A Lesson Before Dying Major Works Data Sheet free essay sample

Given the title, A Lesson Before Dying, we can infer and predict that a character in the book will die. Also, we can predict that before they die, they will learn something, probably a valuable lesson Biographical Information about the author: Ernest J. Gaines was born in Oscar, Louisiana in 1933. He was born and raised on a plantation. He had six brothers and sisters and they were taken care of by his great aunt, Augusteen Jefferson. Him and his siblings were sent to labor alongside their elders in the fields. He served in the U. S. Army, but then pursued writing. Some other books that he’s written include A long Day in November, Of Love and Dust, Cathering Carmier, Bloodline, In My Father’s House, and The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. He lives now at a house that he and his wife built on land that was once part of River Lake Plantation, where he spent his childhood, and where his ancestors labored for generations. Helpful background information or information about the period of publication: Ernest J. Gaines was born in Oscar, Louisiana, so this can explain the setting of the story. The struggle would be similar in both places. Lots of things in A Lesson Before Dying reflect his own life. Gaines wasa born on a plantation (where he lived in slave cabins of former slaves), went to school in a one-room church (much like the one Grant taught at), his mother and step-father moved from the south, and the strongest adult influence was his great aunt (like Tante Lou). Plot: Exposition: We are introduced to narrator, Grant Wiggins. He is a teacher at a church that was converted into a school. The story is located outside of Bayonne, Louisiana and the characters sometimes travel to Bayonne. It is still extremely racist and even though the blacks here have some rights, there are treated unjustly. A young black man, Jefferson, is at the wrong place at the wrong time and he gets caught up in a bad situation. Rising Action: Jefferson was unjustly convicted of murder because he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Jefferson caught a ride with two men, Brother and Bear, and they drove to the White Rabbit Bar where Brother and Bear tried to force Alcee Grope, the owner, to give them drinks, but he does not agree and it turned into a brutal shootout. The owner, Brother, and Bear all die leaving Jefferson alone. He is confused and scared of what just happened and takes some liquor to calm himself. He ends up making another bad decision and takes money out of the open cash register. As he’s about to leave, two white men walk in. He is taken to jail, goes to jury, assumed guilty, and sentenced to death. During the trial he is called a hog. Tante Lou, Miss Emma, and Grant go to Henri Pichot’s plantation and ask him if Grant would be allowed to go and speak to Jefferson. Miss Emma tries to persuade Henri because she had been a faithful worker in his household for many years, but Henri only says that he will talk to his brother-in-law, who is the sheriff of the Bayonne Jail. After this Grant goes to eat in Bayonne and his girlfriend, Vivian, shows up and they talk about the subject of Jefferson and what they want Grant to do for Jefferson. Grant becomes aware of the problem and worried that he might not be able to do what everyone wants him to, which is teach and mentor Jefferson so that he may die like a man. Grant then goes back to the plantation to work and teach the black students that live there on the plantation. He tells them about Jefferson’s situation and issue. He is summoned to Henri Pichot and Henri tells him that he may do the job, but if there is any trouble, then they will stop the visits. Him and the other fellows there (Sheriff Guidry, Louis Rougon, A heavy man) don’t think that he will be able to do anything for Jefferson. Later on, the superintendent comes to visit Grant’s school and make sure everything is going smoothly. Grant is very strict towards his students. Grant then thinks about his teacher when he was a child, Matthew Antoine, describes him to us, tells about his influence, and what they talked about. Next, Grant goes with Miss Emma to visit Jefferson in his cell, but when they talk to him, he doesn’t acknowledge that they are their and is difficult to them. During Grant’s next visit, Jefferson acts like a hog and is infatuated with the idea that he is one. Grant wants to leave town with Vivian, but there are several things holding them back. Grant and Vivian discuss the names of their future children and talk to Miss Emma and Tante Lou. The visits to the jail continue and there isn’t much progress with Jefferson. Jefferson doesn’t want to eat or talk. Grant goes to Mr. Pichot’s house and Jefferson’s execution date is set on a Friday. Another visit, Jefferson tells Grant that he wants a gallon of ice cream for dinner his last night. Grant gets him a radio to keep him company, but Reverend Ambrose, Tante Lou, and Miss Emma thing the radio is a bad thing for him. Grant also gets Jefferson a notebook and pencil so he can right down his feelings or what he’s thinking about. You start to see Grant and Jefferson start to bond and Grant leaves happy with what is happening. The next time he goes to see Jefferson, Miss Emma goes. Climax/Turning Point: Grant gives Jefferson a compassionate and heartfelt lecture/speech which causes Jefferson to start crying and it leads Grant to cry as well. Falling Action: After this, Grant goes to The Rainbow. He overhears two men talking bad about Jefferson and this gets Grant really mad. He goes over and tells them to stop talking. They get into a fight and Grant eventually gets knocked unconscious by the bartender because he wouldn’t stop fighting. He wakes up at Vivian’s place. They have a deep conversation about their relationship and there is some fighting. Reverend Ambrose talks to Grant about Jefferson needing to have God with him and ends up telling Grant that lying is a major part of life and everyone has to do it to be successful. The next visit to the jail, Grant asks Jefferson how the notebook has been going and they talk about their religious views. The next chapter is what is written in Jefferson’s journal. On the mornign of his execution, Jefferson wakes up (he really didn’t sleep) to see the sunrise and tells Paul to give the Journal to Grant for him to read. Grant has all of his students kneel from twelve to the execution, however long that may be. Resolution: Grant spreads it around that he will not be attending the execution, but but while Paul is shaving Jefferson for the electric chair, he tells them that he will be there. Jefferson gets executed and everyone can hear the electric chair go off. After the execution Paul goes to Grant’s school and gives the journal to him. Paul tells Grant how much he appreciates him and that Jefferson was the strongest person in the room at the execution. Grant walksback inside the schoolhouse and starts to cry. At the end of the story, both Jefferson and Grant learned from eachother and they had both been influenced. Significant Quotes: (Choose at least three for a short story and five for a play, epic, or novel and include page numbers. Quotes should demonstrate the range of the entire work. ) Quote: Significance: page 157: â€Å"I could not get that date and time out of my mind. How do people come up with a date and a time to take life from another man? Who made them God? † This is significant because it shows how controlling and power thirsty humans can be. They are so â€Å"powerful† that they get to decide when it is time for another human being to die. Humans can be so vicious and it is not fair or just for them to decide when a person should die. That decision should be left to God. Page 157: â€Å"Twelve white men say a black man must die, and another white man sets the date and time without consulting one black person. Justice? † This is significant because it reveals the racist community that we used to have and the separation between white’s and black’s. Grant says that it is not fair for there not to be any black representation to help make decisions because they aren’t representing the whole population. Justice is what is right, but that is definitely not. page 174: â€Å"It was the kind of â€Å"here† your mother or your big sister or your great grandmother would have said. It was the kind of â€Å"here† that let you know this was hard-earned money but, also, that you needed it more that she did, and the kind of â€Å"here† that said she wished you had it and didn’t have to borrow it from her, but since you did not have it, and she did, then â€Å"here† it was, with a kind of love. It was the kind of â€Å"here† that asked the question, When will all this end? When will a man not have to struggle to have money to get what he needs â€Å"here†? † Grant is describing the bartender giving him ten dollars for the radio he wanted to buy Jefferson. She says. Here† when she gives it to him and he took this in multiple ways. This shows the bartender’s generosity and how much she wants to help. She gives him the money because it was the right thing to do and because he needed it. Grant wonders when everyone will have enough money to support themselves and help them buy simple things such as a radio. Again, he shows his doubt in society. Also, this shows that there was not a lot of money floating around and people like blacks were not wealthy and were not given the opportunity to be. Money was a valuable thing and it is only worth giving someone you love the money. Page 191: â€Å"Do you know what a hero is, Jefferson? A hero is someone who does something for other people. He does something that other men don’t and can’t do. He is different from other men. He is above other men. No matter who those other men are, the hero, no matter who he is, is above them He would do anything for the people he loves, because he knows it would make their lives better The white people out there are saying that you don’t have it-that you’re a hog, not a man. But I know they are wrong. You have the potentials. We all have, no matter who we are. † This is significant because Grant is explaining to Jefferson how he should be acting towards his family members and friends who come to visit him. He wants Jefferson to be the hero he never had in his life, but Grant does already have heroes. Here in this conversation we see Jefferson and Grant start to bond and be friends. Grant is acting like a friend who’s giving advice, so we see their relationship. Also, this presents the racism in the community again because Grant refers to the â€Å"whites† as an enemy and different side to a social war. Page 255: â€Å"I don’t ever want to forget this day. I don’t ever want to forget him I don’t know what you’re going to say when you go back in there. But tell them he was the bravest man in that room today. I’m a witness. Grant Wiggins. Tell them so. † This shows how courageous Paul is. He knows that Jefferson changed his life and he is not ashamed to say that he will never forget him. We also learn here that Grant succeeded in turning Jefferson form a hog to a man. Paul wants Jefferson to be remembered because of how brave he was. Significant Characters Name Role in the story Significance Adjectives Grant Wiggins The main character and narrarator of the story; protagonist. Grant is the main character and the story is his opinions on life and his help for Jefferson when he is in jail. He is a school-teacher for african american children on a plantation. He is not satisfied with the community he lives in and wants to escape with his girlfriend, Vivian, but several things hold them back. He has no faith in anything or anyone (except for Vivian) and does not believe in God, heaven, or religion as a whole. Tante Lou and Miss Emma volunteer him to assist Jefferson in dying like a man, so the whole story he acts bitter toward them. Towards the end, he learns form Jefferson. doubtful (he changes from this state of mind later on in the story), intelligent Tante Lou Grant’s disabled aunt. Tante Lou is Grants guardian. She is extremely religious and always scolds Jefferson when he does something disrespectful or bad. She took Grant in when he was a child because his parents moved away. She is his motherly figure, but is not always respected. Her life revolves around the church, family, and friends. She tries to force a religion on Grant during the novel. strong/tough, religious, dedicated Jefferson a young black man who is convicted of murder. Jefferson is a bit foolish and gets cuaght and unjustly convicted of crimes. He takes it very personally that his lawyer calls him a hog and this makes it very difficult for Grant to reach him at first. Being in jail makes him bored, but he loved to listen to the radio that Grant gave him. He’s not very educated, but can write a little bit. He was supposed to be going hunting with his friend, but instead gets caught up with the murder scene. He becomes very close to Grant. sensitive, gullible, quiet, discreet (keeps to himself) Miss Emma Jefferson’s godmother; his â€Å"nannan†. Miss Emma loves Jefferson very much and never gives up hope that he will die like a man. She makes food for Jefferson and tries to always talk to him, but sometimes gets rejected and this hurts her feelings. She gets depressed that Jefferson won’t talk to her in the beginning. She is very religious and gets Grant to do things by making him feel bad and saying he doesnt have to to Tante Lou. Miss Emma is overweight and she walks slow. She doesn’t want Jefferson to die like a hog. compassionate, faithful Reverend Ambrose The reverend for the black’s in their community. Reverend Ambrose is a religious leader in the community and is not fond of Grant at all and is against him the whole story. He tries to force religion on Grant even though he does not want to believe. He wants Jefferson’s soul to be clean before he dies and does not like Grant’s tactics in helping him. He thinks Grant is a foolish young boy that is not smart in a way other than education. He believes that everyone lies to protect those they love and that is is a part of life. Hypocritical (he is a reverend and a leader in the church, but he lies), emotional, frustrated Vivian Grant’s girlfriend. Vivian is Grant’s escape during the novel and talks to him about everything. She is trying to divorce her husband and has two children. Grant and her’s relationship could jeoperdize the custody of her children. She is also a teacher and is always giving advice to Grant, who she loves. She is afraid of not being liked by Tante Lou, Miss Emma, etc and wants to please them. beautiful, considerate, clever Paul One of the deputy’s at the Bayonne jailhouse. Paul works at the jail where Jefferson is held. He tells Grant in the end that he is a witness that Jefferson was the strongest man in the room when he died. Paul understands the black struggle and is not racist. He is a friend of Jefferson and Grant generous, truthful Sheriff Guidry Head sheriff of the Bayonne prison. Sheriff Guidry is a very racist man even though he holds a pretty high position. He is a very stong enforcer of rules and believes that Grant coming to Jefferson will not do anything and that he should just die like a hog. He feels superior to everyone in town, but is very low because of his attitude and bossiness. Discriminatory, self-indulged Setting: (In the first column, please list and describe at least three examples. In the second comment on the significance of each setting. ) The Jailhouse The jailhouse is where Jefferson is kept for his â€Å"crime†. Grant comes here for his visits and goes to his cell. Sometimes Miss Emma, Tante Lou, or Reverend Ambrose would come with them and they would have meals and try to talk to Jefferson. This is where the transformation of Jefferson from a hog to a man occurs because of Grant. The Rainbow (bar/restaurant) The Rainbow is significant because Grant and Vivian come here a lot to meet up, eat, and discuss issues or ideas. Also, Grant likes to come here to eat and think about what is going on with his life. One time in here he overhears two men talking bad about Jefferson. He picks a fight with them and then the bartender knocks him out. the schoolhouse (was converted into a schoolhouse from a church) This is where Jefferson teaches. It is important because his whole life revolves around this place because it is his job. This is part of the reason that he doesn’t move away from Bayonne. He teaches all of the young black students here. Page 2 Significance of the opening scene: The opening scene is significant because it introduces what the novel is concentrated around (Jefferson’s conviction). This is focused on in the very beginning of the story and we learn how, when, where, why, and who form Grant about Jefferson’s conviction. Also, the novel revolves around Jefferson’s life and troubles, so it is important that this opening scene was included. Significance of the closing scene: The closing scene is significant because it is when Jefferson and Grant get close to each other. We learn more about Jefferson because he starts to talk more and we learn by the time that Jefferson is executed that he died as a man which is what Miss Emma wanted Grant to accomplish in the beginning. We find out the goal was achieved. Also, we learn that not only did Jefferson learn something, but Grant as well was taught something. Significant Literary Elements (These should either be â€Å"focus† terms that Mr. Hodge wants me to notice, or terms that contribute to the themes of the work. Please list, provide an example, and explain the significance of three from a short story and five from a novel, epic, or play. Element/Term: Example with page #: Significance: Idiom page 68: â€Å"I could feel both sets of eyes on the back of my neck. † This is an idiom because you can’t literally feel someone’s eyes on the back of your neck. This is just to say that they were staring your down. This is significant because it introduces how Tante Lou and Miss Emma act towards Grant and how they feel about him. Simile page 31: â€Å"He said it would be like tying a hog down into that chair and executing himan animal that didn’t know what any of it was all about. † This is a simile because he is comparing Jefferson to a hog. It is significant becuase they are caling him a creature that doesnt have any control and is dirty. Jefferson takes this personally and this is what makes him so difficult to talk to in the beginning, but by the end he proves lots of people wrong. Imagery page 252: â€Å"I probably would not have noticed it at all had a butterfly, a yellow butterfly with dark specks like ink dots on its wings, not lit there the way it opened its wings and closed them, the way it opened its wings again, fluttered I watched it fly over the ditch and down into the quarter † This is imagery because he describes the whole butterlfy. He describes what its doing, what its pattern is, what color it is, and how graceful it looks. It crosses Grant’s path, but has no apparent reason to be there. There is no scent or anything else drawing it to that place. Grant believes that it is a sign that the execution is over and the butterfly represents Jefferson’s soul leaving his body and going to a different place. dialect page 54: â€Å"Yazir (yes sir) Want me go stand outside and s’lute flag? † This is dialect because it shows how the southerm, uneducated, young black children talked when they had little education. This boy pronounces words differently and does not have what a complete sentence needs. This is the difference between the way we talked and how boys like this who were born and raised on a plantation. People are truly a product of the people around them and this boy probably learned to speak this way because of them. Rhetorical Question page 31: â€Å"Am I suppposed to tell someone how to die who has never lived? Suppose I was allowed to visit him, and suppose I reached him and realize that he was as much a man as any other man; then what? So what will I have accomplished? Why not let the hog die without knowing anything? † this is a rhetorical question because Grant is talking to Vivian and asking questions, but is not expecting a response. This is where the cynical tone shows through in Grant. He does not believe that helping Jefferson will be worthwhile and is doubtful in the whole process. He does not expect to accomplish anything by doing this. He also makes a reference to Jefferson with the hog. This shows the dynamic character of Grant because of how he treats Jefferson in the end. Themes (Please list one theme for a short story and at least three for a novel, epic, or play. Remember that themes must be complete sentences and must be â€Å"universal†. ) You cannot change what happens in the past, but you can grow from it. Don’t give up on what you believe in. Life is sometimes unfair and may be difficult to go through. Tone (In the first column, identify the tone of the piece. In the second column, justify that choice with an example. ) Tone: Cynical Justification: A Lesson Before Dying is cynical because Grant is always questioning the goodness of the people around him. Cynical means that you are doubtful to whether something will happen or whether it will be worthwhile or not. He distrusts humans sincerity and goodness. Grant is skeptical, doubtful, distrustful, suspicious, and disbelieving of his task and of his racist community which supports the cynical tone. Does the tone ever shift or change? If so, describe the new tone and tell where that shift occurs. Tone Shift: confident/optimistic Shift occurs: At the end of the story when Jefferson dies like a man, not a hog, the tone becomes confident/optimistic. Although it is sad that Jefferson dies, Everyone keeps they’re head held high for him. Grant is proud of Jefferson and is optimistic about change for the racist, segregated community in the future. Essential Question: (In the first space, write down the essential question for the selection. In the following, explain how the story answers the essential question. Be specific. ) Question: How would the story be different if Jefferson went hunting with Gable instead of going to the White Rabbit Bar with Brother and Bear? Response: Jefferson would not have gotten blamed for the three murders and he would not have had the chance to take the money out of the cash register or take some liquor. That day would just have been a day of fun instead of a nightmare. Jefferson’s life depended on this. The story would have been over in two chapters and they would have no one to blame that was still alive for the muders, there would be no execution, but most of all, Grant and all of the others would not have been the chance to change their lives. They would not be nfluenced like they were. Miscellaneous: 1. This book was written in first person (from the point of view of Grant Wiggins) and is written in past tense. 2. dynamic characters: Grant, Jefferson 3. Ernest J. Gaines was born in 1933, but this book was published in 1993, so this book was based on past things. 4. Gaines great aunt in real life has the last name Jefferson, which could have been used for the character Jefferson in this book