Chapter 11
What does the narrator first notice upon waking up in the hospital?
He notices the bright lights and the sterile, white surroundings.
Who does the narrator meet after leaving the hospital?
He meets a kind elderly man named Mary.
What event does the narrator witness that deeply impacts him in this chapter?
He witnesses a street eviction of an elderly black couple.
In Chapter 1, why does the narrator fight in the Battle Royal?
He is coerced to entertain the white audience as part of his scholarship presentation.
What treatment is the narrator subjected to in the hospital?
He undergoes electroshock therapy.
What does Mary offer the narrator when he first arrives at her home?
She offers him food and a place to stay.
How does the narrator react to the eviction?
He gives an impassioned speech to the crowd, urging them to resist.
In Chapter 6, why does Dr. Bledsoe chastise the narrator?
For taking Mr. Norton to see Trueblood and the Golden Day.
How does the narrator describe his memory during his time in the hospital?
He compares it to a slate wiped clean or a blank page.
How does the narrator feel about Mary’s kindness?
He feels conflicted, both grateful and slightly suspicious.
What do the contents of the elderly couple’s belongings symbolize?
They symbolize the history and struggle of black lives in America.
In Chapter 9, what does the narrator find in the letters from Dr. Bledsoe?
They contain warnings to keep him out of opportunities rather than recommendations.
What is the significance of the hospital staff calling the narrator “boy”?
It highlights their dehumanization and lack of respect for him.
What physical object becomes significant in Mary’s home?
The coin bank shaped like a caricatured black figure.
What group takes notice of the narrator after his speech?
The Brotherhood.
In Chapter 10, what happens when the narrator gets his first job at the Liberty Paints plant?
He experiences an explosion in the basement where he is mixing paint.
What does the narrator lose as a result of his treatment in the hospital?
He loses his sense of identity and purpose temporarily.
What theme does Mary’s character primarily represent?
She represents maternal care and the possibility of community support.
What does the narrator feel for the first time after the eviction speech?
A sense of purpose and power through collective action.
What does the “Optic White” paint symbolize in Chapter 10?
It symbolizes the erasure of individuality and racial identity.