– Noun
– a piece of cloth that is used especially by women as a covering for the head or shoulders
– http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shawl
– ” …It was too much for the girl, who curled up each night exhausted in her red and brown plaid shawl…”
– A shawl is a common motif in this passage as well as the title.
Scorch ā Verb
Ā Definition:Ā to burn a surface of so as to change its color and texture; to dry or shrivel with or as if with intense heat.
Source:Ā http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scorch
Found in:Ā The Shawl by Louise Erdrich
Quote:Ā āHe jumped up and, although he was wearing only light clothing, he ran behind the wagon over the packed drifts. The horses picked up speed. His chest was scorched with pain, and yet he pushed himself on.āĀ Ā (2nd page 3rd line).
Ā This is when the little boy was running the behind the wagon as her mom and sister were leaving him behind. By knowing this word, I now clearly understand how as the horses ran faster, he pushed himself to run faster even though his chest started to burn from all the running.Ā
Anishinaabe
Definition:Ā Ā possibly reflecting a traditionalist’s viewpoint with a certain moral dimension – refers to “the good humans”, or good people, meaning those who are on the right road/path given to them by the Creator.
Source:Ā http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anishinaabe
Found in:Ā The Shawl by Louise Erdrich
Quote:Ā āAnd in that moment of knowledge, donāt you thin, being who she was, of the old sort of Anishinaabeg, who thinks of the good of the people first, she jumped, my father, nādede brother to that little girl? Donāt you think she lifted her shawl and flew?Ā (last page, last paragraph).
Knowing this word made me understand how the narrator suggested a reconsideration of his fatherās past by explaining his sisterās personality as being a person who is kind beyond kindness and would do anything for others. By being an Anishinaabe, she might have scarified herself for the sake of the baby.
For Thursday, please read the two story pairings:
Zadie Smith, āScenes from the Smith Family Christmasā andĀ photograph; Jamaica Kincaid, āBiography of a Dressā (andĀ listen to her read the story)
and Cynthia Ozick, āThe Shawlā (932-935) and Louise Erdrich, āThe Shawlā (1409-1413)
Then write a post, approximately 300 words or longer, either the photobiography or the object-biography, usingĀ the categories Homework Responses and the name of the author or authors you’re imitating or drawing on.:
The Photobiography: imitating the style and themes of Smith or Kincaid, who tell their stories through careful consideration of a photograph from their pasts, write a creative close-reading of an old photograph of yourself. Include the photograph if possible. Tag your post Photobiography.
The Object-biography: considering how both Ozick and Erdrich tell these story with the object of the shawl as an important object, both physically and symbolically, write a creative close-reading about an object of significance to you or your family. Include a photograph of the object if possible. Tag your post Object-biography.
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