Agenda:
15 minutes of silent reading
"Bernice Bobs her Hair" Reading Quiz
Debrief Story
How does Bernice’s transformation reflect the tension between conformity and individuality? Is cutting Marjorie’s hair an act of independence or conformity?
How does the rivalry between Bernice and Marjorie reflect the social pressures on women? How does competition for male attention shape their relationship?
What does hair symbolize in terms of power and social status in the story? How does Bernice’s bob affect her popularity?
How does Bernice Bobs Her Hair critique traditional gender roles, and how does it reflect changing attitudes toward women in the 1920s?
Is Bernice’s final act of cutting Marjorie’s hair a moment of empowerment or petty revenge? What does it reveal about her character?
How would we describe Fitzgerald’s writing style and how does it affect the way the story is told in Bernice Bobs Her Hair? How might his style influence our understanding of the characters and their relationships?
Read excerpts from In Our Time
Homework:
Read Fitzgerald's "A Diamond as Big as the Ritz"