1. Describe the environment in the
short story with special focus on the relationship between the community and
the police in Harlem. Use specific examples.
You get the feeling that
the community is familiar with unexpected visits from the police. And you get
the impression that these visits are a bit ordinary.
“Now, I wasn’t a fool, and
I knew when the police come tearing like that they’re looking for somebody. I
did like everybody else leaning on that rail did, said a quick prayer and put
on my innocent face.”
It also seems like
everyone knows what to answer when the police start asking them questions. I
guess it shows us that there is relatively much crime in Harlem.
Also the police are not
friendly like they would be with normal civil but very aggressive. The lady in
the café do not want to leave with the police officer unless she has a black
man by her side.
2.
Comment on the language in the
short story. How is it told and by whom? What characterizes the tone of voice
and word usage of the narrator? Use specific examples.
The story is told from the
main characters point of view and it is told in present most of the time.
There is also a big use of
directly talk. The narrator uses a lot of descriptions and he asks himself
questions during the actions. “Now, what did he say that out for?”
3.
Select three quotes from the
text that you believe are central to the story in terms of plot and/or themes.
Explain the quotes – what do they mean? Is there any hidden meaning to them?
“The cop looked over at us
and didn’t say nothing. I bet if he had his way he would have us sitting out
there in that police car.”
– The police do not trust
or like the citizens in Harlem and the citizens knows that
“One thing about 145th
street. Half the guys on the block don’t have jobs and so there are always on
the stoops or just standing around with nothing to do.”
-
There is a big unemployment in
the community
“She snatched
away from him and she said she wasn’t going anywhere with them unless she had a
black man with her.”
- The citizens
do not trust the white policemen.
"it also seems like everyone knows what to answer when the police start asking them questions. I guess it shows us that there is relatively much crime in Harlem."
SvarSletVery accurate description of a criminal neighborhood like the one described in the text. When the police are around that often, everyone has to have a innocent answer to get out of trouble.
"Also the police are not friendly like they would be with normal civil but very aggressive. " Excactly, because there are problems so often, the police does not have that much faith in community, and maybe they jump to conclusions.
"The narrator uses a lot of descriptions and he asks himself questions during the actions. “Now, what did he say that out for?”" Very good with an example
“One thing about 145th street. Half the guys on the block don’t have jobs and so there are always on the stoops or just standing around with nothing to do.”
- There is a big unemployment in the community "
Very precise quote, that describes the feeling in the city. Important notice