Fox+Q4

=//The Help//= by Kathryn Stockett


 * Assignment 1 - Due April 15** - //What is the novel about?//

In one to two paragraphs, identify the title and author, summarize the setting, main characters, and major conflict in the novel. Notes: Conflict: Civil rights. Southern women's groups. Racism. Love.

Set in Jacksonville, Mississippi in 1962, //The Help// tells the story of three women, two black, one white, The story begins with Aibileen as first-person narrator. She works for an upper-middle class family as their housekeeper and nanny of their only child May Mobely. Aibileen is in her fifties and lives alone, having lost her son in a work accident two years ago. She is literate and wise. Milly, the second narrator of the novel is also a housekeeper. In every way Aibileen is wise, Milly is sassy. They are friends and have been for years. The third narrator is a white college graduate named Ms. Skeeter. She is the only unmarried southern girl in her circle of friends. All of her friends eventually dropped out of college to marry, but Skeeter is tall and intellectual and hasn't had much luck meeting men who aren't intimidated by her. She wants to write as a profession, so she gets a job working for the local paper as the replacement for the women's housekeeping help questions section called Dear.....?... She takes the job because she is desperate to work and write, not knowing anything about housekeeping problem-solving. She enlists the help of her best friends housekeeper Aibileen and a friendship develops.


 * Assignment 2 - Due April 22** - //What's so special about THIS book?//

Identify one or two things that make this book unique. Find examples from the text to illustrate what you mean.

In her book, //The Help,// Stockton brings together three different voices to tell three individual stories which blend into one big story. These voices draw the reader in because of the different prospectives they supply. The author captures the sound of southern black women of the 60s in the voices of Aibileen and Milly. Their words lift from the pages of the book and waft into the room with the reader giving the sense that they are there talking in the same room. The voices may make reading rough at the start, but they sound authentic and musical and circle their sound in head of the reader. Aibileen explains the philosophy of her approach to her job, "...." (I don't have my book right now). Another distinguishing feature in //The Help// is the nonstop plot. This story has no lull. The author makes the plot clip along at a comfortable pace but not too quickly.

Notes: Three narrators. Two African American women. One Caucasian woman. Told in the southern dialect.


 * Assignment 3 - Due May 5** - //What's it really about?//

Identify a possible theme or big idea in the novel and find three examples from the text.


 * Assignment 4 - Due May 12** - //Evaluate the reading experience.//

In the end, describe the overall experience of reading this novel. Was it a good use of your time? If so, why? If not, why not? Did you like it? If so, why? If not, why not? What age or interest group would find this novel worthwhile. What was good about the book? What was not-so-good?