Flowers of Freedom: Voice, Defiance, and Coming of Age in Purple Hibiscus

Lesson 15
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ELA

Unit 2

10th Grade

Lesson 15 of 24

Objective


Analyze how Adichie uses characterization, symbolism, and structure to develop themes.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie  pp. 182 – 205 — "Speaking With Our Spirits: Before Palm Sunday"

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Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

Explain how Adichie further develops a theme about tyranny and/or defiance both inside and outside the Achike household.

Sample Response

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Key Thinking


Close Read Questions

Trace how Amaka, Kambili, Aunty Ifeoma, Jaja, and Papa react to Papa-Nnukwu's death. In what ways do their reactions differ? What do you think is Adichie's purpose in depicting these contrasting reactions?

What does the anecdote Papa tells Kambili about the priest who poured boiling water on his hands reveal about his past? What does it reveal about his violence toward his family? 

How does Adichie develop the motifs of silence and speech through Big Oga's attempted bribe and Ade Coker's story in the Standard?

What is the symbolism behind the items that Kambili and Jaja bring home from Aunty's house? For Kambili, think about the painting Amaka gave her, and for Jaja, think about the purple hibiscus stalks. 

Vocabulary


Literary Terms

parallel plots

a story structure in which the writer includes two or more separate narratives linked by a common character, event, or theme

Homework


  • Book: Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie  pp. 206 – 229

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • What happened to Ade Coker?

  • How does Papa react when he discovers the painting of Papa-Nnukwu? What does Kambili do?

  • What does Kambili wish she could do to Mama in the hospital? Why do you think she wishes to do that?

  • What does Aunty Ifeoma tell Mama she should do?

  • What does Kambili say when Amaka asks if Uncle Eugene was the one who hurt her?

  • Why might Aunty Ifeoma be fired by the university?

  • Why do Aunty Ifeoma's kids "scale the rod" (226) according to Kambili? How is this different from Kambili and Jaja?

  • Why does Aunty Phillipia urge Aunty Ifeoma to immigrate to America with the kids?

  • What do the student rioters protest?

Notes for Teachers

The homework reading includes descriptions of physical abuse that result in hospitalization. Be mindful of how this content might impact students.

Annotation Focus

Note moments in the reading where you see descriptions of rain. Quote these moments with page numbers in your motif tracker in the row "Rain." Students are not required to write about the motif's significance yet, though they may add to that column if they have initial ideas.

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Standards


  • RL.9-10.2 — Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
  • RL.9-10.3 — Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.
  • RL.9-10.5 — Analyze how an author's choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.

Supporting Standards

L.9-10.1
L.9-10.6
RL.9-10.1
RL.9-10.4
RL.9-10.6
SL.9-10.1
SL.9-10.6
W.9-10.9
W.9-10.10

Next

Analyze how Adichie develops parallels between political and domestic events.

Lesson 16
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