1. Characters and Characters Depiction
(A) Other than the narrator, the first chapter introduces Sister Rosetta (who is a nun) and the narrator's mother. One thing I learned about sister Rosetta is that she is an unattractive woman. The narrator uses descriptive language such as "slightly bulbous nose, plump red-veined cheeks, and close-set-eyes" to describe her physical attributes. Another thing I learned from sister Rosetta is that unlike the rest of the nuns, she is really open minded. The narrator presents a scene where sister Rosetta finds her (the narrator) reading a book about drugs, sex, and fashion. Assuming that sister Rosetta would respond in such a crazy attitude, the narrator was shocked when instead of accusing her of such a "sin" by reading "inappropriate books", sister Rosetta understood the curiosity behind the narrator and even offered to check more books out so that the narrator could read those too. As mentioned, the narrator's mother was also introduced in this first chapter. She is very traditional and really enforces the idea of what it is like to be a Catholic. She influences her daughter in many ways that builds up curiosity even for her own daughter.
(B) The narrator is a character within her own story. She describes herself as a Catholic child which she must demonstrate to the world. Pressured and influenced by her school, her religion, and her mother, the narrator is brought to us in the beginning as an influence child. It isn't until she conveys the scene of " the book of drugs, sex, and fashioned" that sister Rosetta caught her reading that we get a slim idea of what her curiosity is and how she wants to do things that seem impossible to her.
3. Place and Setting
(A) The book Woman in Font of the Sun by Judith O. Cofer was written in 1966. It took place in Paterson, New Jersey.
4. Elements of a Memoir Questions
(A) This chapter is about the idea of customs and traditions and what is expected from the people who follow these traditions. This first chapter introduces two sides to the idea. The narrator introduces characters such as her own mother to demonstrate and send a message of what it is like to be part of the Catholic tradition and how much influence it can make on someone. How being " Gods child " one must do as says with out any major sins. On the other hand, the narrator also introduces characters that advocate for Catholic tradition. In this case, sister Rosetta is the one who is chosen to play the role. With her actions and words the reader can conclude she is the type of women to be open minded to several things that not many people do.
9. Cultural Issues Questions
(A) List: Male (Gender) dominance; Female submission; Patriarchy/Patriarchy Cultural; Male Authority; Catholic traditions for females; Gender expectations.
(B) One of the issues that I found interesting and gave more meaning to the idea in general was the male dominance. Through the first chapter, there was a part where the narrator described the role of both men and women. The narrator said "I was told all boys needed to be outside more and more as they got older in order to experience the world. Girls, however, needed to stay home more each year because the world became more dangerous for a female as she matured." This quote conveys the meaning of how both genders were view not just by society but their religion as well.
(C) Tradition; both gender expectations; Women's liberation; drugs and sex; catholic tradition for females.
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