Spring Lit Analysis: The Color Purple

GENERAL 

1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read, and explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).

In the novel, a black woman named Celie tells her life story consisting of: rape, abuse, submissiveness, weakness/strength, etc. Since she was a young girl Celie had been sexually abused by her step-father , Pa, whom she believed was her biological father and had two kids. Later she is forced to marry a man who they called Mr.______ (Albert) by the stepfather because he didn't want Nettie, his youngest daughter, to marry him. He was an abusive man who while with her cheated on her and did everything he could to make her life miserable. He would even hide letters from Nettie after she disappeared from home and Celie ended up thinking she was dead. One day, Mr.______'s lover Shug was very ill and ended up staying at Celie's and Mr.______'s house until she got better. While being there, Celie and Shug got very close to each other and ended up being great friends. She found out how Mr.______ would constantly beat her so Shug eventually decided to help Celie out. Because of Shug, Celie is able to finally obtain all of Nettie's letters which after reading, she finds out Nettie is alive and safe. Nettie had left with some missionary people, Samuel and Corrine, to Africa. While being there, Nettie finds out that Samuel's and Corrine's kids Adam and Olivia, are really Celie's kids who Alphonso, the stepfather had said he had gotten rid of. Corrine ends up dying and the kids are given back to Cellie. Alphonso dies as well. At first Celie does not want to forgive Mr.______ but later she decides to and they begin to enjoy each other’s company.

2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.

The theme of this novel is that strength can be hidden in the weak. Cecil had been taken advantage of throughout her life but she became independent towards the end of it. She dealt with the abuse of her father and husband, but Shug was the person that Cecil needed to push her towards liberation.

3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).
The tone is very serious and honest. The narrator takes a thoughtful look at her life through letters to God. She’s not joking around, but expressing the sadness of her life in the strongest way she can.

• When Sophia stands up for herself from the mayor and his wife she demonstrates her own self -power that she feels. After being asked by the mayor's wife if she will work as their maid, Sophia answers with a s defiant "Hell No," encouraging her overpowering ways against commands.
• In the first letter that Celie writes she sets a serious tone, explaining about how she was raped by her step-father. She describes everything that occurred to her, giving the reader a more serious mood/tone. 
• When Squeak tries to free Sophia from prison and is contrarily raped by one of the warden's the tone is both serious and overpowering. The warden overpowers defenseless Squeak and rapes her setting seriousness to the words from Celie.
  
  

4. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers. (Please include edition and page numbers for easy reference.)

Imagery:

"First he put his thing up against my hip and sort of wiggle it around. Then he grab hold my titties. Then he push his thing inside my pussy."

Diction:

"Soon he stop. He say one night in bed, Well, us done help Nettie all we can. Now she got to go."

Allegory:

Symbols:

Irony:

Metaphor:

Figurative Language:

Syntax:

Theme:

Point Of View:

CHARACTERIZATION 

1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization.  Why does the author use both approaches, and to what end (i.e., what is your lasting impression of the character as a result)?

Indirect Characterization:

Sophia's action were a great example of what a strong, determined woman she was.

2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character?  How?  Example(s)?

The author uses the same syntax and diction throughout the letters. Since she is writing through letters, all that changes is how she explains her life. The text matures with her and we get a better view of her story this way.

3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic?  Flat or round?  Explain.

Celie is a dynamic character. She changes from a scared victim to an independent strong woman. She also switched from being a flat character to a round character.

4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character?  Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction.

I feel like I met a person because I was moved with how she told her story. A lot of events took place throughout her life and she experienced plenty of hardships. She had unhealthy relationships but in the end she overcame them. She gained independence and broke free.