Thursday, December 1, 2011
The "John" Factor
What is it inside of us that defines who we are? Thst determines our very nature and establishes our very being? Could the answer be in genetics, or maybe in the spirit? This john is inside everyone, or maybe nobody in a similarly indistinguishable manor. The "John", what drives progress and inspires civilizations, can change the world in a blink of an eye or
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L Onomatopoeia: “...rhythmic bomp-a-bomp-a-bomp of wooden pestles...” Page 1
ReplyDeleteQ “Not as many of our people are being taken away now as then.”
-Not many toubob were coming and taking captives from the land of Juffure in that time, as they were in the past. The King of Barra had ordered that no slaves be taken anymore, and his words had an effect for a while. There were also fewer traitors because of the harsh punishments and cruelty that would come if a slatee were found. Page 57
L Simile: “Bald-headed, deeply wrinkled, as black as the bottom of a cooking pot...” Page 8
Q “It is the way of the world that goodness is often repaid with badness”
-It seems very often that people who do good deeds or fulfill good duties in life are often repaid with misfortune. The reason for this is simply that everyone tends to have some kind of bad luck throughout life, and it’s not in anyone’s control. Good people are often put in unfair situations because it’s just what happens in this world. Page 9
I I can infer that the village that Omoro and Kunta are passing on their adventure is very poor and probably one of the lesser tribes in the Gambia. The mud huts are empty and all of the people seem to be sick or dying. Page 69
Q “Each day’s new sun will remind us that it rose in our Africa which is the navel of our Earth.”
-Africa is being compared to a navel, meaning that it is the center of the Earth yet also detached because little is known about the rest of the world. So while Kunta is held captive, the rising sun would remind of his home, and help to keep track of the nights and days he’s been gone for. Page 212
L Dialogue: “Help me!” the crocodile called out
“You’ll kill me!” cried the boy.
“No! Come nearer!” said the crocodile. Page 9
I I can infer that cowrie shells were the common currency used in West Africa in place of money. Nyo Boto was selling various objects in return for cowrie shells. Page 36
L Foreshadow: “The things I’m going to tell you now, you must hear with more than your ears-for not to do what I say can mean your being stolen away forever!”
This foreshadows Kunta being taken away by the Toubob. Page 58
Q “We wish we could tell you Grandmother.”
-Omorro says this with sorrow and means it in an apologetic way towards this elderly woman who he has just met. She is puzzled and sad, and Omorro wishes that he could give the answer to her problems, but he knows less than she. He says this in a respectful way to grieve and mourn with her. Page 70
L Personification: “The pounding heartbeat of the drums seemed to throb not only in Kunta’s ears but also in his limbs.” Page 35