Push by Sapphire tells the story of sixteen-year-old Precious Jones who lives in Harlem. She is raped by her father multiple times and is pregnant for the second time with his child. She is an illiterate social outcast, even among her peers, until someone gives her the opportunity to really learn to read and write. The novel gives a first person account of her journey from being the belligerent kid in the back of the class to becoming a young lady with a future.
Add to these questions at the end of EACH section:
(G) Describe Precious. Include both physical and personality traits. Discuss the changes that take place in her character throughout the story and how those changes develop. (We should see this answer develop and change as you read the novel.)
(G) Describe Ms. Rain. Include both physical and personality traits. Discuss the traits that you believe are most important to her influence over Precious. (We should see this answer develop and change as you read the novel.)
(G) How does the relationship between Ms. Rain and Precious develop? Be Specific.
Section One:
(G) What is Precious' state at the beginning of the novel? Give some background about her life/circumstances. (This will be your base to see how much she changes.)
(G) Summarize the first meeting between Precious and Ms. Rain. What are the circumstances? What are Precious' first impressions of her teacher?
(I) Predict how you think their relationship will develop based on this meeting.
(G) Are there any other characters that influence Precious? How?
Section Two:
(G) What are Ms. Rain's expectations for Precious and her other students? How does she help them achieve her expectations and their own goals? Be specific.
(I) How would you respond to Ms. Rain's expectations? Do they seem reasonable to you?
(G) What is most important to Precious? Explain.
Section Three:
(G) Do Ms. Rain and Precious have a relationship outside of class? Does it matter?
(G) What change do we see in Precious? How does Ms. Rain respond? Is it effective?
(I) Choose a quote/paragraph that has been most stirring for you thus far (Sections 1-3). What impression did it leave?
Section Four:
(G) What is the most important event or decision that leads to Precious' growth in the novel? Why? Would this event or decision be different if Ms. Rain had not influenced Precious?
(I) What is your response to the resolution? Is it believable?
Push by Sapphire tells the story of sixteen-year-old Precious Jones who lives in Harlem. She is raped by her father multiple times and is pregnant for the second time with his child. She is an illiterate social outcast, even among her peers, until someone gives her the opportunity to really learn to read and write. The novel gives a first person account of her journey from being the belligerent kid in the back of the class to becoming a young lady with a future.
Instructions
Add to these questions at the end of EACH section:
(G) Describe Precious. Include both physical and personality traits. Discuss the changes that take place in her character throughout the story and how those changes develop. (We should see this answer develop and change as you read the novel.)
(G) Describe Ms. Rain. Include both physical and personality traits. Discuss the traits that you believe are most important to her influence over Precious. (We should see this answer develop and change as you read the novel.)
(G) How does the relationship between Ms. Rain and Precious develop? Be Specific.
Section One:
(G) What is Precious' state at the beginning of the novel? Give some background about her life/circumstances. (This will be your base to see how much she changes.)
(G) Summarize the first meeting between Precious and Ms. Rain. What are the circumstances? What are Precious' first impressions of her teacher?
(I) Predict how you think their relationship will develop based on this meeting.
(G) Are there any other characters that influence Precious? How?
Section Two:
(G) What are Ms. Rain's expectations for Precious and her other students? How does she help them achieve her expectations and their own goals? Be specific.
(I) How would you respond to Ms. Rain's expectations? Do they seem reasonable to you?
(G) What is most important to Precious? Explain.
Section Three:
(G) Do Ms. Rain and Precious have a relationship outside of class? Does it matter?
(G) What change do we see in Precious? How does Ms. Rain respond? Is it effective?
(I) Choose a quote/paragraph that has been most stirring for you thus far (Sections 1-3). What impression did it leave?
Section Four:
(G) What is the most important event or decision that leads to Precious' growth in the novel? Why? Would this event or decision be different if Ms. Rain had not influenced Precious?
(I) What is your response to the resolution? Is it believable?
(I) What will you remember most about this novel?