Jacqueline's grandfather smokes a lot of cigarettes. This shows the potential of regaining control over fraught aspects of life in order to derive joy from contradictions. Brown Girl Dreaming study guide contains a biography of Jacqueline Woodson, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Jacqueline clearly carries memories of being treated badly at stores in the South because she shares these experiences with her friend Maria later in the book. "I believe in one day and someday and this perfect moment called Now .". Our feet are beginning to belong in two different worlds Greenville and New York. Early Sunday morning, grandmother is ironing the children's Sunday clothes when Daddy (their grandfather) comes in, coughing violently. Jacqueline says that the children "don't know to be sad" (79) the first time their mother goes to New York because they are beneath a blanket of their grandparents' love. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. 2023. This quote refers to the smell of Jacqueline's grandmother and grandfather's house in South Carolina, where she lived as a young child and then spent the summers after moving to New York. These bookmarks include perspective questions, comprehension questions, vocabulary, timelines, anticipating questions and an important quote section where students have to collect and analysis quotes from the novel. Jacqueline again confronts her vexed relationship with religion when she contemplates Gunnars lifestyle and illness, as well as his apparent condemnation by the church. Its hard not to see the moment my grandmother in her Sunday clothes, a hat with a flower pinned to it neatly on her head, her patent-leather purse, perfectly clasped between her gloved handswaiting quietly long past her turn. "Jacqueline Woodson, one of today's finest writers, tells the moving story of her childhood in mesmerizing verse. You have to insist. Instead of combining the African-American students with white students at a nearby high school, they have to crowd into the Black lower school. Brown Girl Dreaming By Catherine Woodson Quotes. Share. Jackie Woodson is an obedient child who follows the expectations of her mother and grandmother. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Woodsons connection between Gunnars gardening and the legacy of slavery tempers the positive associations Jacqueline has with dirt. Im not ashamedcleaning is what I know. Mother leaves for a long weekend visit to New York City. 1 / 12. We are not thieves or shameful / or something to be hidden away / we're just people. Says, We dont have a father anymore. Always take the time. Teachers and parents! This statement conveys her belief that what she is sharing is real to her and that her intention is not to lie, but rather to expand her world beyond the walls in which she lives. Again, the discussions that Jacqueline recalls from her early childhood are primarily conversations about words and names, reflecting Jacquelines interest in language. To participate in the peaceful protests at restaurants and other locations, young people go through trainings about what to do when people curse, throw things, or try to move you. She is born in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement, where all across the South, people are pushing . Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. If someone had taken that book out of my hand said, Youre too old for this maybe Id never have believed that someone who looked like me could be in the pages of the book that someone who looked like me had a story. This statement conveys both her struggles with words and desire to understand and use them. This quote encapsulates Woodson's tone throughout the book. This poem suggests the complicated relationship between race and language use. The familys pull between the North and South causes Hope pain and discomfort. He doesn't believe in the same God as grandmother; specifically, he refuses to accept a God who would make him fearful to drink, smoke, or live his life the way he wants to. In mother's high school yearbook, the children find pictures of mother, Dorothy, and Jesse Jackson, who would later run for president. Section 4. Words come slow to me on the page until I memorize them, reading the same books over and over, copying lyrics to songs from records and TV commercials, the words settling into my brain, into my memory. "I believe in one day and someday and this perfect moment called Now." - Jacqueline Woodson, Brown Girl Dreaming 2. During their outing to get ice cream, Gunnars explanation of the Civil Rights Movement allows the reader to see Jacquelines increasing racial awareness. After their move to South Carolina, Jacqueline notes that people start to refer to her, Odella, and Hope in relation to their grandparents (saying, for example, they are " Georgiana 's babies"). The pictures Mama brings offer the children an idealized version of the city. Jacqueline Woodson, Brown Girl Dreaming. Examples of Personification in Brown Girl Dreaming. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. The word too painful a memory for my mother of not-so-long-ago southern subservient days The list of what not to say goes on and on You are from the North, our mother says. This quote shows how much social stigma can come with certain accents or vernaculars. Summary. When Mama tells them they have a new home in New York, Jacqueline wants to reply that Greenville is their homethis shows Jacquelines deep ties to Greenville. They walk home quietly and contentedly, eating their ice cream before it melts. These stories appeal to Jacqueline, but later, once she moves to New York, they turn out to be false. This quote communicates the confusion and fear that accompanied being thrust into her grandmother's religious routine at such a young age. Course Hero. Jacqueline has a great sense of smell, and her childhood observations about the smells of places work as vivid reminders of those moments. The garden, despite its earlier associations with the history of slavery, is a source of happiness and abundance for the family. This title ties rivers and stories together by comparing the ways they flow from place to place and person to person. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Many people begin leaving Greenville to make a life in the city, believing African Americans can do better there. 1731 Words; 7 Pages; Open Document. So that Jacqueline, her siblings, and her mother can be fed, Jacqueline's grandmother takes on daywork cleaning houses two days a week on top of teaching part-time. Says, Sometimes, thats the way things happen. It began when slavery was ended thanks to the Emancipation Proclamation, alluded to by the author's word choice in this poem, and continued for decades because the abolition of slavery did not end the mistreatment of African Americans. Woodson seems to be suggesting that religion without genuine religious feeling lacks real significance, and that forcing religion upon people is ineffective. In the late autumn, Jacqueline's mother leaves for New York City again. Downtown Greenville has been desegregated, but the lettering of whites only signs is still visible. It is also important that Jacqueline refers to South Carolina as home in this poem. She connects his hobby with the fact that his ancestors worked picking cotton, even after slavery had ended. Age and growing up are major themes in Brown Girl Dreaming, and this poem holds a key to understanding Woodson's views on aging. Again, being a Jehovahs Witness seems like a burden to Jacqueline rather than a benefit. Although penned by Jackie, this statement is meant to refer to the feelings her mother, Mary Ann Woodson has regarding her return to Nicholetown, South Carolina. Grandmother reminds the children not to play too aggressively with the boy from down the street who has a hole in his heart. The title of this poem, sometimes, no words are needed, suggests that Jacqueline is experimenting not only with effusive narration, but also with the power of silence. Instant PDF downloads. The passing of Gunnar (Daddy) Irby has left a hole in the lives of everyone who loved him. This Study Guide consists of approximately 46 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Brown Girl Dreaming. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. "Brown Girl Dreaming Study Guide." Georgianas belief that everyone dreams of living in a free, equal country connects racial justice with the very foundations of American political thought, showing how the same ideals white Americans valorize are incompatible with a racially segregated society. Women's History Month: Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson In a series of autobiographical poems, Jacqueline Woodson vividly brings her childhood and adolescence to life. Jacqueline vascillates between embracing and rebelling against religious narratives. I keep writing, knowing now / that I was a long time coming. Brown Girl Dreaming Quotes Showing 1-30 of 94 "Even the silence has a story to tell you. Jacqueline believes he thinks of the South as "his mortal enemyhis Kryptonite" (65). We are not thieves or shameful or something to be hidden away. And now coming back home / isn't really coming back home/ at all. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Roman gets quiet and looks at Dell trustingly. Jacqueline, feeling that her role in the family is threatened, resents Roman and pinches him. Grandmother suddenly switches from talking about living in an integrated, equal country to a story about Jacqueline's mother. Fearing the South. Jacqueline explores how, by providing herself with narratives that comfort her, she can soothe the sense of displacement she often feels. His unhappiness in the South is reflected in his increasingly reserved personality. These poems in particular tie together moments in which Jacqueline feels like she lacks a home in any particular place (first when she is in South Carolina but knows she will have to leave, then when she is in New York City but misses the South). Dont ever maam anyone! Stories are also a major theme in the story, especially beginning in Part II when Jacqueline starts to tell lies, or made up stories. Part II of Brown Girl Dreaming is titled "the stories of south carolina run like rivers" (43). Essentially, Woodson shows religion to be a force that Jacqueline confronts, rather than embraces. Maybe no one does. A girl named Cora and her sisters live down the road, but Jacqueline's grandmother won't let them play together because the mother of Cora left their family and ran off with the church pastor. Her ancestors were slaves from South Carolina, though she herself is born in the North long after the Civil War. Making up what I didnt understand or missed when voices dropped too low, I talk until my sister and brothers soft breaths tell me theyve fallen asleep. By protesting, Miss Bell risks losing her job, and Woodson makes clear the bravery and cleverness of Miss Bells solution to this predicament when she discusses Miss Bells secret meetings at her house. https://www.gradesaver.com/brown-girl-dreaming/study-guide/summary. Jacqueline Woodson, Part 2, Section 1. She refers to these figuresMalcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., James Baldwin, Rosa Parks, and Ruby Bridgesby first name to indicate a certain love and familiarity she holds for them. Weeks continue to pass, with grandmother doing the girls' hair like usual. . Jacqueline makes use of her highly active imagination and penchant for storytelling, as she often misses parts of the conversation and makes them up later. The observation that the fabric store is a place where they can be just people shows also how racist spaces effectively deny the humanity of African-Americans. She is comforted by his presence and knows that no words are needed. His own grandfather had been a slave, and though he was born a free man, he still believes in the cycle of planting and waiting for the earth to "give[] back to you all that you've asked of it" (48). When Jacqueline steps on a mushroom, Cora and her sisters say that the Devil is going to come for her. Jacqueline's mother is not strongly religious, but when she leaves the three children with her parents and begins to spend long stretches in New York City, Hope, Odella, and Jacqueline are forced to become Jehovah's Witnesses. Odella, meanwhile, begins to become a foil to Jacqueline (meaning her character contrasts emphatically with Jacquelines)Woodson shows Odella reading (a fixation on written language), while Jacqueline becomes more and more fascinated with storytelling (spoken language). It is significant that some of Jacquelines first excitement over storytelling is linked to religion, as religion becomes an important theme in the memoir. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Deep in winter, Jacqueline sits under a blanket with her head against grandfather's arm. It also demonstrates again how the legacy of slavery still affects the present. Course Hero. Part II: the stories of south carolina run like rivers, Part III: followed the sky's mirrored constellation to freedom, Read the Study Guide for Brown Girl Dreaming, View the lesson plan for Brown Girl Dreaming. Its hard to understand the way my brain works so different from everybody around me. Mama takes note of the different sensations of the North and the South when she says to Jacqueline that the air seems different. From the very title, the theme of race permeates Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming, intersecting with many other themes such as gender, age, family, and history. The River Jordan, which is a long river in the modern day Middle East, carries significance from many important stories in the Old Testament and New Testament. There is a boy with a hole in his heart who the three children spend time with; they tell him stories about New York City and Ohio, and they don't ask about the hole in his heart because their grandmother tells them not to. Jacqueline not only considers how people refer to her in relation to her grandparents, but also the specific sound these names and the speed at which they are said. Woodson shows Jacquelines rich imagination as she pictures all the events of the story in her mind. The children always look around in amazement at the different candies in the candy lady's living room, but after their grandfather announces that he will get ice cream, they always want that as well. She recalls that her grandmother told the children to "Let the Biblebecome your sword and your shield" (112), and she critically notes in her mind that, "we do not know yet/ who we are fighting/ and what we are fighting for" (113). As she learns to write a j, the first letter of her name, Jacquelines excitement shows her intense desire to express herself through language. Nope, my sister says, all of five years old now. She sits in the back of the bus with her purse in her lap, looking out the window at darkness and feeling hope. After the children have gone to bed, their mother leaves for New York once again. Although Jacqueline feels quite at home in South Carolina, Hope longs for the North, where he spent his early childhood, and for his father. Crossing the Jordan River into Paradise or the Promised Land is specifically referenced in the book of Joshua. This statement occurs after Jackie and her family watch her brother Hope sing during a school performance. Will there always be a bus? When I ask Maria where Diana is she says, Theyre coming later. The Question and Answer section for Brown Girl Dreaming is a great Again, religion features in this poem as a negative aspect of Jacquelines life, one that prevents her from enjoying the outdoors. This poem serves mostly to forward the plot, as Mama leaves the children with their grandparents to explore the possibility of a life in New York City. Jacqueline calls all of these children their "almost friends" (67), but her grandmother tells Jacqueline and her siblings that they should just play with one another. Gunnars parents decision to give him a name that no master could ever take away reflects the fact that slave owners gave slaves their own last names as a sign of ownership. The story is about settling in to a new home and having faith in God, which carries resonance in Jacqueline's story as it applies to African Americans having faith that moving to urban areas will lead to a better life. Gunnar takes the three children to the candy lady's house on Fridays. Jacqueline notices that when she and her family are in stores downtown, people follow them because they're African American. Dont you know people get arrested for this? Please check out the short summary below that should cover some of your points. Woodson describes the ideas that people in Greenville have about New York, and this confirms Jacquelines sense that economic prosperity is practically inevitable there. She says that she's coming to take them to New York. Hope sits by himself, not wanting to associate with girls. It sits beside us for a while. 4. On paper, a butterfly never dies." Jacqueline Woodson, Brown Girl Dreaming tags: butterflies , butterfly , death , writing 151 likes Like character, In a parallel moment later in the book, Jacqueline and Maria chant "We are not afraid to diefor what we believe in" (303), and Jacqueline notes "But both of us knowwe'd rather keep believing/ and live" (303). Baila! He stays in bed all day and Jacqueline takes care of him. Jacqueline struggles with the idea of her role in the family changing, which challenges her identity as the youngest child. Gunnars singing enraptures Jacqueline, and makes her imagine her aunt listening along. However, in the fabric store, grandmother feels they are treated equally, even though it is run by a white woman. Jackie Woodson. Again, Woodson shows Jacquelines attention to sounds and music, and how sounds help to trigger Jacquelines imagination. This reflects the fact that the legal change has not yet been accompanied by a social one, and the ghost of segregation still haunts the town. They call him Daddy because it is what their mother calls him, and he calls them his children. Jacquelines fixation on stories and storytelling is clear again in this poem. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Down the road, three brothers live in a house that is dark all day; they only come out late at night when their mother comes home from work. And all the worlds you are Ohio and Greenville Woodson and Irby Gunnars child and Jacks daughter Jehovahs Witness and nonbeliever listener and writer Jackie and Jacqueline gather into one world called You where You decide what each world and each story and each ending will finally be. Theyre just words, I whisper. In this poem, it seems to structure her life practically rather than morally. At night, Hope, Dell, and Jacqueline listen to their grandmother talking to whatever neighbor comes by. It is interesting that Georgiana, who is the most religious character in the book, does not feel drawn to leave the rural South while her children, who are not very religious, have the blind faith referenced in this poem. Their grandmother no longer chides them to not spend time with the girls. 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