Paper #2, Option 1 (due October 10th)

Paper #2, Option #1: Uppity Words

In Chapter 57 of True Believer, LaVaughn is reeling from being told she is proud, over-smart, disdainful, and rude. Yet her friend Ronell consoles her:

“You want my honest opinion?” she says.

I’ve already heard too many, but she goes ahead:

“LaVaughn, I like you for being uppity. That’s partly

why we’re here. Right?...

Here in this room we’re obligated to be uppity.

That’s our purpose here” (181).

In essence, Ronell is saying that so survive high school in the inner city, where not much is expected of them (and it is very likely they could die in a school shooting or a house fire), being “uppity” is what gives you purpose and steers you to college. Being “uppity” is having self-respect and refusing to accept someone else’s definition of your worth. It’s also the very word that LaVaughn always uses to describe her mother, who is also a strong, determined, self-made woman.

For this option, I want you to trace a word, phrase, or specific idea that seems to repeat throughout the work, changing depending on the context and/or LaVaughn’s understanding of it.  Some examples could be “uppity,” eyes/looks, food, “appreciate,” “hassling,” kissing, hearts, food, lucidity, clean/mess, listening, etc. Try to see how this word or phrase is like a melody that repeats with different instrumentation, sometimes in a trio, sometimes playing a solo, but each time changing how we see or understand the term. Why might Wolff use this specific word to help us explore the emotional reality of LaVaughn’s world? What’s so unique about its denotations and connotations? How does it lend itself to metaphors? And how might it allow the author to speak ‘through’ LaVaughn’s words (since LaVaughn is probably unaware of this thematic repetition).

In exploring this word/phrase/idea, be sure to quote and analyze the text (don’t just tell us how it’s used—show us), and also use Culler to help you contextualize how words and narration work in literature. Remember, you’re guiding us through the material, so the more you can show us, the more we’ll ultimately understand.

REQUIREMENTS: Should be around 3-4 pages double spaced (but can be longer), should use at least 2 sources, and should cite these sources according to MLA or APA with a Works Cited page.

Due Tuesday, October 10^th by 5pm