1. What is the significance of Sethe's condition after Beloved leaves? 2. What does Denver mean when she says, "At times I think she was—more," in reference to Beloved as a sister? 3. How does the poem on page 310 in the red book ("Bare feet and chamomile sap...") fit into the story?
1. Why does the narrator repeat "This is not a story to pass on" ? (pg. 274-275) 2. Why does Denver change her opinion of Paul D? 3. Why does the memory of Beloved disappear?
Was the purpose of Beloved's reincarnation to make Sethe's life miserable? What is the significance of Sethe laying on her death bed similar to the way that Baby Suggs did? Why does Sethe call Beloved her "best thing" after everything that happened?
Why does Beloved go from being Sethe's "best thing" to something she cannot even remember? When Morrison writes, "it is not a story to pass on." is she really commenting on how society tries to forget the history of the entire black community, instead of remembering and taking responsibility for the atrocities of slavery?
Are Beloved's birth, death, haunting, rebirth, and disappearance metaphors for Morrison's perspective on slavery in modern America? If so, why is Beloved's story "not a story to pass on"? What are the parallels between Denver, Paul D, and Sethe's struggles to face their pasts? How is Denver's journey to become an independent woman similar or different from the others' journeys?
Why did Denver turn to Lady Jones for help with her situation when the woman thinks of herself as a burden to others? What is the significance of the figurine? Why did Beloved become Sethe's alter ego after she explained the reason for killing her?
How did Denver change and what is the significance of her journey as a first generation free born? What was the purpose of Beloved's resurrection? In the end , how does the identity of the main characters change? Who determines our identity?
What was the reason for Beloved's journey to Sethe's home? Was she planning on leaving after she accomplished whatever it was she wanted to accomplish (maybe which was to change Sethe) or did she leave because she got scared?
"Everybody knew what she was called, but nobody anywhere knew her name." (274). Is Morrison referring to the fact that everyone knew her story but not her actual name? Or that everyone knew her name but not the full story but no matter what, were cautious of her?
Would you say that identities did change in this book, Denver and Paul D's for better, but Sethe's for worse? and do you think that Sethe's identity, being altered by Beloved can ever be altered again? (Identity or values?)
What is the significance of the colors that Denver describes in part 3? For example, the white fence that is now grey. "Lady Jones was mixed. Grey eyes and yellow woolly hair...the blackest man she could find...five rainbow-colored children" pg261
When Denver is wondering who she can turn to for help, she thinks of an old man with white hair called stamp and of Lady Jones. She chooses Lady Jones but it is not stated why. Why does she? pg256-257
Does Sethe realize the extent to which she is neglecting Denver and replacing her with Beloved or is she too overwhelmed by Beloved and her need for attention that she in unaware?
What does the last passage (especially the last line) say about Sethe's identity and how she views herself? Why does it say, "it was not a story to pass on" three times? Isn't this a story that was passed on? Is Beloved's identity constructed through other people's memories of her? Does she continue to exist once everyone has forgotten her?
1. The poem, serving as an introduction to the second to last chapter, brings into thought the obvious parallel between Paul D's initial arrival at 124 and his second arrival. What differences and similarities are there between the happenings of the first chapter and those of the second to last chapter?
2. The lines "No. No no. Nonono." on page 275 of the blue book brings into thought the obvious parallel between this scene and the scene when Schoolteacher is approaching 124. What differences and similarities are there between the happenings of this scene and those of the scene where Sethe kills Beloved?
How does Morrison use the relationship between Denver and Beloved to develop both characters and progress the plot? How would/would the book have been perceived differently if it had been named after a different character? If the book were to be narrated in first person rather than third, which character would you choose to do the narrating in order to uncover the most information to bolster our understanding of these characters and the plot?
When Denver begins to fear that Beloved will kill Sethe is there an irony to how Sethe potentially killed Beloved out of love or do you feel she would be killing her for revenge instead?
Could Sethes actions towards Mr. Bowdoin prove that she is crazy and can't decipher what is reality from her imagination or do you think she was blinded by regret and other overwhelming emotions?
1. The narrative point-of-view throughout the book tends to shift between third-person and first-person. What is the significance of these changes in point-of-view and what do they reveal about the characters of the book?
2. Near the end of the penultimate chapter, there is the excerpt "He wants to put his story next to hers. 'Sethe,' he says, 'me and you, we got more yesterday than anybody.We need some kind of tomorrow.' " What does this excerpt reveal about the characters of Sethe and Paul D?
1. What is the significance of Sethe's condition after Beloved leaves?
ReplyDelete2. What does Denver mean when she says, "At times I think she was—more," in reference to Beloved as a sister?
3. How does the poem on page 310 in the red book ("Bare feet and chamomile sap...") fit into the story?
--Seth
1. Why does the narrator repeat "This is not a story to pass on" ? (pg. 274-275)
ReplyDelete2. Why does Denver change her opinion of Paul D?
3. Why does the memory of Beloved disappear?
Was the purpose of Beloved's reincarnation to make Sethe's life miserable?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the significance of Sethe laying on her death bed similar to the way that Baby Suggs did?
Why does Sethe call Beloved her "best thing" after everything that happened?
Why does Beloved go from being Sethe's "best thing" to something she cannot even remember?
ReplyDeleteWhen Morrison writes, "it is not a story to pass on." is she really commenting on how society tries to forget the history of the entire black community, instead of remembering and taking responsibility for the atrocities of slavery?
Are Beloved's birth, death, haunting, rebirth, and disappearance metaphors for Morrison's perspective on slavery in modern America?
ReplyDeleteIf so, why is Beloved's story "not a story to pass on"?
What are the parallels between Denver, Paul D, and Sethe's struggles to face their pasts? How is Denver's journey to become an independent woman similar or different from the others' journeys?
Why did Denver turn to Lady Jones for help with her situation when the woman thinks of herself as a burden to others?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the significance of the figurine?
Why did Beloved become Sethe's alter ego after she explained the reason for killing her?
How did Denver change and what is the significance of her journey as a first generation free born?
ReplyDeleteWhat was the purpose of Beloved's resurrection?
In the end , how does the identity of the main characters change? Who determines our identity?
What was the reason for Beloved's journey to Sethe's home? Was she planning on leaving after she accomplished whatever it was she wanted to accomplish (maybe which was to change Sethe) or did she leave because she got scared?
ReplyDelete"Everybody knew what she was called, but nobody anywhere knew her name." (274). Is Morrison referring to the fact that everyone knew her story but not her actual name? Or that everyone knew her name but not the full story but no matter what, were cautious of her?
Would you say that identities did change in this book, Denver and Paul D's for better, but Sethe's for worse? and do you think that Sethe's identity, being altered by Beloved can ever be altered again? (Identity or values?)
What is the significance of the colors that Denver describes in part 3? For example, the white fence that is now grey. "Lady Jones was mixed. Grey eyes and yellow woolly hair...the blackest man she could find...five rainbow-colored children" pg261
ReplyDeleteWhen Denver is wondering who she can turn to for help, she thinks of an old man with white hair called stamp and of Lady Jones. She chooses Lady Jones but it is not stated why. Why does she? pg256-257
Does Sethe realize the extent to which she is neglecting Denver and replacing her with Beloved or is she too overwhelmed by Beloved and her need for attention that she in unaware?
What has Paul D been running from? Why is he able to return to 124?
ReplyDeleteWhich event causes Denver to search for help from the community? Why?
What does the last passage (especially the last line) say about Sethe's identity and how she views herself?
ReplyDeleteWhy does it say, "it was not a story to pass on" three times? Isn't this a story that was passed on?
Is Beloved's identity constructed through other people's memories of her? Does she continue to exist once everyone has forgotten her?
-Zach Collisson
1. The poem, serving as an introduction to the second to last chapter, brings into thought the obvious parallel between Paul D's initial arrival at 124 and his second arrival. What differences and similarities are there between the happenings of the first chapter and those of the second to last chapter?
ReplyDelete2. The lines "No. No no. Nonono." on page 275 of the blue book brings into thought the obvious parallel between this scene and the scene when Schoolteacher is approaching 124. What differences and similarities are there between the happenings of this scene and those of the scene where Sethe kills Beloved?
How does Morrison use the relationship between Denver and Beloved to develop both characters and progress the plot?
ReplyDeleteHow would/would the book have been perceived differently if it had been named after a different character?
If the book were to be narrated in first person rather than third, which character would you choose to do the narrating in order to uncover the most information to bolster our understanding of these characters and the plot?
When Denver begins to fear that Beloved will kill Sethe is there an irony to how Sethe potentially killed Beloved out of love or do you feel she would be killing her for revenge instead?
ReplyDeleteCould Sethes actions towards Mr. Bowdoin prove that she is crazy and can't decipher what is reality from her imagination or do you think she was blinded by regret and other overwhelming emotions?
1. The narrative point-of-view throughout the book tends to shift between third-person and first-person. What is the significance of these changes in point-of-view and what do they reveal about the characters of the book?
ReplyDelete2. Near the end of the penultimate chapter, there is the excerpt "He wants to put his story next to hers. 'Sethe,' he says, 'me and you, we got more yesterday than anybody.We need some kind of tomorrow.' " What does this excerpt reveal about the characters of Sethe and Paul D?