questions
1
questions
Toni Cade Bambara
1939–1995
Quotes
“The job of the writer is to make revolution irresistible.”
“Revolution begins with the self, in the self.”
Influences
Bambara credits her mother with providing an environment that nurtured creativity. From an early age, Bambara was encouraged to daydream and explore her imagination. The author calls her mother “a sturdy bridge that I have crossed over on.”
Bambara was heavily influenced by the African­American community of which she was a part. She felt her duty—as a writer, social activist, and teacher—was to tell the truth about what she felt were social injustices.
Career
2
questions
What do each of these quotes mean?
What do these quotes tell us about the author?
“The job of the writer is to make revolution irresistible.”
“Revolution begins with the self, in the self.”
As you read "War of the Wall" think about how the story
demonstrates the author's beliefs. Her beliefs are an
important part of the message she want the readers to learn.
3
questions
4
questions
5
questions
Clarify
Question
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
5.
5.
6
questions
1. aroma
n. a smell or odor
2. masterpiece
n. a great work of art
3. trance
n. daydreaming or unaware of your
surroundings
4. beckon
v. to summon or signal using
a gesture or nod
5. inscription
n. something written, carved or engraved on a surface 7
questions
community
heritage
inherit
courtesies
polite behavior
what one inherits/receives from previous generations
passed on to the next generation
a social group sharing common interests
8
questions
Essential Questions:
• What does the exposition tell the reader about the characters, setting, situation and conflict?
• How does the setting, both where and when, influence the conflict?
• How does ones' sense of community affect their perception of strangers? 9
questions
Exposition
pg. 328
1. What does the reader learn about
characters?
setting?
situation?
conflict?
10
questions
Remember that setting can affect the theme of a story.
2. How do you think the setting might be
important to this story's message?
3. Where is the painter from? How could
this information affect the conflict?
11
questions
pg 330­331
4. How do you think Side Pocket got that nickname?
5 When the Morris twins bring the lady dinner, how does she react?
6. What do you think of the lady painter so far? Explain your answer.
12
questions
Essential Questions:
• How does connotation affect the reader's
perceptions of a character?
• Using the narrator's clues can you make
inferences about the character of the lady painter?
• How does the author show, rather than tell the
reader the characters are feeling?
13
questions
Denotation and Connotation
Denotation
The Dictionary meaning
The inferred meaning that goes Connotation: beyond the dictionary's meaning. The meaning implies something good or bad. 14
questions
connotations:
Positive Connotation
a gathering
curious
slim
Negative Connotation
a mob
nosey
skinny
YOUR WORDS:
15
questions
pg. 331­332
Read the three clues, about the lady painter, then answer question 7.
• She wants to know if there are vegetables that are not cooked with pork.
• She wants to know if there is cheese in the macaroni, eggs in the salad, and how the tea is sweetened.
• Mama says "I don't care who your spiritual leader is"
7. Make an inference that might explain the lady painter's behavior.
16
questions
The author does not tell the reader, rather, she shows the reader that Mama is getting mad at the lady painter. Reread lines 100­130.
8. Write three examples of how the author shows, rather than tells, the reader that Mama is mad.
9. What are the adults sick of hearing?
17
questions
pg 333­334
10. What were the narrator and her cousin going to do to the wall?
11. What does Side Pocket do that the reader may not have expected?
12. How does the lady painter show the community that she understands them?
18
questions
13. What is the lady painter's connection to the community?
14. How do you think the narrator feels after she sees the wall and learns the painter's identity?
19
questions
OK...... Now it's time for the big question.
Put it all together, the title, the setting, the characters, and the conflict.
15. What is the theme for "The War of the Wall"?
Explain your answer using examples from the story. 20
questions
21