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ENG-216 HW#6

Due: Monday, November 8, 2010

Beloved(Reading assignment page 199-324)

Complete the assigned reading for next time and respond in writing to the following

questions. (Responses should be either typed or neatly printed on separate sheets.)

1. Now, too late, he understood her. The heart that pumped out love, the mouth that spoke

the Word, didnt count. They came in her yard anyway and she could not approve or

condemn Sethes rough choice. One of the other might have saved her, but beaten up by

the claims of both, she went to bed. The whitefolks had tired her out at last (212).

Who is this quote about? How was she beaten up? Did she react the way you think she

should have to Sethes action? How would you have reacted?

The quote is about Baby Suggs. She was beaten up by the cruelty and disrespect of the

slave masters and those that allowed them to commit the atrocities they did. She is worn

down by the hardships of her life. She believed that she was finally free, and allowed

herself to feel too much. When the horsemen came into her yard and when Sethe did

what she thought she had to, it reminded Baby Suggs that she wasnt really free and that

she never would be. Her reaction to Sethes action is understandable; she would have

stooped it if she could have, but she can also see Sethes reason for doing it and cant

really blame her. I probably would have been dismayed, shocked, and outraged, but for

Baby Suggs its just one of the many horrible things shes had to see in her life.

2. Who is the narrator in this chapter that begins Beloved, she my daughter.? (Pages 236-

241)? Who is she talking to? How does this narrator feel about Beloveds return?

Sethe is talking to Beloved. She feels that Beloveds return means that her daughter has

forgiven her and come back to her. She thinks that she Beloved understands exactly why

she did what she did, and she is overjoyed to have her back.

3. Who is the narrator in this chapter that begins Beloved is my sister.? (Pages 242-247)?

Who is she talking about? How does this narrator feel about Beloveds return?

Denver is talking about Beloved. She is glad that Beloved has come back and wants to

protect her. She is concerned that her mother may still have the murderous instinct in her

and that Paul D might break up the family.

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4. Who is the narrator in this chapter that begins I am Beloved and she is mine.? (Pages

248-251)? Who is she talking about? Can you describe the style of this chapter? Why do

you think Morrison made it so difficult to understand? What images does the narrator

describe? What do you think she is referring to?

Beloved is talking about herself and her experiences in death. The chapter is like a streamof consciousness description of something that cant be explained properly. It seems to be

a communal experience of lots of people/souls. I think its especially difficult to

understand because Beloved still speaks and thinks and sees as a baby. She doesnt

understand the things she experienced and doesnt know how to express them.

5. Who are the narrators of the following chapter (pages 253-256)? What do they keep

repeating? What is the mood in this chapter? Based on the last three chapters, how do you

think life is changing at 124?

The narrators are Sethe, Beloved, and Denver. They are repeating because they are all

different people, but all one entity at the same time. They all define themselves by eachother. The mood is tense, each of them is trying to express something, but everything is

becoming one thing.

6. What is the significance of the line: This is not a story to pass on.? Has Beloved left

any trace? Why write a story that should not be passed on?

The story is not one to be passed on because the experiences of the characters are so

horrible. Sethe and Denver have gotten over Beloved, but they had to deal with her first

to deal with their own problems. The story is written so that the things that happened,

however terrible, are not forgotten.