Comprehension
Who is the narrator of this text? (Provide a name)
Zora Neale Hurston
Explain the difference between idiom and hyperbole
Idiom- A common figurative statement
Hyperbole- Exaggerated statement/description
"This school was something strange to them, and while they were always sympathetic and kind, curiosity must have been present, also"
Whose reaction does this quote refer to?
The two women / white visitors.
What is the meaning of forward, as used below:
"I hope you don't think I'm being too forward for asking so many questions"
Bold; brazen; shameless
What literary genre includes the personal experiences of a person written by themself?
Autobiography
What is this text mostly about? (think about the purpose of writing this text)
To express her experiences as a young girl enocuntering the outside world
Explain the relationship between overstatement and hyperbole
Overstatement - expressing too strongly; more serious than it actually is
Hyperbole - exaggerated statement/description
The two concepts are practically the same
The narrator portrays themself as a young child in the South. Describe what makes her stand out from the rest of the people in her town.
She is bored by the slow-moving, scared life of her home town, and wishes to explore.
What is the meaning of self-assurance, as used below:
"They were never sure wether to invite me, but my self-assurance must have acted on my part, since I was always invited."
confident; self-empowered
What is the meaning of brazenness, as used below:
"A prized diamond was stolen in broad daylight. The brazenness of the theft shocked museum officials.
Act of being shameless; boldness
In this text, the grandmother criticizes her granddaughter's bold nature. Why is she so concerned, calling it an "unthinkable" action?
"The temperature in the room was about ninety degrees below zero; I wasn’t about to take off my coat."
Identify an example of hyperbole (overstatement) or an idiomatic expression. Explain what it might literally mean.
"The temperature in the room was about ninety degrees below zero; I wasn’t about to take off my coat."
=Very cold temperature
The narrator has only rare interactions with white-skinned people. What is her impression of white people, especially those travelling past her home and the two women who appear in the text?
She sees white people as a source of interaction; a way to expand her knowledge of the world.
Restate the phrase in parentheses as an idiom with a similar/same meaning:
"Harry spotted me and looked as if he was (shocked by something completely unexpected)"
(Seeing a ghost)
The setting of "Dust Tracks on a Road" conveys the economic conditions of the rural South. How does this provide a reason for why the schoolchildren are threatened when visitors come to observe them?
The poor economic conditions of the families in the area lead to nappy hair and dirty hands, which the teacher did not want white visitors to see. Their appearance sets a standard for how the school is viewed by others.
"After an eternity of riding on the ranch, the kids were running on fumes, so that they didn’t complain when they were told it was time for bed."
Identify both examples of hyperbole (overstatement) or of idiomatic expression. Explain what they might literally mean.
"After an eternity of riding on the ranch, the kids were running on fumes, so that they didn’t complain when they were told it was time for bed."
(A long time riding)
(Lacking fuel/energy to continue)
Several visitors make their way to the narrator's school during her time there. Why do the most recent visitors take interest in her?
The narrator is able to read well, and seems particularly dedicated compared to the others.
Hurston writes this text from a specific perspective. What can you infer about social attitudes from the interactions between African American and White people in the text?
African Americans were careful not to upset White people, as a result of segregation.
The books that Zora likes to read share a common theme. What is this commonality, and what does it say about her? (Bonus for naming two characters she enjoyed reading about)
She enjoyed reading books about people who take decisive action, showing that she enjoys action heroes and is relatable.
(Hercules, David)
Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence, using the figurative language type that is in parentheses.
"The bread was (overstatement for taste/texture), and the coffee tasted (idiom for taste/texture)."
The bread was (answer may vary)
Drier than a desert? Tougher than a bodybuilder?
the coffee tasted (answer may vary)
Smooth as silk? Bitter like defeat?
Infer what the ladies wanted to know about the narrator in this passage:
"First thing, they gave me strange things, like stuffed dates and preserved ginger, and encouraged me to eat all that I wanted. Then they showed me their Japanese dolls... handed me a copy of Scribner's Magazine and asked me to read a place that was pointed out to me"
They want to know if she can read well
Identify 10 examples of dialect in the following dialogue:
“Git down offa dat gate-post! You li’l sow, you! Git down! Setting up dere looking dem white folks right in de face! They’s gowine to lynch you, yet. And don’t stand in dat doorway gazing out at ’em neither. Youse too brazen to live long.”
Git, offa, dat, li'l, Git, dere, dem, de, gowine, dat, 'em, Youse