Name:___________________________ Date:___________________Advanced English, Nayiri and Nicole The Bluest Eye, Historical and Author Background

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Historical and Author Background

Aim: How does the historical and author’s background of The Bluest Eye impact the characters, events, and themes in the book? How can we determine importance and make predictions using a KWL chart?

Link : 1) Name a book or a movie that was influenced by its historical context. How did the

history impact the characters, events, and themes in the book or movie? (For example, The Diary

of Anne Frank was influenced by the holocaust)

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2) There are several publications of the book, The Bluest Eye, over the years. Turn the page of this hand-out and take a look at 3 of the following covers of the book. Write down three things you see in each picture in the chart below. Then, make an inference about the characters, events, or themes (main message) in the book

Images(list three images/words you see in each picture)

Inference (what does this say about the characters, events or themes in the book?)

Picture 1: Picture 1:

Picture 2: Picture 2:

Picture 3: Picture 3: Why does the latest publication have no image?

How have the pictures changed over time? Which one do you like the best? Why?

Name:___________________________ Date:___________________Advanced English, Nayiri and Nicole The Bluest Eye, Historical and Author BackgroundPicture 1:

Name:___________________________ Date:___________________Advanced English, Nayiri and Nicole The Bluest Eye, Historical and Author Background

Picture 2:

Name:___________________________ Date:___________________Advanced English, Nayiri and Nicole The Bluest Eye, Historical and Author Background

Picture 3:

Name:___________________________ Date:___________________Advanced English, Nayiri and Nicole The Bluest Eye, Historical and Author Background

Power Point Presentation on Historical and Author Background

Directions: With a partner, please fill in the first two sections of the KWL Chart (Know and Want to Know) As each slide is presented, please write down at least 3 important facts in the Learned section. Then, make a prediction about the characters, themes, or events of the book based on this event. We will do the first two together.

KnowWhat do you already know? At least 3 facts

Want to KnowWhat do you want to know? At least 2 questions

LearnedWhat have you learned? At least 3 facts

PredictionHow will this impact the characters, events, or themes of the book?

The The Bluest Eye (setting of story: 1941; published: 1970)

Do you think you will like this book? Why/why not?

Toni Morrison (Born 1931)

Name:___________________________ Date:___________________Advanced English, Nayiri and Nicole The Bluest Eye, Historical and Author Background

KnowWhat do you already know? At least 3 facts

Want to KnowWhat do you want to know? At least 2 questions

LearnedWhat have you learned? At least 3 facts

PredictionHow will this impact the characters, events, or themes of the book?

Thet The Great Depression (1929- late 1930s)

Racial Segregation (1896-1970)

Name:___________________________ Date:___________________Advanced English, Nayiri and Nicole The Bluest Eye, Historical and Author Background

KnowWhat do you already know? At least 3 facts

Want to KnowWhat do you want to know? At least 2 questions

LearnedWhat have you learned? At least 3 facts

PredictionHow will this impact the characters, events, or themes of the book?

World War II(1939-1945)

Civil Rights/Black is Beautiful Movement(1960s-1970s)

Name:___________________________ Date:___________________Advanced English, Nayiri and Nicole The Bluest Eye, Historical and Author Background

Exit Ticket: 1) What was going on in 1970 that inspired Morrison to write this book about events that happened in the past (1941)? ________________________________________________________________________

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2) Why did she choose the setting to be Cleveland, Ohio, 1941? Why didn’t she have the

setting take place after WWII was over?

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3) What message do you think she wanted to send with this book?

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