ENG311

Writing in Context: The 1920’s

Directions: Use this document to write your answers to the guiding “Reader Response” questions that have been posed here about each of your readings. Then, use these responses to help you formulate your response to the Quizzes.

“The Red Wheelbarrow”

1. What does the red wheelbarrow signify in this poem?

a. What is Williams saying through his focus on this object?

2. What is the red wheelbarrow's relationship to the white chickens?

a. Why does it matter that the wheelbarrow is red and the chickens white or does it?

b. Why do you think the poet provides these distinct colors for us?

c. How do they relate to the overall image conveyed in the poem?

3. Consider the juxtapositioning of the wheelbarrow and the chickens.

a. How does this juxtapositioning affect the image of the poem?

b. Consider that the red wheelbarrow is “glazed with rain.” What does that mean and why should that matter?

4. How is the Red Wheelbarrow insignificantly significant?

“since feeling is first”

1. What is the speaker's tone, and how do you know?

a. Consider word choice, placement, and appearance; line length, breaks, and stanza formation; punctuation or lack of, use of parenthesis, capitalization.

2. To what is the speaker comparing the restrictions we place on our emotions?

a. How are these two things alike? Use specific examples from the poem to prove your point.

3. According to the speaker, which is better, reason, or emotion?

a. How do you know? Use specific examples from the poem to prove your point:

4. How is this assertion ironic?

“A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”

1. How do you respond to human difference, physical issues out of the ordinary, disfigured or disabled people, for instance? 

a. Have you witnessed others' responses that you'd like to correct?  Explain your experiences and your thoughts on the matter.

2. How do the community's expectations of an angel interfere with their acceptance and understanding of the very old man with enormous wings and dictate their treatment of him?

a. Do you understand their behaviors? Are they like most of us or not? Explain your response to their responses.

3. What aspects of the story are ironic?

a. Identify at least two instances of irony in the story, and explain what you find to be ironic?  

4. What might Marquez be trying to say to us through the story about our behavior regarding difference? 

a. How about our expectations of the magical or otherworldly? 

b. On what other areas of human nature might Marquez be commenting?  

5. What theme does the story convey?

a. Why do you think Marquez uses magical realism to convey his message? 

6. How might this song relate to this story? Explain your answers.