The color purple book discussion

The novel is told in an epistolary style, through the usage of 90 different letters written by the characters. 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. Teachers use these discussion questions to demonstrate students understanding of the color purple by alice walker. To view books in process, and to suggest new books, go to books in process. 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.

The color purple by alice walker one persons journey through a world of books. This blog provides guidance on various essay formats. Spoiler discussion questions and chatter about the color purple by. If you would like to respond to this prompt as one of your blog posts, you need to give a detailed, textoriented response to at least three of the questions below. Ask and answer questions about the novel or view study guides, literature essays and more. Heres where youll find analysis about the book as a whole.

When comparing the two characters i discovered that they both have numerous aspects of their everyday lifestyle and are very much alike yet other. Topics about this book topics that mention this book. The color purple alice walker every so often i finish a book and then sit for several minutes contemplating the incredible art i experienced. The color purple discussion questions alice walker this study guide consists of approximately 88 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the color purple. The color purple book discussion tickets peace center. The color purple study guide questions assignment 1 entries 121 1. Taking place mostly in rural georgia, the story focuses on the life of africanamerican women in the southern united. A powerful cultural touchstone of modern american literature, the color purple depicts the lives of african american women in early twentiethcentury rural georgia.

List the seemingly minor scenes that turn out to be pivotal in the lives of the characters. The color purple alice walker, 1982 houghton mifflin harcourt 300 pp. The color purple figures prominently throughout the book. Having seen the movie many times, i had not picked up the book of the color purple until i happened upon it two days ago. Celie is a poor, black girl in the american south of the 1930s. Is alice walker sexist because the men in her story are almost universally mean. However, by asserting their objections and independence, the women in the color purple break this cycle of patriarchy. The color purple could be said to have many themes and the actual color itself has some historical. Because celie is finally opening herself up by loving someone, celie becomes more lovable. Mar 18, 2018 join peace center artistinresidence glenis redmond for a free discussion of alice walkers criticallyacclaimed novel the color purple. I compared nettie, to pa joad from the novel the grapes of wrath, by john steinbeck.

The plot is the omniscient story of success after travails, hardships, injustice and neglect. Celie becomes pregnant twice, and each time her father gives away the children. What does celies father mean when he says, you gonna do what your mammy wouldnt. The colour purple is a relatively recent novel though, so in this case it may be used to add to the sense of realism by blanking the name, it makes you feel as though the author is trying to protect a real persons identity. Create marketing content that resonates with prezi video. Alice captures the faded traditions of the african american women in the start of the 1900s. Discuss the title of the novel the color purple in the relation to its theme.

Most of us had seen the movie at some point in the past and a few of us had seen the oprahproduced broadway musical, but it turns out this is a favorite book of a. How do you feel in general about epistolary novels books told through letters. It is a simple intermediate color lying between red and blue, with very little significance other than to be someones favorite color. To most, the color purple holds insignificant meaning. Its construction is such that the absence of an omniscient narrator forces readers to piece together the gaps in the narrative. The color purple is an american novel of permanent importance. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. The color purple study guide contains a biography of alice walker, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and an. Is it important that netties exile took place in africa. Purple america by rick moody book club discussion questions. The color purple, novel by alice walker, published in 1982. 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. Celie, a young girl who lives with her abusive father, her sick mother, and her younger sister nettie, begins writing letters to god. Separated as girls, sisters celie and nettie sustain their loyalty to and hope in each other.

In that case, i would also like to hear your thoughts. Discuss the way confusion and deception become powerful tools for those characters who want to take advantage of celie. The color purple deals with a black womans struggle to free herself from a position of. Alice walker on her classic novel, speilbergs film, and the broadway adaptation. If you have not read the color purple or seen the movie this section will contain spoilers. Should she have placed more emphasis on race rather than gender. The color purple cliffsnotes study guides book summaries.

The color purple is truly an amazing book and one i wish i could give double the 5 stars to. The color purple can be a great novel to teach in high school to an advanced and mature class. Get some ideas on teaching the novel, as well as a downloadable power point containing an overview of the. The film version got made in 1985 because steven spielberg, the most important filmmaker on the planet at the time. Examine the effect of two arranged marriages celies to albert, and alberts to annie julia and the consequences of each of them. Though he was more than 40 years her senior, alice walker was lucky to know hughes toward the end of his life. An african american author alice walker wrote the novel the color purple in 1982. Hang out at the eden bar fountain after the film for a book discussion on the hard hitting themes of womanhood, sexuality, and the deep south in alice walkers classic novel. 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. The color purple won the pulitzer prize for fiction and the national book award. Walkers most critically acclaimed novel remains the color purple. In 1983, the book won the pulitzer prize for fiction and the national book award for fiction.

Literary devices recap of the climax celie can not stand mr. Spoiler discussion questions and chatter about the color. The color purple tells the complex tale african american women, their brutal living conditions, everyday abuse, and their instinct to survive. See a complete list of the characters in the color purple and indepth analyses of celie, shug avery, mr. Full text of the color purple alicewalker see other formats. The color purple is a 1982 novel written by alice walker. The color purple explores abuse, loneliness, perseverance and much more. Alice walker announced the impromptu online book club on february 1, which also happens to be langston hughess birthday. Discussion guide this discussion guide is designed to be used in conjunction with the 20092010 common book growing up and residence life cinema showing of the color purple. Pulitzer prize and the american book award for her novel the color purple, which was. It is intended to help college students look at issues addressed in the book and in the movie and at the ways those issues affect their lives. Discussion led by librarian colleen whittall of the maitland public library.

The color purple is a novel by alice walker that was first published in 1982. The color purple is a novel that invites group discussion. Conclusion presentation of the color purple by alice walker. This also shows that while many parents and school officials have dismissed this book as simply inappropriate, its both critically acclaimed and important. In 2016, early bird books partnered with alice walker to celebrate black history month by reading and discussing the color purple. In her first letters, she details how her father has been sexually abusing her. It is a saga of success despite adversity through the victims. If you liked the color purple you may also like other books in our fiction category. The color purple discussion questions death by tsundoku. Examine the significance and effectiveness of walkers use of place and the natural world in the color purple. A feminist work about an abused and uneducated african american womans struggle for empowerment, the color purple was praised for the depth of its female characters and for its eloquent use of black english vernacular. Walker was the first african american female to win these prizes.

With gentleness and care, celie nurses the sick woman back to health. It was later adapted into a film and musical of the same name. Proceed only if you have read the book andor seen the movie. Some of the themes in the novel include abuse, lesbianism and religion, and there must be room for open and honest discussion, as well as a level of sensitivity and maturity in the audience. You can say what you want in your the color purple essay. Some justify this approach as epitome of realism and some call it as wanton cynicism. The color purple brims with these intricate turns of plot.

A feminist work about an abused and uneducated african american womans struggle for empowerment, the color purple was praised for the depth of its female characters. 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. In the novel, the color purple, the color is used as an allusion to biblical reference. General fiction alice walkers masterpiece, a powerful. The color purple film synopsis winthrop university. Welcome to the discussion portion of the color purple readalong. 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.

The color purple by alice walker plot summary litcharts. Alice walkers iconic modern classic is now a penguin book. Please leave them in the comment section as i would love to get a discussion going on this incredible read. The color purple has been described as a celebration of the independence of southern black women and black sexual equality. 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. It was later adapted into a film and musical of the same name taking place mostly in rural georgia, the story focuses on the life of africanamerican women in the southern united states in the 1930s, addressing numerous issues. Celies and sofias resistance and selfassertion transform mr. What was your perception of this book prior to reading it. Conclusion presentation of the color purple by alice. Explain the relationship between the color of purple and the feeling of beauty. The book discussion group met in march 2017 to enthusiastically discuss this. Answering the following discussion questions will confirm student understanding of the characters, scenes.

This iconic book has so many themes and so much symbolism that we had one of our best book discussions. Join peace center artistinresidence glenis redmond for a free discussion of alice walkers criticallyacclaimed novel the color purple. The color white has been a big part of the evolution of the color purple. In celies first letter to god, she asks for a sign to let her know what is happening to her. Comment upon shugs tongueincheek reply to the prizefighters observation that the whole affair sounded to him like ole uncle tomming. Full text of thecolorpurplealicewalker see other formats. The character that i choose to compare from my book the color purple, by alice walker, was nettie.

She says that she thinks god gets angry when you walk past the colour purple in a field and dont notice it. Literary analysis of the color purple 1074 words 5 pages. The color purple flliee walker r tl pulitzer prize winner ik f tl authors. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary. Simply visit the box office and sign out a copy monday saturday from 10 6 pm. The color purple by alice walker reading guidebook club. 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. The books initial appearance in uk in 1983 backs up these lost traditions. How does rick moody use the different shades of purple e. Walker in love and trouble, meridian has set herself the task of an epistolary noveland she scores strongly with it.

Orinoco womble tidy bag and all if you read the book, its a reference to something shug says to celie. Feb 11, 2020 in 2016, early bird books partnered with alice walker to celebrate black history month by reading and discussing the color purple. Examine the effect of two arranged marriages celies to albert, and alberts to. Please leave them in the comment section as i would love to get a. She says that she thinks god gets angry when you walk past the colour purplemore if you read the book, its a reference to something shug says to celie. Most of us had seen the movie at some point in the past and a few of us had seen the oprahproduced broadway musical, but it turns out this is a favorite book of a few members of the group and everybody liked it lot.