Category: Entry 12

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word Scimitar means a saber having a curved blade with the edge on the convex side and used chiefly by Arabs and Turks. This word was found in the reading piece ‘Sweat’ by Zora Neale Hurtston. It was in the context “One day as Delia came down the kitchen steps she saw his chalky-white fangs curved like scimitars hung in the wire meshes.” From the definition given above, I can conclude that the author used scimitars as a simile to describe how curved the snake’s fangs were.

According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, truculently is defined as aggressively self-assertive. In the reading “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston, the word appears on the first page in paragraph 7 as stated, “He picked up the whip and glared down at her. Delia went on with her work. She went out into the yard and returned with a galvanized tub and set it on the washbench. She saw that Sykes had kicked all of the clothes together again, and now stood in her way truculently, his whole manner hoping, praying, for an argument. But she walked calmly around him and commenced to re-sort the things”. Now knowing what this word means, the author is saying that Sykes stood in Delia’s way aggressively, in an authoritarian way in show of power over her.

The word quarrel means an argument or disagreement, typically between two people who are usually on good terms according to the dictionary. The word quarrel is found in the story “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston on the bottom of page 277 when it states, “Delia was glad she did not have to quarrel before she hitched up her pony and drove four miles to Woodbridge.” Now knowing the definition of the word, I know that the author was saying that Delia was glad she didn’t have to get into an argument with someone, probably her husband, before leaving on her pony to Woodbridge.

Concealed: to keep from sight (adjective)

This is the meaning of the word concealed according to Dictionary.com. I saw this word when I was reading A Jury Of Her Peers again the day after black friday. I saw it in the sentence that said “Mrs. Hale’s hand was on the sewing basket in which the box was concealed. She was hiding the evidence from the police who was investigating. She was making sure the police didn’t see the box which could’ve been used as evidence.

Scimitars (noun): a saber having a curved blade with the edge on the convex side and used chiefly by Arabs and Turks.

Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary (online).

“One day as Delia came down the kitchen steps she saw his chalky-white fangs curved like scimitars hung in the wire meshes.” As the snake is living in Delia’s house, Zora N. Hurston describes the snakes fangs like curved swords. Delia fears snakes, even small earth worms. But as this snake live in her house, she learns to fear him (or her) less. Hurston continues by saying that Delia no longer run away wide-eyed. I like how Hurston uses curved blades from a sword to describe a snakes fangs. It really helps build the scary image Delia sees in a snake.

Diana Galvez

Gallantry (noun): an act of marked courtesy, courteous attention to a lady.

According to Merriam-Webster the definition of gallantry is an act of marked courtesy, courteous attention to a lady. I encountered this word in the story, “A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell. On page 154, it states, “And yet, said he, with the gallantry of a young politician. “for all their worries, what would we do without the ladies?””. When I encountered this word I was unsure of its meaning. I assumed gallantry meant talking mistreating or rude to the ladies because most of the men encounters within the story, they laugh at the women. They make a mockery of the way women are able to unfold the murder of Mr.Wright and continuously dismiss them. I see the meaning more clearly because the county attorney was showing signs of manner in this case because he was acting a politician. It would be improper in that formality to talk unkind to the women because of his future. He recognized the women, but, she still did not speak because in that time it was difficult for them to say what they were really thinking. The country attorney was with gallantry as a mark for courtesy.