Symbols
What did the almanac represent for Cora?
It symbolized literacy, the future, and a personal possession that was truly her own
What did residents do every Saturday night?
They gathered for a common meal, music, and poetry
Who was the farm's "pit master"?
Jimmy, who used fire secrets passed down from Jamaica
What is the core message of Lander’s speech regarding "Delusion"?
That while their freedom feels like a "useful delusion," it is the only thing they have to build a future
What did Cora’s "botched" quilt symbolize about her state of mind?
It represented a "crookedness" in her thinking and the lingering scars of her past
How did Cora feel in Georgina’s classroom?
She felt far behind the children
How did John Valentine acquire his wealth?
He inherited his white father's estate
what does education represent in the theme of literacy as empowerment?
victory and a source of communal pride
What did the "ghost tunnel" symbolize to Cora as she stood at its entrance?
It symbolized a "terminus" or a place of flight, rather than a hopeful beginning
What metaphor did Georgina use for the Declaration of Independence?
She called it a "map" that must be tested by the traveler
What was Elijah Lander's childhood talent?
He was a piano prodigy by age six
How does the theme of the "Great War" appear at the end of the chapter?
Through Amanda’s realization that the true "Great War" is the eternal, violent struggle between white and black