Post date: Oct 27, 2009 12:54:6 AM
For Monday, October 26: written response to Hate is due; response should include “What struck you most?” and your response to the question how does the film enhance/enrich your understanding of the novel and vice versa? (two mighty paragraphs)
Tuesday, October 27: begin reading MH; use reading guide below:
For Wednesday, finish reading MH; write answers to reading guide questions 2, 3, and 4
For Thursday, October 29 no homework in honor of the Phillies in the World Series.
For Friday, October 30 no homework in honor of the Phillies in the World Series.
Reading Guide for Master Harold...and the Boys
“Master Harold” ...and the boys
The play takes place in 1950, the year in which many laws were passed in South Africa to ensure racial segregation. Some of these laws were: the Population Registration Act, which mandated the classification of each individual's ethnic identity; the Group Areas Act, which designated specific zones where people of color could live and work; the Immorality Act, under which fraternization across racial lines was illegal; intermarriage and sexual contact between the raceswere banned. All public facilities were segregated: transportation,parks, elevators, restaurants, hotels, theaters, schools and universities, and government offices. Under these laws, 30 million blacks were ruled by 5 million whites. Brute force was used routinely to suppress political opposition and to imprison dissidents.
The play is only 43 pages. It has no breaks or intermissions. The rising tension in the play is best felt and understood if the play is read in one sitting.
Questions: As you read, keep notes on the answers to these questions.Be sure you read the stage directions for a character’s physicalmovements.
1. How would you characterize Hally as we see him in the beginning of the play?
2. List details in the play which suggest Hally and Sam’s relationship is like father-son. Be sure to note page numbers.
3. List details in the play which suggest Hally and Sam’s relationshipis master-servant. For example, when Hally enters, the stage directionstell us Sam fetches a towel for him to dry his hair. Be sure to note page numbers.
4. How does the play make us and keep us aware that Hally and Sam’srelationship is within a larger social context of white supremacy? Listspecific details. Be sure to note page numbers.
5. How do the two calls Hally receives help us to understand his relationship to his parents?
6. How would the play be different without Willie?
7. What does the detail about Willy’s beating Hilda suggest about the larger world of the play?
8. Explain what Hally means: “It’s just that life felt the right sizein there...not too big or too small. Wasn’t so hard to work up a bit ofcourage. It’s got so bloody complicated since then.”
9. The controlling metaphor of the play is dance: “Like being in adream about a world in which accidents don’t happen.” Keep track ofwhat the characters say about dance. How does the metaphorsupport/underscore/enhance the action of the play?
10. Why does Sam not react with violence to Hally’s insult?
11. What does Sam mean when he says to Hally: “If you’re notcareful...Master Harold...you’re going to be sitting up there byyourself for a long time to come, and there won’t be a kite in the sky?”
12. How would you characterize Hally as we see him at the end of the play?
13. Is the play’s ending hopeful? Pessimistic? Cynical? How would you describe the state of the characters at the end?
14. What is the significance of the title?
15. Identify the advantages and disadvantages of the play’s focus on just three characters and a single setting?