Like a Winding Sheet Lesson
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Transcript of Like a Winding Sheet Lesson
I, Too, Sing America
Poem by Langston Hughes
Coleman 2009
I, too, sing America.I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchenWhen company comes,
But I laugh,And eat well,
And grow strong.Tomorrow,
I'll be at the tableWhen company comes.
Nobody'll dareSay to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"Then.
Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed--I, too, am America.
Hold fast to dreams, For if dreams die, Life is a broken-
winged bird that cannot fly,
Hold fast to dreams, For if dreams go, Life is a barren
field, Frozen with snow
Langston Hughes
What is a Winding Sheet?Before fancy coffins with pillows and
satin, bodies were wrapped in a sheet and laid in a wooden box.
That sheet was called a “winding sheet.”
Thus the connotation is death.
• Mr. Johnson• Mae Johnson• Forewoman• Coffee Shop Girl• Discrimination• The Anger
Plot Understanding: Who?
Plot Understanding: How?• How does Mr. Johnson feel about the night shift?
• How long has he been working the night shift?
The Night Shift• More than 22 million Americans work
other than 9-5• Physically difficult to sleep during
day• Problems with person's health, on-
the-job safety, task performance, memory and mood
Plot Understanding• Where did Mr. Johnson and Mae work?
• How were they financially?
The Factory Job
Plot Understanding: Why?• Why is Mr. Johnson late for work this day?
• Why does he beat his wife?
Friday the 13th• triskaidekaphobia
– (trisKIdecaphobia) • paraskevidekatriaphobia (?)• Started in 17th century, perhaps with
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales• About 10 % of Americans believe
Friday 13th to be unlucky
Cultural Lucky Numbers?• Three
– Beginning, Middle, End – Father, Son, Holy Ghost– Clotho (the spinner), Lachesis (the
dispenser), and Atropos (the cutter) – Congressional, Judicial, Presidential
Other Lucky Numbers?• Two• Four• Six• Seven• Nine• Twelve
Coleman’s Classroomwww.clmn.net
Discrimination / RacismReal
ForewomanLn 105-117
PerceivedCoffee Shop Girl
Ln 233-235,240-242
•Were her actions inappropriate?•Did she know Mr. Johnson was angry?
•Should he have been angry?
A Main Character: Anger• Gentle argument about going to work
ln 57-61• Physically furious with forewoman ln
105-115• Thinking about the situation ln 145-
155• Coffee Shop Girl ln 229-242• Mae, his wife ln 308-312
Coleman’s Classroomwww.clmn.net
The Anger’s Impetus Forewoman
“And the niggers are the worst…” ln 106
(Red Lipstick)Coffee shop girlLifted her hair ln 216
(Scarlet Lipstick)
Mae• “Old hungry nigger” ln 306
• Lifted her hair ln 282(Dark Red lipstick)
The Anger’s ProgressionWith Mae
“He couldn’t bring himself to talk to her roughly or threaten to strike her like a lot of men might have done. He wasn’t made that way”
Ln 60-61
With Forewoman“He stepped closer to her. His fists were doubled. His lips were drawn back into a think narrow line. A vein in his forehead stood out swollen, thick.”
Ln 112-114
The Anger’s Progression
With Coffee Shop Girl“He felt his hands began to tingle… They were clenched tight, hard, into fists… He wanted to… hit her so hard that the scarlet lipstick on her mouth would smear…”
Ln 230-233
The Anger’s Progression
With Mae“There was the smacking sound of soft flesh being struck by a hard object… so hard that the dark red lipstick had blurred and spread…He kept sticking her…He had lost control over his hands… his hands reached for her face again and yet again.”
Ln 314-325
The Anger’s Progression
“King of Pain”
The Police
Song ExcerptThere's a little black spot on the sun todayIt's the same old thing as yesterdayThere's a black hat caught in a high tree topThere's a flag-pole rag and the wind won't stop
I have stood here before inside the pouring rainWith the world turning circles running 'round my brainI guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reignBut it's my destiny to be the king of pain
To Consider:• Significance of story title?• Is Mr. Johnson naturally violent? • Explain: the :anger-born energy that
had not been used had spread through him like a poison.
• Who was responsible for Mr. Johnson’s actions?
To Consider:• Do you blame Mr. Johnson for finally
boiling over? Should he have exercised more self-control? What other options did he have to release his anger?
• Is violence ever the answer?
Coleman’s Classroomwww.clmn.net
For More InformationEmail Mrs. C
Visit Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net