Sunday, June 14, 2009
Group 8 Summary of Bambara
The Lesson, by Toni Cade Bambara, follows a young girl name Sylvia who is taught a life lesson by Miss Moore, her summer school teacher, at an upper end toy store. Miss Moore brings Sylvia and the rest of her class to F.A.O Schwartz for the day's lesson. As they look through the windows of the store, the children start picking out things they want and will buy. Then they notice the price tags for the different items in the store. As Sylvia goes through the store, she starts to think about who would spend this much money on a toy. What do these people do and why isn't she in on it? She thinks about previous lessons where Miss Moore talks about demanding their share of the pie, but doesn't really grasp the point of that lesson: you can't steal your place in the world; you have to demand it. One student at the end of the lesson seems to understand, but is quickly quieted by Sylvia who is disgusted with the student's "treachery". The story ends with Sylvia not completely understanding the point of the lesson, but you see a glimmer of understanding in her. It shows, with time, that she may understand after all.
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This seems to be a pretty complete summary of Bambara and would make me interested in reading the entire story if I hadn't. I think to write a summary that makes the reader want to read the full story is good depending on what your goal is. Was that your goal here?
ReplyDeleteThat was the main goal with this summary. We wanted to give the person reading it a reason to read the full story.
ReplyDeleteCouple questions on your summary--it's good overall, but
ReplyDelete1. Are you sure that Sylvia doesn't understand Miss Moore's point? I think she feels "treachery" when Sugar recites the point to Miss Moore because she wants Miss Moore to *think* that she doesn't understand the point; she wants Miss Moore to think that her lesson is pointless.
2. Also, another question: where do you see Sylvia's "glimmer of understanding"?