Jul 10, 2018 the color purple by alice walker is rated 4 stars because it is a moving and beautiful story which feels authentic. The story follows celie over four decades as she struggles to find her identity after suffering abuse from her father, husband and others. The color purple alice walker the march selection is mark twains the adventures of tom. Proceed only if you have read the book andor seen the movie. It was later adapted into a film and musical of the same name. I was thinking about writing about the symbolism of the colors and how character move from gloom and dark colors to bright ones when they find themselves.
Celie starts writing letters to god because her father, alphonso, beats and rapes her. In section 6 of the color purple, what makes celies discovery that. Comment upon shugs tongueincheek reply to the prizefighters observation that the whole affair sounded to him like ole uncle tomming. Winner of the national book award as well as the pulitzer prize, the color purple established alice walker as a major voice in modern fiction. The color purple is one of the most successful and controversial books ever written by a black woman. Purple america by rick moody book club discussion questions.
Great supplemental information for school essays and homework projects. Is alice walker sexist because the men in her story are almost universally mean. Mar 29, 2004 forum s california reading book club continues with a discussion of alice walkers the color purple. If you have not read the color purple or seen the movie this section will contain spoilers. Feel free to participate or not, whatever you prefer. The color purple by alice walker hey everyone, i plan to write a thesis driven paper for my class about something in the color purple. If youd like to join in the discussion, choose a few questions that interest you and answer them. The color purple is truly an amazing book and one i wish i could give double the 5 stars to. For colored girls who have considered not reading anymore because all the books were written by straight white men and youve had enuf. The color purple by alice walker is rated 4 stars because it is a moving and beautiful story which feels authentic. A parchment of leaves by silas house book club discussion. Celie is a poor black woman whose letters tell the story of 20 years of her life, beginning at age 14 when she is being abused and raped by her father and. List the seemingly minor scenes that turn out to be pivotal in the lives of the characters.
The color purple is a series of letters written by celie, the novels protagonist, to god and her sister. Febthe color purple 2016 the color purple discussion. Is their treatment a gender or an ethnic identity issue. In suddenly feeling the need to beat sofia to make her mind, harpo succumbs to the pressures and expectations that go hand in hand with traditional notions of masculinity and the role of the husband.
Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. This comprehensive lesson plan includes 30 daily lessons, 180 multiple choice questions, 20 essay questions, 20 fun activities, and more everything you need to teach the color purple. If youd like to join in the discussion, choose a few questions that interest you and answer them in a post on your blog or in the comment section. Alice walkers the color purple lambeth reading group. A versatile set of questions that work well either as essay titles or as a starting point.
February discussion of the color purple by alice walker for colored girls who have considered not reading anymore because all the books were written by straight white men and youve had enuf for colored girls book club was founded in indianapolis, in in 2018. Alice walkers the color purple weaves an intricate mosaic of women joined by their love for each other, the men who abuse them, and the children they care for in the first few letters, celie tells god that she has been raped by her father and that she is pregnant for the second time with his child. Essay ideas, study questions and discussion topics based on important themes running throughout the color purple by alice walker. Do you feel, after reading this book, that most people hide their true colors in order not to hurt the feelings of other people. How do sofias perceptions of a slave and a captive differ from her sons description in section 5 of the color purple, and why does his response make her happy. Feb 11, 2020 in 2016, early bird books partnered with alice walker to celebrate black history month by reading and discussing the color purple.
Essence banner winner of the pulitzer prize and the national book award bio bestselling novelist alice walker is also the author of three collections of short. It feels like most anything that could be said about the book has already been said and either you will read it or you will not. The word epistolary refers to literary works that written in the form of letters or. The color purple figures prominently throughout the book. Later on, it won the pulitzer prize and is now accepted as a modern classic. Spoiler discussion questions and chatter about the color purple by alice walker stop. Feb 24, 2019 the february selection of the classics book club.
Perhaps join a bookclub thats thinking about reading it soon. Posted on november 1, 2015 october 31, 2015 by abookesia. True colors book club discussion questions arlenes book. Today in schools and churches around the nation, fundraising different things for their club or church to help them either travel or help pay the expenses of things. We present to you our overall thoughts in the following slides. The color purple is considered a classic womanist text. Eventbrite for colored girls book club presents for colored girls book club. Weve got discussion and essay questions designed by master teachers. Please leave them in the comment section as i would love to get a discussion going on this incredible read. In the color purple, why does celie, a victim of longterm abuse, recommend that harpo beat sofia. The color purple questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on the color purple. A list of classic and current book club favorite reads. Spoiler discussion questions and chatter about the color purple by.
When it was written, the color purple stirred up a storm of controversies, and walker was accused of representing the black society in a very harsh light and tarnishing the blackmale image. February discussion of the color purple by alice walker. The color purple by alice walker studying this novel for a level introduced me to the concept of womanism, one that has greatly influenced me as an adult see my post on this here. Last week, iread members held a live discussion of the color purple. The color purple, by alice walker, was first published in the year 1982 and it won the pulitzer prize for literature the following year.
The color purple by alice walker goodreads share book. Ask and answer questions about the novel or view study guides, literature essays and more. Rural georgia of the 30s provides the backdrop of this powerful novel. Is it important that netties exile took place in africa. In 1983, walker became the first african american woman to win a pulitzer prize for fiction with her novel the color purple, which also won the. Book summary alice walkers the color purple weaves an intricate mosaic of women joined by their love for each other, the men who abuse them, and the children they care for. It is about being a woman and a black, living in the frame of male civilization, racist and sexist, being subject to all possible forms of oppression. Please leave them in the comment section as i would love to get a. In 1983, walker became the first african american woman to win a pulitzer prize for fiction with her novel the color purple, which also won the national book award. Should she have placed more emphasis on race rather than gender. What does celies father mean when he says, you gonna do what your mammy wouldnt. What was your perception of this book prior to reading it.
The color purple a reflection not quite a literary critique. The color purple study guide questions assignment 1 entries 121 1. It explores the modern search for wholeness, connection of people in an age of fragmentation and exploitation. Though he was more than 40 years her senior, alice walker was lucky to know hughes toward the end of his life. In 2016, early bird books partnered with alice walker to celebrate black history month by reading and discussing the color purple. The color purple alice walker the march selection is mark twains the adventures of tom sawyer. The color purple alice walker, 1982 houghton mifflin harcourt 300 pp.
Having first seen the film on a flight to vancouver, i knew this would be a good story but i was unnerved by the epistolary approach, the dialect and the first person pov. We are dedicated to amplifying the voices of black and brown female and non. This iconic book has so many themes and so much symbolism that we had one of our best book discussions. Celie, the protagonist and narrator of the color purple, is a poor, uneducated, fourteenyearold black girl living in rural georgia. The author of the book the color purple describes the writing of her book and how it was made into a major motion picture by steven spielberg, her life throughout all this in which she experienced a debilitating illness, the failing health of her mother, betrayal by a companion, much more.
The color purple is an american novel of permanent importance. Whether you belong to a book club or not, this is a great list of book recommendations and books that are fun to discuss. How is the epistolary form used in the color purple by alice walker. The color purple, alice walker the color purple is a 1982 epistolary novel, by american author alice walker, which won the 1983 pulitzer prize, for fiction and the national book award for fiction. Some discussion questions you may or may not want to answer. Spoiler discussion questions and chatter about the color. Led by beth huskins and complemented by alices book the same river twice a chronicle of alices experience with the making and reception of the film the color purple this discussion will explore the storys major themes and messages while keeping the focus on alice herself. In the color purple, in the color purple, nettie and celies daughter and son travel and they start to try and raise money for their missionary jobs in africa. It was an international bestseller, won both the american book award and the pulitzer prize, and in 1985 was made into a muchdiscussed movie directed by steven spielberg. Forum s california reading book club continues with a discussion of alice walkers the color purple. How does rick moody use the different shades of purple e. However, by asserting their objections and independence, the women in the color purple break this cycle of patriarchy. For colored girls book club was founded in indianapolis, in in 2018. Are the men in the color purple shown mainly in a negative light.
Examine the effect of two arranged marriages celies to albert, and alberts to annie julia and the consequences of each of them. The color purple brims with these intricate turns of plot. The color purple discussion questions death by tsundoku. The color purple tuesday, february 25, 2020 at harrison center, indianapolis, in.
Oct 04, 2018 the color purple by alice walker studying this novel for a level introduced me to the concept of womanism, one that has greatly influenced me as an adult see my post on this here. Were a buddingaspiring book club focused on steampunk works and victorianedwardian science fiction, reading one book every two months. Alice walker announced the impromptu online book club on february 1, which also happens to be langston hughess birthday. The color purple by alice walker reading guidebook club. The book and this book club have opened up my world. The color purple is a 1982 epistolary novel by american author alice walker which won the 1983 pulitzer prize for fiction and the national book award for fiction. Examine the effect of two arranged marriages celies to albert, and alberts to. The color purple a reflection not quite a literary. In suddenly feeling the need to beat sofia to make her mind, harpo succumbs to the pressures and expectations that go hand in hand with traditional notions of.
Explain the relationship between the color of purple and the feeling of beauty. As we read it over the next four weeks ill be updating this page and our instagram page to have a discussion on how were finding the novel. The color purple official trailer 1985 oprah winfrey, steven spielberg movie hd the life and trials of a young african american woman. My book club find out about the color purple by alice walker. Welcome to the discussion portion of the color purple readalong.
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