Characters
What was Pauline's nickname?
Polly
Which societal issue is highlighted through Pecola's experiences with bullying and isolation at school?
Racism
What were some issues in Pauline and Cholly's marriage that related to physical contact?
Their marriage had a lack of affection and physical intimacy which created distance between them.
or
Cholly’s physical abuse led Pauline to behaving similarly, creating a toxic dynamic between them
What human relationships have affected Cholly’s life the most? (Consider his caregivers)
His Mom, Father and Aunt
What is the name of the author of The Bluest Eye?
Toni Morrison
Which character was described as "ruined" by Miss Dunion?
Freida
What is the crisis we see Pecola struggle with currently? (consider blue eyes)
The blue eye obsession, but specifically her struggle with being “ugly”.
Why did Cholly hate Darlene?
Cholly felt humiliated and disrespected during intimacy, he was unable to direct his anger at white men so he projected that frustration onto Darlene
Which core value of social work is violated when Pecola is mistreated by her peers and community due to her appearance and social status?
Social Justice
What famous actress did Claudia resent in relation to her blue eyed baby doll?
Shirley Temple
According to Pecola, what is Maginot Line's name?
Miss Marie
What Theories could Apply to Pecola's Life?
There are many, but feminist theory could be one of them. This focuses on the pressure that shapes Pecola's experiences as a black girl. It also shows the issues of beauty standards, objectification, and the impact it has on her.
What societal standard made Pauline consider her daughter “ugly”?
Beauty standards,
Society valued white features and beauty, Pauline considered her daughter “ugly” because she didn’t fit those standards
which ethical principle would be most violated by the treatment of Pecola in her community, especially by her adults + peers, and how does this reflect broader societal issues?
Principle of Dignity and Worth
When the war ended, Chicken and Pie were how many years old when they left school to go to work?
Ten years old
Who was four days old, wrapped in two blankets and one newspaper, and placed on a junk heap by the railroad?
Cholly
What could have been the cause of Cholly’s anger towards his daughter?
He knows the way he is and how he acts towards his family isn’t the best. He is angry that someone as innocent as her could still love him after everything he has done to them
What was Claudia confused about concerning Freidas experience?
Claudia, unaware of the reality of the situation, saw Freida’s sexual assault as something desirable
What ethical principles would you use (as a social worker) to properly help/ evaluate Cholly’s life?
(Depends on explanation of what is given by another student)
What was the significance behind wanting blue eyes?
It was seen as a beauty standard, if you have blue eyes you are beautiful
If you could have a conversation with Pecola (as a close friend) about her wanting blue eyes, what would you tell her?
Open-ended answer
If Cholly had a proper support system/ social worker, how would their life be different? What could have been avoided?
His behavior could have been handled. The experiences he had gone through growing up led to how he treated his own family.
How did loneliness affect Pauline’s behavior? How was she feeling?
Pauline’s loneliness makes her feel isolated and unfulfilled, which makes her bitter and resentful towards herself and her family
How can social workers use Competency 3b to understand the racial issues that surround Pecola's story?
Consider the idea of cultural humility and the influence of bias, power, privilege, and values. Consider Pecola's own lived experience and how bias, power, privilege, and values have affected her own development.
How did Pauline’s work life lead to her resenting her own life?
Pauline loves the family she works for and feels the opposite towards her own family. Leading her to neglect her own family