Answer to Question #295403 in English for tilly

Question

The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara

 

Questions

1. What are Sylvia's outstanding traits? How are they reflected in her language and in her description of her neighborhood?

2. How is Sylvia's character revealed through her relationship with Sugar?

3. Describe the lesson Miss Moore tries to teach the children by taking them to visit F.A.O. Schwartz.

4. How is Sylvia's assessment of Miss Moore at the beginning of the story borne out by the ending? Is it an optimistic ending? Why or why not?

5. What evidence is there that Sylvia has been changed by the visit to F.A.O. Schwartz? In your opinion, is she a reliable or an unreliable narrator? Why or why not?

Answer 1

1.     Sylvia's distinguishing characteristics include being headstrong, opinionated, and having a fiery demeanor. She's quick to speak her mind to those around her and expresses her views without hesitation. Sylvia defines her area bluntly, naming things as they are rather than attempting to comprehend any deeper meaning.

2.     Sugar's relationship with Sylvia highlights her qualities because Sugar follows Sylvia's direction. Sugar pulls Sylvia "off her feet like she never done before, for she'd whip her ass in a minute," demonstrating that Sylvia is the more dominant of the two. They are the closest of the group of kids, as evidenced by Sylvia's accounts of their mischief, such as the Catholic church incident, which was the result of a dare. Even though they only have a short time in the store, Sylvia and Sugar explore it together, staying by each other's side in a strange world.

3.     Miss Moore wants the kids to understand the economic inequity they face as a result of their circumstances. F.A.O. Schwarz represents the white affluence that contrasts so starkly with their simple lives. A paperweight costs $480 in the world of F.A.O. Schwarz, but in the world of the children, they don't even have any paper to weigh down. They can try to be more than what their circumstances define them by enlightening them and presenting another side they never knew existed.

4.     Sylvia's initial impression of Miss Moore was that she is a strange and spooky person who is always shrouded in the shadows, possibly due to her name, and that she has always talked about pointless topics, but she eventually changed her mind and saw her as a kind, caring, and polite person. All of this occurred as a result of the field trip, during which she gained a new perspective and got to know Miss Moore better.

5.     Sylvia compares her feelings of shame when she enters the toy store to the feelings she had when she and Sugar "cracked" the Catholic church during a Mass. Sylvia's demeanor shifts from her usual confidence to anger and befuddlement throughout her visit to F.A.O. Schwarz. When faced with a presence as looming as F.A.O. Schwarz, even the fearless Sylvia couldn't bear to be the first foot in the door. She brings up the matter of guilt, which stems from her social status as an outcast among the wealthy whites. After looking over the products, she goes from being perplexed as to why someone would spend so much money on toys to being outraged that someone would do so.