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Lesson 2

We will review the reading from the previous class and will listen to “The Source of Self-Regard,” a talk by Toni Morrison, in which she provides insight into her experience writing Beloved. We will then review the different types of narration in order to prep our thinking about the effects of narrative shift on the reader.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I make connections between ideas in “The Source of Self-Regard” and Beloved as a way to discuss Morrison’s experience and intent in writing the novel?

  • Can I discuss and write about the explicit and implicit meanings of pages 1–24 of Beloved?

  • Can I evaluate how Morrison uses different literary elements to shape the plot?

  • Can I evaluate the purpose of using different narrative shifts to achieve Morrison’s purpose?

Texts

Core

  • Tradebook
    • Beloved, Toni Morrison, Vintage Books, 2004
  • Unit Reader
    • “The Source of Self-Regard,” Toni Morrison, Vintage Books, 2020

Materials

Tools

Reference Guides

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Discuss

We will review our homework reading.

In your small group, discuss the reading homework and the notes you took using the Character Note-Taking Tool on each character introduced so far.

As a class, we will take a deeper look at the reading you completed, focusing on the following questions:

  1. How do we come to know the characters? How are they introduced and developed?

  2. What do the characters’ actions and reactions reveal about them?

  3. What evidence from the text supports these conclusions?

  4. What memories does Sethe have of Sweet Home with the arrival of Paul D.?

  5. Why would Morrison choose to use the name Sweet Home to describe such a place? What is the relationship between the name of the house and the details from Sethe’s memories?

  6. Reread the following paragraph on page 18. "I got a tree on my back and a haint in my house, and nothing in between but the daughter I am holding in my arms. No more running—from nothing. I will never run from another thing on this earth. I took one journey and I paid for the ticket, but let me tell you something, Paul D. Garner: it cost me too much! Do you hear me? It cost too much." What does Sethe mean by this? What does it reveal about her character? Use evidence from the novel to support your answer.

  7. What is revealed about 124 and the baby’s spirit in lines such as, “And when the baby’s spirit picked up Here Boy and slammed him into the wall.” What element do these details introduce the reader to?

Activity 2: Listen – Write – Discuss

We will listen to Morrison’s talk “The Source Of Self Regard” in order to build background knowledge about her experience and intent in writing Beloved.

Step 1

Listen to Toni Morrison’s talk, “The Source of Self-Regard” (0:00-28:55), taking note of key information related to the novel you are reading.

As you listen, consider the questions below. You might use a Video Note-Taking Tool to write down notes about what you hear.

  1. What stands out to you as interesting or important about Morrison’s intent and experience in writing Beloved?

  2. What are some of the ideas and techniques that Morrison uses to help readers understand the experience of enslaved people that traditional literature does not?

As a class, briefly discuss your reaction to the talk and your responses to the questions.

Step 2

Discuss the following question. Utilize your notes from the Video Note-Taking Tool to help guide you.

  1. What specific details from Beloved connect back to Morrison’s goal to "return agency to the hands of the slaves?"

Activity 3: Discuss – Write – Read

We will review the different types of narration, looking at specific examples of third-person omniscient and limited point of view, as seen in the text. We will discuss the effects of narrative shift on the reader.

Step 1

Think about and discuss the following questions by using text evidence to support your responses:

  1. How might the difference between first and third person narration of a story influence how we identify and respond to the text and the characters?

  2. Who is the narrator in Beloved?

Step 2

Follow along as your teacher introduces and models the use of an Analyzing Relationships Tool to respond to a text-specific question related to Morrison’s narrative shifts:

  1. What impact do Morrison’s narration shifts have on you as a reader?

In groups, go back into your assigned section of reading to find an example of Morrison’s shift in narration. Use the Analyzing Relationships Tool to help guide your analysis.

Step 3

Engage in a class discussion using the following questions:

  1. How does the shift in narrative perspective change the way the reader engages with the story?

  2. How does this shift connect back to the ideas and experience Morrison speaks about in “The Source of Self-Regard”: her goal to "return agency to the hands of the slaves?"

Activity 4: Read

We will read and annotate pages 24–46 for homework.

For homework, read and annotate pages 24-46 of Beloved, ending with the line "she had left the bed" (p. 46). Continue filling out a separate Character Note-Taking Tool for each character. Also, continue to record unfamiliar or interesting words in your Vocabulary Journal.

As you read, keep track of the following characters:

  • Sethe

  • Baby Suggs

  • Paul D.

  • Denver

  • 124

Consider the following questions and be prepared to discuss your answers in the next lesson:

  1. Take note of how the point of view shifts back and forth between the thoughts of the characters. How might this shift change the way the reader engages with the story?

  2. Why is Denver interested in how Sethe escapes from Sweet Home?

  3. What is the function of Amy's character in the novel?