- How can the symbol of this tree, relate to Francie's life? What do both the tree and Francie have in common?
• The first few chapters establish the importance of setting in this novel; moreover, in just the first chapter, the narrator describes the entire Brooklyn neighborhood through Francie's eyes on a typical Saturday afternoon. This includes many of the neighborhood personalities, people, and places: Carney and his junk shop, Cheap Charlie's, and all the different food stores.
- Can the literary element of setting given to us, as the readers, during these first few chapters possibly set the definition of Francies character; where she has came from, and how she views society around her? Could this setting establish the theme of "Growing Up" or "Coming of Age?"
• Flossie and Henry Gaddis represent both love for life and fear of death for Francie. Francie takes great joy in small items, such as Flossie's dresses.
- How may Flossie and Henry Gaddis represent a role model through the eyes of Francie? Can this relate to similar childhood experiences?
• The neighborhood stores where the children are sent for food reassure us, as the readers, that the Nolans live in an underprivileged immigrant community. Furthermore, in this time and place, the ethnic groups remained segregated. Francie most likely does not know when she insults the pickle man because she has no Jewish friends. Maudie and Francie are friends partly because of their common Catholic heritage.
- As established by surrounding setting, Francie clearly experienced the views of segregation and had to obey all corresponding rules; how might this concept effect Francie's character? In the future? (Relating to Chapter 4, where she is unaware of when she insults the pickle man because she has no Jewish friends.)
Jenna S.
-I agree that the tree symbolizes hope for Francie. She lives in such a poor area and in the middle of the city, so it's not the place you would typically expect to see a tree. I think that Francie and the tree are alike because they're not like everything else. Francie doesn't fit in with the other kids in the neighborhood because she enjoys reading and knitting.
ReplyDelete-I think the fact that Francie was raised to resent Jews will hurt her in the future. She didn't even realize that she was insulting the man and I think this will only get her into trouble in the future.
-I also agree that the Francie relates herself to the tree because she sees herself differently compared to all the people living in Brooklyn at the time. I think Francie is also a little arrogant and is not open to other ethnic groups, such as the Jews. Francie insult that man without even realizing it, this shows that she doesn't know very much about the ethnicity of others.
ReplyDeleteI agree also agreed that the tree does symbolize a relation with Francie. Since she lives in Brooklyn, and in there in a poor neighborhood, she compares herself to it because they are very much different from everyone else.
ReplyDeleteShe seems very ignorant about the Jewish ethnicity and she has to start realizing it and start to change it because it will effect her later in her future.
Literary Luminary post #1:
ReplyDelete"She walked back home down Graham Avenue, the Ghetto street. She was excited by the filled pushcarts- each a little store in itself- the batgaining, emotional Jewsand the peculiar smells of the neighborhood; aked stuffed fish, sour rye bread fresh from the oven, and something that smelled like honey boiling. She stared at the bearded men in their alpaca skull caps and silkolene coats and wondered what made their eyes so small and fierce. She looked into tiny hole-in-the-wall shops and smelles the dress fabrics arranged in disorder on the tables. She noticed the feather beds bellying out of windows, clothes of Oriental-bright colors drying on the fire escapes and the hald-naked children playing in the gutters. A woman, big with child, sat patiently at the curb in a stiff wooden chair. She sat in the hot sunshine watching the life on the street and guarding within herself, her own mystery of life.
Francie remembered her suprise that time when Mama told her that Jesus was a Jew. Francie had thought that He was a Catholic. But Mama knew. Mama said that the Jews neveer looked on Jesus as anything but a troublesome Yiddish boy who would not work at the carpentry trade, marry, settle down and raise a family. And the Jews believed that their Messiah was yet to come, mama said. Thinking of this, Francie started at the Pregnant Jewess.
'I guess that's why the Jews have so many babies,' Francie thought. 'Aand why they sit so quiet...waiting. And why they aren't ashamed the way they are fat. Each one thinks that she might be making the real little Jesus. Thats why they walk so proud when they're that way. Now the Irish women always look so ashamed. They know that they can never make a Jesus. It will be just another Mick. When I grow up and know that I am going to have a baby, I will remember to walk proud and slow even though I am not a Jew."
This package answers the quesiton on how she insults the Jewish heritage and that this will effect her furute if she doesnt try to understand that everyone, including Jesus, was not the same Catholic religion as she is. She describes the Jews as "not being ashamed the way they are fat. Each one thinks that she might be making the real little Jesus. Thats why they walk so proud when they're that way."