Making ConnectionsIdentity formaion: Bastard out of Carolina and beyond

Wrapping up How does Ruth’s death affect other characters in the

novel?

Why does Annie say she wishes Aunt Ruth knew how beautiful she was?

Aunt Raylene says a woman should never be forced to choose between her husband and her baby. How do you feel about this statement? What does Annie choose?

Do you believe that Annie loves Bone? What do you make of the last scene?

What is the significance of the exchange of the birth certificate and the information Bone finds on it?

Constructing Identity

Are we born with an identity or do we construct an identity? Or both?

What defines you?

Who defines you?

How do you construct or negotiate your own identity?

Are you the same with all people or do you highlight different aspects of your identity depending upon the social situation?

Making our own wheels Think about the markers that define you.

Race, class, religion, education, gender, occupation, health, activities, age, home/ geography, political stance, family, etc. Carve up your own wheel, demonstrating how you see these factors influencing your life. Some parts of your wheel may be larger than others depending on what you emphasize (what matters most to you, what takes up the most time, or how you see yourself).

Are there certain things that you would want to deemphasize? Why?

Application

Pick one of the following characters, and create an identity wheel for them based on your reading of the text.

What identity markers do you think these characters would emphasize on their wheel and why?

Do you think these characters are defining themselves or being defined by others? How do we know?

Be prepared to discuss.

Janie

Bone

Shannon

Clemencia

Old Man Warner

Earle

Raylene

Annie

Joe

Teacake

Glenn

Identity Identity Formation

How do these images challenge the ways we view race?

How does it challenge or enhance your perception of a personal identity?

What are some of the ways that these people determined their identity? Is there a right or wrong way to make this decision?

Comparisons How have the characters we have looked at so far

struggled with the issue of identity?

How have they been defined or categorized? Who has categorized them?

Nature vs. Nurture: How have some of the characters challenged these ideas?

Socially Lived Theory You will be given a card. Do not look at your card, but

hold it up in front of you so that other classmates can see your number.

Higher numbers are more desirable than lower numbers. Your challenge is to talk to as many people with higher numbers as possible.

Reflection How did you figure out your number?

Did you stick to the rules? Why or why not?

Was this activity isolating?

If you had a lower or a middle-range number, did you talk to people with similar numbers, why or why not?

How does this experience reflect larger societal issues?

How does it connect to our texts?