Robert Rampersaud, ‘The First Day’ Formal Critique

Reviewer’s Name:  Robert Rampersaud

Title of Piece: The First Day                                      Author’s Name: Edward P. Jones

Enjoyed:

Setting and Context:

The author did a great job describing the auditorium by saying “we find our way to the crowded auditorium where gray metal chairs are set up in the middle of the room…Every chair seems occupied by a child or adult. Somewhere in the room a child is crying, a cry that rise above the buzz-talk of so many people. Strew about the floor are dozens and dozens of pieces of white paper, and people are walking over them without any thought of picking them up.” This gives reader how chaotic and busy the auditorium was that day.  

Characters:

The author did a great job describing what the little girl worn on the first day of school, and how her mother did her hair.

Plot:

The plot was clearly understood by saying “she takes my hand and we set off down New Jersey Avenue to being my very first day of school.” We know the article will be about the character first day of school.

Dialogue:

The author did a great job describing how much Seaton school means to the mother because the character describes the school was something her mother pointed out before her daughter was in her mother womb.

Questions:

Point of View:

What was the mother point of view of her kid going to Walker-Jones instead of Seaton?

Voice & Style:

Mother looked at her daughter which was a look her daughter never seen before. What the look became of the embracement of not knowing how to read and write?

Point of View:

What was the daughter point of view of her mother getting help with the form?

Setting & Context:

The author was more detailed on how the employee at Seaton was dress, and when the mother when to Walker-Jones the author was not as detailed about the employees at that school or the lady that help the mother. Was this because both the mother and daughter were not as excited as they were of Seaton?