Karina Sandoval #1

I. Vocabulary

• Dvorak: Czech composer who combined folk elements with traditional forms.
• Coup-de-grace: A deathblow delivered to end the misery of a mortally wounded victim.
• Nostalgia: The condition of being homesick; homesickness.
• Philanthropic: Humanitarian
• Arpeggios: The sounding of the tones of a chord in rapid succession rather than simultaneously.
• Homburg: A man's felt hat having a soft dented crown and a shallow, slightly rolled brim.

II.

I heard the high thin laugh again. “You’re nobody, son. You don’t exist–can’t you see that?” (Ch. 6, pg 143)

This passage struck me because Bledsoe is the leader of the college and he’s black. Instead of being a true black leader in encouraging success within his race he’s being a scumbag.

“I’ll have ever Negro in the country hanging on tree limbs by morning if it means staying where I am.”

I can’t help but wonder if he means “hanging” in a racist context, which is referring blacks to tree monkeys or something of the sort. I believe it was in Kunta Kinte that this racial slur was used.

III.

I’m hoping to see the narrator become more cautious of everyone. I’m sure he’ll run into more people that envy him for taking a stand.