Notes 3/30

1) At the end of Chapter 12, Vivian offers to Grant an explanation of his not "running away." Is her explanation just? What does her explanation reveal about her and about her understanding of Grant and of his situation?

Vivian as a grounding or reality check for Grant.

2)Despite his agnostic (a questioning of the existence of God) beliefs, what ‘conversion’ process does he undergo as he visits Jefferson?

“From Grant's initial point of view, one of the "flawed" aspects of his history is the dependence of African-American society on Christianity. Grant's conflict between religion and secular humanism, reaching back to his adolescent rejection of the church, repeats a familiar situation in Gaines's work, but in this novel there is more understanding of the function of Christianity within social community and a warning concerning the social, if not spiritual, consequences of its repression” (http://alessonbeforedyingalfonzo.weebly.com/literary-criticism.html).

“The conflict between Grant and Rev. Ambrose is symbolized by the radio that Grant brings Jefferson. Characterized as a "sin box" by Rev. Ambrose, the radio is viewed as merely "company" by Grant. At first Jefferson plays the "sin box" loudly enough to distract his mind from what Rev. Ambrose and Miss Emma are trying to do for him, but finally the radio, while still playing the night before his execution, is muted. As Grant increasingly reconciles with Rev. Ambrose, and as Grant's new influence is felt by Jefferson, the radio continues to play but ceases to be a distraction” (http://alessonbeforedyingalfonzo.weebly.com/literary-criticism.html).

3)What does Rev. Ambrose mean when he tells Grant that he is the educated one and Grant is the “gump”?

What is the relationship of educated vs religious? Enlightened vs educated?

4) In Chapter 19 why does Grant become depressed? What does he think about during the Christmas program about the town?

5) How could Jefferson be a “Christ” like figure in this story?

What does it mean to be a “Christ” like figure?

A Christ figure, also known as a Christ-Image is a literary technique that the author uses to draw allusions between their characters and the biblical Jesus. More loosely, the Christ Figure is a spiritual or prophetic character who parallels Jesus, or other spiritual or prophetic figures.

http://www.laguardia.edu/lesson/students.html

“Developing his metaphor of education, Gaines employs the idea of the "teacher who must learn." Grant Wiggins, the central consciousness in A Lesson Before Dying, is an elementary school teacher in the fictional Bayonne, Louisiana.”