The Bluest Eye

Lesson 20
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ELA

Unit 7

9th Grade

Lesson 20 of 30

Objective


Explain how the structure of the novel contributes to the plot and theme.

Gather evidence of Morrison’s characterization of Cholly’s early life.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison  pp. 132 – 142

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Target Task


Multiple Choice

Which two techniques from the list below does Morrison primarily use to communicate that Cholly had a painful childhood?

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Choose two quotations from the chapter that support your answer to Part A.

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Key Questions


  • Read the epigraph. What can you predict this chapter will be about? Why? (examine juxtaposition of Dick and Jane dad)
  • Who is the narrator? How do you know? What does this tell us about the kinds of things we might learn about Cholly in this chapter? (His thoughts, his feelings, not Claudia's perceptions)
  • What do we learn about Cholly's childhood in these pages?
  • How does the author convey the information about his childhood? (Through stories written in the present tense. She has transported us back.)
  • Why does Morrison want us to know about Cholly's childhood? How is this relevant to the story our narrator told us at the very beginning that we would be hearing? Isn't it Pecola's story? Then why Cholly's childhood? What is the purpose of including this now? What kind of childhood did he have? What does his relationship with Blue reveal? His relationship with Aunt Jimmy?
  • On pages 137 -139, what is Morrison communicating about the older black women in the community?
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Lesson 19

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Lesson 21

Lesson Map

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