What message do you think the daughter will take away from her mothers advice?.
Reader Response 1 First reader response paper on “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, “The Cask of Amontillado,” or “Girl.” Hard copies and e-mailed drafts will not be accepted for grading. Late drafts will not be accepted for grading.
Your reader response papers should follow MLA formatting (as outlined above); the final draft should be 3-5 pages in length and should accomplish the following:
Briefly summarize the reading(s) you discuss. Give your reaction to the text. Your reaction should be one or more of the following:
Agreement/disagreement with the ideas in the text. Reaction to how the ideas in the text relate to your own experience. Reaction to how ideas in the text relate to other things you’ve read. Your analysis of the author and audience. Your evaluation of how this text tries to convince the reader and whether it is effective. Further exploring a topic of interest or a theme from the text. While reader responses tend to be more informal and utilize first person perspective, for your reader responses, please remain in third person perspective.
For your first reader response, please choose one of the following topics or a topic of your own choice:
“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”
1. Music is played throughout “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” What role does music play in this story? Examine the use of music throughout the story focusing on particular scenes in the story. Use quotes, summary and paraphrase from the text to support your response.
2. What is life like for women in Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Compare and contrast the different examples of female characters Oates presents in her story. Use quotes, summary and paraphrase from the text to support your response.
3. Who is Arnold Friend? What does he represent for Connie and what role does he play in Oates’ story? Use quotes, summary and paraphrase from the text to support your response.
“The Cask of Amontillado”
1. “The Cask of Amontillado” is a chilling story, but Poe also utilizes humorous elements as the narrator, Montressor, recounts his experience with Fortunato. Identify elements in that story that can be regarded as humorous and analyze what this humor adds to the story. Use quotes, summary and paraphrase from the text to support your response.
2. Poe’s narrator in “The Cask of Amontillado” could certainly be considered “unreliable,” as he seems to descend further into madness as he leads Fortunato down into the catacombs to his doom. Through a close analysis of the text, argue whether Montressor is the villain of Poe’s story, or simply getting even for some wrong Fortunato has perpetrated against him. Use the text for support.
3. Identify one or more of the main themes in “The Cask of Amontillado.” What do you think Poe is saying about the human condition and life in general in this story? Use the text for support.
“Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
1. Education is a clear theme of “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid. Discuss the theme of education and how the narrator’s instructions to the “girl” will help her succeed or fail in the future. Use the text for support.
2. Food is mentioned multiple times in “Girl.” How does food relate to the message the mother is trying to deliver to her daughter? Use the text to support your response.
3. What is “benna?” The entire story shows the mother giving advice that is meant to show her daughter the importance of domesticity over sexuality. Compare the different examples of advice about domestic life and sexuality that the mother gives her daughter. What message do you think the daughter will take away from her mother’s advice? Use the text for support.
What message do you think the daughter will take away from her mothers advice?
