The Bluest Eye

Lesson 2
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ELA

Unit 7

9th Grade

Lesson 2 of 30

Objective


Explain Morrison’s purpose for beginning her novel with an excerpt from the Dick and Jane stories.

Explain how the author’s decision to alter the excerpt helps to preview the theme of the novel.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison  — "Dick and Jane" epigraph

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

What does Toni Morrison's choice to begin her novel with the excerpts from the Dick and Jane stories convey about her purpose in writing the novel? Explain using evidence from the text.

Key Questions


  • What do you notice about the structure of the three paragraphs in the epigraph?
  • In what way are the paragraphs the same? Different? How are the feelings evoked in the reader different in each paragraph?
  • What might the author be communicating with these similarities and differences?
  • Compare the image of the girl (Pecola?) on the cover with the image on the cover of Dick and Jane.
  • What might be Morrison's purpose in beginning her novel, called "the bluest eye" in this way?
  • How might Morrison answer the question, "What do we do with a difference?" How is her answer similar to or different from that of the filmmaker who made "The Eye of the Beholder"?

Notes


  • Having a copy of a Dick and Jane story or even an image of the cover of one will allow students to visualize the differences alluded to by Morrison.
  • It is essential that students notice that the paragraph is repeated three times and that the punctuation and spacing change each time.
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