Literature
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Reaction Paper # 2—After reading this week’s notes “Reading Fiction” and “Graduation” by Maya
Angelou, complete reaction paper 2 as described below.
Discussed in the notes this week are 6 elements of fiction: Tone, Plot, Characterization, Setting, Theme
and Point of View. Choose one element (other than POV) and reflect on how Angelou uses it in her
writing. Give specific examples and quotes from the text to show how she uses the element and its
effect on the story. Be sure to quote correctly (using quotation marks and providing paragraph #s).
Remember that reaction papers should be 1-2 pages, double-spaced.
Below is a brief sample of how to discuss one of the elements with examples from the text. The example
discusses the use of point of view in the story:
Maya Angelou’s story “Graduation,” is told from first-person point of view, told through the
main character, Marguerite Johnson. Although it is not yet clear who the narrator is within the first 5
paragraphs, in paragraph 6 Angelou writes, “In the Store I was the person of the moment.” Thus, we are
introduced to the narrator of the story. The rest of the story uses pronouns such as we, me, my which
solidifies the narrator’s point of view.
Hearing the story unfold from first-person POV gives credibility to the theme of the story.
Maguerite Johnson is one of the graduates excited to be graduating, and is present at every point of the
story—from the events leading up to the day, the events during the ceremony, and her feelings about
what has occurred.
In paragraph 7, she tells us, “My class was wearing buttery-yellow piqué dresses, and Momma
launched out mine.” She goes on to describe the expert way her mother crafted her dress. It is clear
from all of her descriptions that she, her family and the community looked toward the day with great
anticipation, even though as the narrator states, “I was only twelve years old and merely graduating
from the eighth grade” (paragraph 8). She goes on to explain that many teachers in the Arkansas Negro
schools had the same diploma but were able to teach. This shows that at the time, an eighth-grade
graduation was quite an achievement which could lead to possible (anticipated) professions…
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