplyDelete2. What makes Grant the kind of person to just let his beliefs or anything go quickly? As he does with his anger in chapter 17.
i think that Jefferson does not see Miss Emma, Tante Lou and Reverend Ambrose when he they visit him because he does not care about life anymore. He sees no reason to make conversation or take part in any normal activity the other people do. He knows he is going to die no matter what and sees no reason to make others happy when he is miserable. Grant tries to convince him to make the people he loves happy. "you can talk like that; you know you go'n walk out here in a hour. I bet you wouldn't be talking like that if you knowed you was go'n stay here." Jefferson said(pg. 129) Jefferson knows he has no way out and sees no point in life anymore.
ReplyDeleteGrant is the kind of person where he jsut lets his beleifs go because nothing in his life seems to work out the way he wants. He hates where he lives but can't leave and he knows he isn't making a difference in his students lives or in jeffersons life. "Because i know damn well I'm not doing any good, for you orany of the others." He knows he is making no difference so he sees no reason to believe in anything
ReplyDeleteI think that Jefferson didn’t see that because he already doesn’t really care about anything in life or any effort that everyone is doing for him. And I don’t know why he like to be in that way with the person that really care him, they care that much for him that miss Emma didn’t care about embarrass herself (pg.133) just to try to make the visit to Jefferson more comfortable, but he doesn’t even care about, nothing matter to him, he said. That effort that Miss Emma did to make this visit comfortable was in vain. I think that they should understand him and how he feels, because it’s horrible be sentence to death for something that you didn’t do, but what is done is done and he doesn’t have a change to live anymore and I think that even he knows that he going to die he should be grateful for all the things that his godmother had done for him...
ReplyDeleteI think that Grant is the kind of person that he is because everything that he wants in his life doesn’t work out in the way that he want it to be. For example he wants to leave from where he lives, but he can’t, he feels like he were in jail because he can’t do whatever he wants, and he have to do what his aunt wants him to do, miss Emma and his aunt wants him to do Jefferson a “man” something that he doesn’t know how it do it and he doesn’t want to do it and he think that there is no possible way that a teacher can change a man mind and make him think that he is not a hog, even though he going to die anyways.
ReplyDelete1. Do you agree with Grant that there are no changes occuring and that he is making no difference in anyones life? (pg. 151)
ReplyDelete2. Do you think it is significant that the kids in the play had bad grammar and why do you think the whole description of the play was included in the book?
I think that Jefferson is not paying attention to them, or does not see them because he knows that anything they try to do and anything they say will not get him out of the situation he is in. As in pg. 129 "I do not know when i am going to die Jefferson. Maybe tommorow maybe next week maybe today. Thats why I try to live as well as I can everyday and not hurt people. Especially people who love me, who have done so much for me, people who have sacrificed for me. I do not want to hurt those people. I want to help those people as much as I can." He is trying to say to jefferson do not treat the people you love the way you are doing now to your family. Jefferson does not change himself after this and still treats them the way he has been
ReplyDeleteI think that Grant is a type of person that is annoyed in life because of his color he is not acquainted as a man of knowledge and all the hard things in life he had to go through to get where he is now. As in chapter 17 Pg. 127 a prisoner says "well, well, well, if it aint Mr. Rockafeller". I think the prisoner is making fun of grant and all his power because he is jealous of grant and his knowledge.
ReplyDeleteFor the first question I agree with Alex. Jefferson really doesn't care about much and is pretty much set on dying. He doesn't have much to live for and since he is dying, why be nice and respectful and polite? Also Kylie, you made a good point in saying that there's no reason in his mind to make people happy when he is miserable. I agree with that. As for Austin, I agree with when you said that he is just stuck in this situation and can't get out.
ReplyDeleteFor the second question, Kylie makes a very good point in saying he is convinced that he is not helping himself or anyone. It's true that he thinks he is no good, it's just the person he is. It is possible, as Austin states, that Grant's personality is due to race because he may think that, if he were white, he could be happier and do more. That's possible. Alex, when you said he feels like he's in jail i thought that was a good point because maybe he and Jefferson are very much alike, in their own different jail cells. Jefferson in a literal one and Grant in a metaphorical one. I like that idea. Interesting. Thanks guys.
Dan: This is a fine example of what a well-done and thoughtful summation looks like. Good work!
ReplyDeleteGroup Henri: Keep up the great work! You're all working very well with one another.
I believe nothing is happening and nothing is changing for the sole reason that Grant does not believe in himself. He says "She was right; I was not happy."(pg.151) He needs to pick himself off his (rear end) and believe in himself. I think that once he does that then everything will come together. He'll be able to be happy. He'll be able to help Jefferson and, in turn, he'll be able to help himself. I think that the only reason he does not feel like he is doing anything and isn't succeeding and doing anything is his self esteem. He needs to raise it to better himself and the people around him.
ReplyDeleteI think that the reason that they put in the kids having bad grammar was to exemplify the lack of learning that goes on. It may be to portray how bad of a teacher Grant is. Although when it says "I had heard the same carols all my life, seen the same little play, with the same mistakes in grammar,"(pg.151)it makes me think that he is just the same old kind of teacher because it has had the same mistakes in grammar. This may be to say that he is not the right man to teach Jefferson how to be a man. Also I believe that they put in the whole play to just show what Grant has had to sit through each year. How it has to get boring and monotone. I believe it was just to put into our heads how long Grant has been around that school.
ReplyDeleteI’m agree with Mr. Grant because it is true that anything had change since he were a kid until now, everything is still the same like it was before. People are wearing that same old clothes and still doing all the old things that they used to do. And I think that he is kind of frustrated because he wants to see changes in people, and he wants people to find another way to live but that like never is going to happen. He is already tired of see the same things over and over again. I think that is the problem that makes him feel in that way. He probably think that what is the point of teach kids that when they grow up their going to be the same and that they never going to have any opportunity just like he’s teacher Antoine said to him before… “Next year it would be the same, and the year after that, the same again” that’s what Mr. Grant said during the Christmas’s party. That’s how frustrated he is with the situation that he is living that for more extra effort that they do or himself do nothing is going to change…
ReplyDeleteI think that it is very significant that the kids have that grammar because there’s no way possible that a kid could learn something leading a life as they are its not fear for any child having a life in that way. They have to work before go to school and after. That’s why I think that they have that bad grammar and those problems to understand the class. And I think that when the white inspector went to the class to see how advance they were, but when he tested the kids he just started to laugh because the kid doesn’t even know the pledge. But I’m not against the kids because they already have a very good reason to be in the way that they are, and even if they want and try to learn when they grow up they will be like Jefferson or Mr. Grant if they don’t leave the south.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think that Grant has had this bad outlook on life since the beggining of the book? Do you think a certain source has caused this outlook that Grant has?
ReplyDeleteDo you think all the references of trees in this book have some significance?(pg. 154)
I think Grant gets this bad outlook on life from the racism he has experienced. The fact that he was the only person from his town to go to the University is a big contributor I believe. I think though that Grant is on his way to change. "I caught myself grinning like a fool." Grant says this on page 186. I don't think that he would have smiled at all for any reason in the beginning of the book. This shows that he has changed or is in the process. He has never had a reason to smile before this event and now, because of these opportunities to smile, he is.
ReplyDeleteI think it does. Not in the sense that the trees are significant but in the sense that nature is significant and he is starting to notice it more so now, later in the book. He starts talking about nature more frequently now, as on page 154 "The sky was overcast, and there was a chill in the air... Flocks of blackbirds followed the tractors, searching in the fresh, uncovered earth for insects and worms." I think that as Grant is changing, he is changing massively. He is not only changing toward how he acts but he is also finding the good things in life. He is smiling and enjoying more. I believe that these references to nature support that he is changing.
ReplyDeleteI think that Grant is having those outlooks about life because he is tired of the segregation of everything in the south. One day Grant was driving to a bar at Bayonne and on his way there he saw a lot of bad things, he saw a school for a white kids and one for the blacks and those things make Grant feel kind of bad, because he is looking that nothing is changing everything is going to be in the way that always. And I think that he started to hate life like that because he can’t believe that people can thread other people but of different skin color. Another thing that can make him feel in that way could be all the things that his teacher Antoine told him one time when Grant used to go to school. The teacher told him not just him for all others kids that were in there in the class room, that for more work or effort that they try to make to change their life, everything is going to be the same. Just like Grant all the studied that he did was not enough to give him that life that he wants to live.
ReplyDeleteI don’t really think that trees have a significant meaning. Honestly I don’t understand this question and is hard for me try to answer it, because I don’t know all the trees that they said and those stuffs, but if the trees would have a significant mean could be example of Jefferson. The trees could mean the short life that Jefferson have or that there is not way possible that a trees could survived the season When started to loses the leafs. And this is the same that is going to happen with Jefferson that there is not possible way that they could help him from his near death.
ReplyDeleteI don’t really think that trees have a significant meaning. Honestly I don’t understand this question and is hard for me try to answer it, because I don’t know all the trees that they said and those stuffs, but if the trees would have a significant mean could be example of Jefferson. The trees could mean the short life that Jefferson have or that there is not way possible that a trees could survived the season When started to loses the leafs. And this is the same that is going to happen with Jefferson that there is not possible way that they could help him from his near death.
ReplyDeletei think that Grant has had a bad outlook on life for most of the book because he he thinks he can never accomplish anything. He knows the white people are only going to constantly try to bring him down and no matter how educated he is he can never make a very big change in any ones life. however, i think he is beging to see that he can be happy and make a difference. "i was feeling very good, and i wanted to tell it to her before anyone else." (pg. 194) he finally was communicating with Jefferson and making progress that he couldnt wait to tell vivian.
ReplyDeleteI think the fact that trees are being mentioned constantly is significant. like we talked in class sycamore trees grow in Africa which i find interesting. I also think it is significannt because Jefferson notices what is going on outside, like the type of day it is, and realizes he will never be able to experience these things while he is in jail and after he dies. "the kind of day i want?" (pg. 170) Jefferson does see why it matters what he wants he is going to die anyway.
ReplyDeleteafter everythings that already happened, what makes Grant comeback to jefferson and try to make his short life pleasant?
ReplyDeletewhat do you think that Grant is doing explaining jefferson the meaning of friend and hero?(pg.190,191)
I think that Grant has many reasons to go back to Jefferson. As he explains, he needs Jefferson more than Jefferson needs him. Also, Grant is pressured by his Tante Lou. He says "I wasn't crazy about the idea of being at the courthouse at the same time as the minister, but one look from my aunt, and I decided that I would go along, at least once."(pg.187) Another reason I believe is that Vivian wants him to. I feel that Grant would do basically anything to please Vivian. I also believe that Grant's conscious, he knows, would eat at him if he did not go to see Jefferson.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Grant goes on explaining what a friend or hero is in order to get through to Jefferson what is the right thing to do. If he understands what these things are, maybe he can form around the meanings and be what he wants to be. Also I believe he makes this an excuse to tell Jefferson what he means to Miss Emma once again. Maybe this time he can actually get through to him. In other occurrences, Grant has tried but has failed. "'Will you be her friend? Will you eat some of the gumbo? Just a little bit? One Spoonful?' He made a slight nod. I smiled at him again"(pg.191) This says that Grant actually got through to him and he was successful in trying to persuade Jefferson to be a friend and hero to Miss Emma.
ReplyDeleteI think that Grant actually needs jefferson and that is why he came back. Also I think that Grant wants Jefferson to become a man because he is always talking about his accomplishments never matter to anyone and I think if he fullfills this task it will have a lot of meaning to people and they will treat him with respect and appraisal of acomplishing this task. "When we came to the restroom marked WHITE MEN, he went inside. We waited for him along the wall. Five minutes later, he came out with another white man". I think this symbolizes the respect that Grant does not have and this is why he came back to accomplish this task with Jefferson.
ReplyDeletemy qoute was on pg. 188
ReplyDeleteI think that Grant is explaining to Jefferson the meaning of a friend and a hero because Grant is probaly trying to explain to Jefferson that he was a Hero to his parents and family until he was convicted. Grant also says "I could never be a hero. I teach, but I don't like teaching. I teach becasue it is the only thing an educated black man can do in the south today"(pg.191). Grant admits this because even though he teaches it does not mean that he is a hero. I think what grant means in this passage is that even though people are succesful does not mean they are heroes, it is the everyday people that are nice and are there for there families, those are the real heroes, I think Grant means.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that Vivian would have actually walked out if she was in the same situation as Grant in the bar? Or do you think she would have done the same thing?(pg.205-206)
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think the purpose of Jefferson first entry to his notebook is? (pg.220)
i think that Grant continues to go to Jefferson because he feels like as he tries to teach jefferson he can learn fron it too. "i need you much more then you could ever need me" Grant says to Jefferson on pg 193. Grant needs jefferson to show him how to be slefless and act like a man to help the people he loves. He needs Jefferson to do what he can't.
ReplyDeleteI think Grant is telling Jefferson what a friend and a hero is because that is what he believs a real man is. He believes that if Jefferson can become these things he can prove to everyone that he is a man and not a hog."i want you to show them that you are a man -more a man then they could ever be." pg. 192
ReplyDeleteI think Vivian would have done the same thing. I think the only reason she is mad is because this could cause problems in her own life. Her husband could take the kids away and she could get fired for being associated with the fight. "all they can do is fire me. Maybe he'll take the childre. But you weren't thinking about that." pg 206
ReplyDeleteI think the purpose of the journal entry was to show that Jefferson really didnt believe he was a hog and that he was human. He alos wrote about a dream where he was about to die and he wasnt scared. I think this means he has finally accepted that he is going to die and that before he dies he will try to be a man. "Man walk on two foots; hog walk on four hooves." pg. 220
ReplyDeleteGood entry Kylie. Since no one has posted I guess I have to just sum up yours. I agree with both of your answers/comments. I do believe that Vivian would do the same thing. I just wasn't sure what other people would think. Also I agree that Jefferson has accepted it. I believe that he has accepted that he is going to die for a long time and since Grant has started getting through to him, Jefferson has started believing that he is not a hog, but a human. Good answers.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think that Jefferson does not think is a hog anymore like he wrote in his journal? (pg 220)
ReplyDeleteDO you think that Grant really believes in God and heaven like he tells Jefferson? (pg. 223)
Since no one posted questions here's my summary of an article:
ReplyDeleteOn page 227, Jefferson says something interesting. He says "it look like the lord just work for wite folks cause ever sens i wasn nothin but a litle boy i been on my on haulin water to the fiel on that ol water cart wit all them dime bukets..." I see this as very very significant because all along Reverend Ambrose has been preaching to Jefferson to believe in God but it turns out that he does but not in a sense that Ambrose would want. Jefferson believes that God exists but not for helping the blacks, only the whites. For all Jefferson thinks, God is against him. This is important because we learn that he does not have faith in God so we can only assume that the only faith he has is in Grant, or maybe even himself too.
since there are no questions for 29 here is my summary: On page @32 Jefferson shows that he is changing. "shef guiry ax me what i want for my super an i tol him i want nanan to cook... tol him jus a little ice crme in a cup.." Jefferson is no longer being greedy and trying to show affection to his nanan by asking for her cooking.
ReplyDeleteREAD THIS!!!!!!READ THIS!!!!!READ THIS!!!!
ReplyDeleteI do not know who is suppose to post questions for 30 and 31 but if I am, here are mine, if someone else is supposed to post please disregard these.
What do you think caused Jefferson to have this new outlook on life in these last few chapters?
Why do you think Grant was asking all those questions in chapter 31? ( pg. 249, 250, 251)
Well I think that Jefferson have this new outlook in his life because now he saw that people really care about him not just because he going to die if not because they already care about him before he get in jail. You can see that in chapter 29 on his diary he wrote everything that he never had get in his life and every single thing that is happening like his godmother never had give him a kiss before and now she did or when he wants to tell Mr. Grant that he like him but he doesn’t know how say it because he never had said this to nobody and nobody never had said that to him. That thing that doesn’t happened before and that is happening now is what had make Jefferson changed from what people call him to a Man.
ReplyDeleteI think that Grant is asking all this question to himself because I think that now he feels a little bit guilty about what is going to happen to Jefferson and now he feels like he haven’t do enough to Jefferson. And now he is wondering about how Jefferson is feeling knowing that he just have a few hours of life or is he made Jefferson doesn’t believe in God… I think that you can see that in chapter 31 Mr. Grant care too much more than anyone else. He wants to be there with Jefferson on his last steps but he knows that he is not stronger enough to go with him… and I think that Grant is feeling like this because at the beginning of the story he doesn’t care about anything that have something to be with Jefferson and now he saw that Jefferson was a real Man but he doesn’t have time to show anyone that he is a real Man…
I think that Jefferson is showing a difference because he is relizing he is a personb and he has a purpose in life. Instead of wasting his life he can set an example for other black poeple and show the white people that he is a man. "nobody aint ever been that good to me an make me think im sombody" (pg. 232) He finally feels like people care for him and that he can have an affect on their lives.
ReplyDeleteI think Grant was asking all the questions because he couldnt make sense ofe Jefferson dying. He doesnt understand how people can just kill someone. He also cannot comprehend hwo Jefferson could spend hios last few hours just waiting knowing he is going to die. He can't imagine doing that and he really does not want jefferson to die.
ReplyDeleteJefferson completely changed as a person. He has changed outlooks on everything through his life. He looks up to Grant and sees that he wants to be like Grant. Grant has done what he set out to do. Jefferson has simply found a new way of looking at life and likes it. Even though this is not a quote from the two chapters with the questions but on page 234, Jefferson says "tell them im strong tell them im a man." He says this and this may be the first real realization for the reader that Jefferson has changed. The first words that distinctively spell out that he has changed. I believe it happened because of Grant, plain and simple.
ReplyDeleteI think that Grant is pondering what has become of him and what he has done as a person in life. I feel that he is regretting not giving him more even though Jefferson feels he basically owes his life to Grant. He feels that he has taken God away from Jefferson and somehow persuaded him not to believe in Him. "Is He with you, Jefferson? He is with Reverend Ambrose, because Reverend Ambrose believes. Do you believe, Jefferson? Have I done anything to make you not believe? If I have, please forgive me for being a fool."(pg 249)
ReplyDelete1) I think that Jefferson believes he has changed and has begun to think that he is actually a human being rather than an object or an animal. He knows who he is and I think that this is because of Grant. He has made him understand the concept that "Man walk on two foots; hogs on four hoofs."(220). He explains that he understand the concept that Grant has been trying to get through Jefferson's head. He finally understands and believes that he is not an animal anymore. He is a man.
ReplyDelete2) I believe Grant tells Jefferson that he believes in God because he actually has began believing. Grant, through teaching Jefferson, has taught himself what is right in the world and that includes God. He did not begin coming into the jail preaching God but I think he has seen the light through Jefferson's curiosity of the subject. On page 223 Jefferson asks the questions "You believe in God, Mr Wiggins?" and furthermore when Grant says yes he asks "How? I think this makes Grant say what he really contemplates and believes what he is saying. It makes him actually believe for the first time since he went to the university and lost his faith.
chapter (28)
ReplyDeleteWell I think that Jefferson does not think that he is a hog anymore because he already learned the lesson that everyone had try to teach him especially Grant… I think that the notebook that Grant gave to him was very helpful to Jefferson and all the efforts that people made for him to make his short life comfortable. I think that the notebook was the most helpful thing to Jefferson because when he was written his thoughts he could see what was wrong and what he should do to makes thing different as they were before…and all the things that Grant had done for him and all the people makes Jefferson see that he is not a hog that he is a man…
Well I don’t think that Grant believe in God or in Heaven at all, because he said that if God is good and everything how he let that people judge innocent to death or how God doesn’t help black peoples… and when Grant tells Jefferson about God and Heaven I think that he was lying because Grant told to reverend Ambrose that he doesn’t believe in God or anything like that but reverend Ambrose asked him to lie to Jefferson about that because he wants that Jefferson feels good even thought he knows that he going to die… but even thought Grant doesn’t believe in God I think that he did a very good job telling Jefferson about him..
Well I think that Vivian would walk away from the bar because I think that she is more like educated than Grant and she knows that if she would had done the same thing that Grant did its would be for nothing because that would not help at all…but I don’t understand why those guys was saying those stuff about Jefferson if one day they could be in the same situation as Jefferson and I bet that Grant or Vivian wouldn’t said that about them…but I think that what Grant did was very good to defend Jefferson because those guys doesn’t have the rights to judge peoples that its not even guilty..
ReplyDeleteI think that the purpose of Jefferson first entry to his notebook was to reflection about everything that he knows that was wrong and he wants to let everyone knows how he feels and how he is changing and also I think that he wants that Grant sees what kind of thing he have never got from anyone like anyone had never tell him that somebody likes him or things like that. Or when he gets the first kiss from his godmother and he starts to think that why she gave that kiss now and she never did that before. And when he feels that nobody cares about him but them he sees that he was so wrong about that.
this is my first summation for my first questions
ReplyDeleteI would say that all of you had really good answers to my questions. I pretty much agree with all of you with the first question that Grant is tired of the racism in the souh and that is why he wants to run away with vivian.
For the second question I agree with dan that they are making these suggestions about the earth around them be3cause it symbolizes that these will the last months that jefferson has to live on earth so they try to make as many connections to the earth as they can before they die
another summation for my other questions
ReplyDeleteI agree with all the posts on my first question because I do agree withall you guys that Jefferson wants to show that he is a man to the white men and he is not a hog anymore..
to be continued bell rang
continued
ReplyDeletei bieleve that Jefferson has changed and that is why he is not a hog in his mind anymore and i Agree with them about those statements.
For question 2 I agree with Rafeal about how he sAid that Grant feels guilty that he is not there and what is going to happen to Jefferson that is why he is asking all those questions to himself. Also another reason could be that Grant was scared for Jefferson and that is why he is asking all those questions. But all in all the responses were very good.
My summary for chapter 29 since no one posted:
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 29 I think that Jefferson is finally showing affection by asking sherrif Guidry that he wants nanan to cook for his last dinner instead of having a whole gallon of ice cream for himself, because i think initially Jefferson said that he wants a whole gallon of ice cream to himself, because he was being selfish but now he wants his nanan to cook because he is showing affection. Also this is the chapter if i am right that he writes in his diary that he is not a hog anymore because he is becoming a man one step at a time in the se last chapters.