Guiding Question: What themes or elements does “Fleur” have in common with “Spunk” by Zora Neale Hurston? Are there any interesting contrasts between the stories?
My Notes on the topic of anger
Spunk
Joe angry Spunk stole his wife
Spunk angry Joe attacks him from behind
Men, angry at first and moved by their own small-minded interest in the fight, debating the attack and deciding Joe was braver and justified
Spunks angry death...pushed by Joe/ a mysterious black bobcat that howls but doesn’t attack
Fleur
Men on reservation scared/angry at Fleur because of the way men die around her
Fleur angers men at smokehouse by winning at poker
Men’s anger leads them to attack Fleur
Animal-like tornado rips through town...probing like a thumb/snout in ground
Pauline locks men in meat locker
Pauline and Fleur live peacefully afterward
Developing a Compare Contrast Outline. After looking at your notes above, fill out this chart to help develop your outline and thesis. Start by selecting and ordering your main topics you’d like to write about and then briefly note what points you will make about each story. At the bottom of the page, try to pin down the purpose of your comparison.
Focus Question for Essay How does the anger in these stories motivate the characters?
Intro Idea: Anger is natural. It’s fuel that makes people do things.
Turn what you learn when comparing/contrasting these two stories into a thesis statement
Draft of Thesis: The stories illustrate that if the weak want justice they can’t give in to their anger but have to be shrewd, even sneaky or get help. (needs to be more precise; hopefully I’ll get there in the writing)