Feminism and Self-Respect in Sula

Lesson 12
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ELA

Unit 8

10th Grade

Lesson 12 of 21

Objective


Analyze how Morrison portrays Eva, Plum, and Hannah and their complex relationships as mother and children. 

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Sula by Toni Morrison  — Part 1: pp. 34-35, 45-48, 67-70

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

How does Morrison portray Eva, Plum, and Hannah and their complex relationship as mother and children?

Sample Response

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Key Thinking


Annotation Focus

What lines, words, and phrases reveal Eva’s character?

What lines, words, and phrases reveal Eva’s complex relationship with her children?

Scaffolding Questions

Pages 33-35

  • How does Eva support her family financially? What does this suggest about the kind of mother and woman she is? 
  • What details are used to describe Plum’s condition? What does Eva do to mitigate Plum’s condition? What does this suggest about the kind of mother and woman she is? 

Pages 45-47

  • How does Morrison describe Plum? What does this suggest about his current condition and the effect that war had on him? 
  • How does Morrison describe Plum when Eva goes into his room? What does this suggest about his current mental state? 
  • How does Eva respond to his mental state during the moment? What does she ultimately decide to do? Why does she make this decision?

Pages 67-70

  • How does Hannah define love and how does her definition contribute to her perspective about her mom’s ability to show love? 
  • How does Eva define love and how does her definition contribute to how she responds to Hannah’s question about love? 
  • Eva says, “what you talkin’ ‘bout did I love you girl I stayed alive for you can’t you get that through your thick head or what is that between your ears, heifer?” What does she mean when she says this? How does this quote reflect her tone during the moment? 
  • Hannah questions Eva, “But what about Plum? What’d you kill Plum for, Mamma?” What does this quote suggest about Hannah’s understanding of love? About Morrison’s message about love? 

Discourse Questions

How does Morrison portray Eva, Plum, and Hannah and their complex relationship as mother and children?

To what extent is killing Plum and cutting off her leg acts of love for Eva? 

Homework


Read and annotate Part 2 of Sula, pages 88-174.

  • Annotation Focus
    • How does Sula and Nel’s relationship evolve? 
    • What are your first impressions of Sula’s relationship with the community of the Bottom? 

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Standards


  • LO 1.3B — Analyze how the writer's use of stylistic elements contributes to a work of literature's effects and meaning.
  • RI.9-10.3 — Analyze how the author unfolds an analysis or series of ideas or events, including the order in which the points are made, how they are introduced and developed, and the connections that are drawn between them.

Supporting Standards

LO 1.3A
LO 2.3A
LO 2.3B
LO 2.3C
RL.9-10.1
RL.9-10.2
SL.9-10.1
W.9-10.2

Next

Analyze how Morrison portrays Sula and Nel and their complex relationship as friends.

Lesson 13
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