Passage 1 Discussion Questions
How you think Tara Westover would change her childhood if she could? Does she value some of her unique unbringing, or does she want to restart?
-She may not want to change- Unique experiences contributed to her growth and transformation and her sense of identity.
-May regret being estranged from her family- not being in a united family
How does Tara Westover use imagery to describe the dynamic of the daughter-father relationship and its progression?
-Imagery of a physical struggle between her Dad's wishes of control over her and the ensuing struggle "wrestling me for control of that life"
-Fog Imagery to show how some of her fathers good qualities were overshadowed by his stern qualities- " I perceived him with the eyes of a soldier, through a fog of conflict. I could not make out his tender qualities"
Find an example of a metaphor and how it connects to the themes that Westover is trying to convey.
-Metaphor for the passage of time " I can only remember those things now, with a span of miles and years between us" (Westover 328)
- Fog Metaphor "life, I perceived him with the eyes of a soldier, through a fog of conflict. I could not make out his tender qualities. When he was before me, towering, indignant," (Westover 328).
On what slide is the book icon? (You can name the slide number or what information was on the slide)
Significance slide or Slide 4
How does the shift to a third person narrative by Tara Westover emphasize her personal transformation?
-Point of No Return " "she left me, she stayed in the mirror"
-Up until that moment, she was what her family wanted her to be
-The Abuse from Shawn and the reflection of what he did to her set her free- an emergence of a new identity
How does Tara Westover’s newfound world experience allow her to see more humanity in her father than she once did?
-Her ability to reflect and understand that her interactions between herself and her father were based of defensive instincts and her struggle to protect herself
-Her ability to grapple with her past and use her newfound experiences to examine the powerful relationship between father and daughter
"I can only remember those things now- with a span of miles and years between us"
What type of imagery does Westover use to describe her relationship with her dad? How does this contribute to the theme?
- Laugh imagery- the way he looks and twitches his lips
-Visual Imagery- "When he was before me, towering, indignant, I could not remember how, when I was young, "
-Contributes to theme of the importance of self-reflection and rexamining difficult moments in one's life
On what slide is the mirror icon?
Slide 3 or Overview slide
How do the two sides of Tara juxtapose? How do they complement one another?
-Past self is defined by family expectations and loyalty to their ultra-conservative values
-New self is defined by individuality and self-determination
-They compliment each other by building her identity in the context of pass lessons and struggles- provides a more holistic sense of herself
How does the shift in Westover's tone contribute to her developing themes?
- Shift in tone from a conflict to a complicated resolution- showcases the complicated relationship between being reflected on after a passage of many years
-Tone becomes more empathetic- still showing the love that Tara has for her father- and her wish for their relationship to not be strained
Find what literary device is used in the last sentence, and explain its purpose. "But what has come between me and my father is more than time or distance. It is a change in the self. I am not the child my father raised, but he is the father who raised her. (Westover 328) "
Paradox- He is the father that raised her with all the conservative values and ideologies but she broke free from that to became the child that he did not raise.
On what slide was the mountain icon? (You can give the slide number or what was on the slide)
Slide 7 or Passage 1 analysis Part 2
How does the repetition of education illustrate the transformation of Westover as an individual?
- It serves as a contrast to her upbringing- highlighting the limitations shown by her families perspectives
-Shows as a symbolism of growth completely independence from the influence of her parents since she studied to take the ACT over the veto of her father
-As a forger of her very identity- since she learns about new historical events unknown to her before an education that shapes her perspective on the world
How does the juxtaposition between Tara's new self, and her old relationship with her father contribute to the idea of transition and need to change?
- It is used as a catalyst for her need of transformation, and the paramount importance for her to redefine her very identity to fulfil her pursuit of happiness.
-Reflects the broader theme of the difficulties of radical change and the myriad of challenges that arises as a result
What motif is used in the first quote (Hint: in presentation)
Mirror Motif
On what slide was the pencil icon?
Slide 2 or Introduction Slide