Question Box:
1. Is Mr. Henry a good guy to be trusted? If so, why would the girls feel bitterness after he came?
2. Is Claudia's mother a kind woman in the time of depression and discrimination, which causes her to be very bitter?
3. What is the significance of Claudia not liking Barbie dolls, which are a huge deal to everybody else?
4. What is the significance of the stove in Pecola's house?
5. What are the significance of the Prostitute's names Poland, China?
6. What are the significance of the chapters being named after the seasons?
7. What was the purpose in introducing the “colored people” in the book?
To demonstrate the extreme racism of the time, even by other “colored” black people. Also, it introduces and defines a main theme in the book.
8. Why are there so many prostitutes with strange names in the book?
9. Why does Soaphead Church make the little black girl kill the dog?
10. Is there a significance as to why the book is divided into sections titled as seasons?
11. Why does Claudia feel such hatred towards “little white girls”?
12. Why does Pecola’s mother put up with Pecola’s father if they are constantly fighting, even to the point of beating her?
13. Why did Claudia and Frieda feel the need to help Pecola after learning about her pregnancy.
14. Why does Pecola believe Soaphead when he says that even though she can’t see her “blue eyes” but everyone else can?
15. What does Pecola’s imaginary friend symbolize?
16. How does the black cat symbolize Pecola?
17. Why is Frieda now considered “ruined”?
18. Why does Mrs. Breedlove seem so much more comforting to the little white girl than to her own daughter?
1. Is Mr. Henry a good guy to be trusted? If so, why would the girls feel bitterness after he came?
- I think the fact that they feel bitterness towards him is a foreshadow to something to come in the book. Also, the way his smile is described is as though he cannot be trusted.
2. Is Claudia's mother a kind woman in the time of depression and discrimination, which causes her to be very bitter?
- Claudia's mother is in extremely tough times because of the depression. She also has a lot to deal with because of housing Mr. Henry, taking care of Pecola, and taking care of her own kids.
3. What is the significance of Claudia not liking Barbie dolls, which are a huge deal to everybody else?
- Claudia's feelings towards Barabie dolls are not meant as violent, however, it's like they show the ideal girl, which makes her hate the dolls. She is not interested in playing with the dolls. she wants to tear the dolls apart and examine what makes them up. This also shows that she is very observant.
4. What is the significance of the stove in Pecola's house?
- The stove is a symbol of the Breedlove family. The fire in the stove was the only thing that kept the family and their house warm. However, the fire never failed to die out, just like Pecola’s family is unable to keep the heat and love together.
5. What are the significance of the Prostitute's names Poland, China?
- I think these names signify the diversity of the culture in America at that time. It shows how many diverse people and cultures have come to America.
6. What are the significance of the chapters being named after the seasons?
- The chapter titles are very significant because they symbolize the characters’ developments. The archetype for seasons shows that they represent change and growing up. After finishing the novel, it will be clear that the seasons represent one of the character’s life and how he or she changes and grows up.
7. What was the purpose in introducing the “colored people” in the book?
To demonstrate the extreme racism of the time, even by other “colored” black people. Also, it introduces and defines a main theme in the book.
8. Why are there so many prostitutes with strange names in the book?
- The names of the prostitutes all represent something strong; Poland, China, and the Maginot Line all represent something strong. However, I don’t know why prostitutes would represent something strong…
9. Why does Soaphead Church make the little black girl kill the dog?
- Soaphead Church made the little girl kill the dog because he saw her as the reason he needed to actually kill the dog. He also felt bad about not being able to change the black girl’s eyes from brown to blue. This also shows that Soaphead Church is a coward.
10. Is there a significance as to why the book is divided into sections titled as seasons?
- The seasons will be able to understand once the book is finished. Predictions show that it will show the complete cycle of Pecola’s life and how she transformed and changed, just like seasons do.
11. Why does Claudia feel such hatred towards “little white girls”?
- Claudia’s hatred stems off of when she received the white, blonde-hair, blue-eyed doll for Christmas. She couldn’t find the “beauty” in it and ripped the doll up looking for the beauty. This anger was from not understanding why the doll was considered beautiful and how she looked nothing like the doll, which transferred over to white girls in real life.
12. Why does Pecola’s mother put up with Pecola’s father if they are constantly fighting, even to the point of beating her?
- Considering the time the novel takes place, most wives were subservient to their husbands and obedient to them, no matter what. It could have also become a habit to put up with him and stay with him. She doesn’t know any other way different.
13. Why did Claudia and Frieda feel the need to help Pecola after learning about her pregnancy.
- Since they had spent so much time with her in the beginning of the novel, she felt like another sister to Pecola. They also overheard the adults talking down about Pecola having her father’s baby and how they were also blaming Pecola for it. Claudia and Frieda wanted to sacrifice what they could to help a friend in need. It also shows their innocence and how naïve they were because they didn’t understand the full story of how Pecola got pregnant.
14. Why does Pecola believe Soaphead when he says that even though she can’t see her “blue eyes” but everyone else can?
- This shows how Pecola is almost going mad. She is so quick to believe what she wants to hear that she will believe anything. She thinks that people will be prejudice of her new blue eyes and that is why she doesn’t go to school. She thinks that no one looks at her anymore because they are jealous of her new blue eyes. However, she doesn’t go to school and no one looks at her because she is pregnant will her father’s child and everyone is prejudiced against that. She is so desperate that she will do anything and believe anything to make her feel better.
15. What does Pecola’s imaginary friend symbolize?
- Pecola’s imaginary friend is the voice of reason in Pecola. At this time, Pecola is starting to go mad and believes that she now has blue eyes. Even though the imaginary friend doesn’t tell Pecola that she really doesn’t have blue eyes, she dismisses some claims Pecola makes, calling her silly. The friend says that she is here now and has never been there before because Pecola has never needed her before. She needs her now because she is going crazy and needs to hold on to something to try to keep her sane.
16. How does the black cat symbolize Pecola?
- The black cat is definitely a symbol of Pecola. The cat has black fur and blue eyes. It symbolizes what Pecola wants to be since she desires blue eyes but has black skin. She wants the best of both worlds: to still have black skin, but have blue eyes, which could make her beautiful. However, the cat is killed, which could be a foreshadow of Pecola’s future and her desires.
17. Why is Frieda now considered “ruined”?
- After Mr. Henry touches Frieda’s breast, people say she is “ruined.” She goes to see the prostitutes, who are also considered “ruined.” This means that girls who are impure are “ruined” because they have lost their innocence and are now considered used and ruined.
18. Why does Mrs. Breedlove seem so much more comforting to the little white girl than to her own daughter?
- Mrs. Breedlove feels obligated to care for and hold higher the white girl because of her white employer. Her character and her true values show when Pecola burns her hand and her mother does not comfort Pecola at all. Instead, Mrs. Breedlove runs to the little white girl and comforts her when she gets upset and asks why the black girls are there.