Melinda

Sanchez
Harris Ap Lang 4
October 30, 2019

Text 2 Draft

1. Thesis statement- In a Lesson Before Dying Ernest J. uses symbolism to enhance

meaning behind the characters relationships.
2. Topic sentence- The author uses the tool of symbolism throughout the story to give
readers a visual on each character's relationship, that plays an importance to
understanding the story.
3. Context- Since the trial, where Jefferson’s attorney compared him to a hog for reverse
psychology, Jefferson has been getting visits in jail from his godmother and Grant. In this
chapter Grant has gone alone to meet Jefferson due to the godmother being ill. Since they
are alone Jefferson lets out his anger left from the trial when Grant hands him the bag of
food his grandmother made.
4. Quote- “I’m go’n show you how a old hog eat, he said. He knelt down on the floor and
put his head inside the bag and started eating, without using his hands.” (Ch 11Pg 83)
5. Analysis-
a. Step1. The tool expressed in this quote is symbolism. The hog symbolized as
being clueless or bird brained.
b. Step 2. In the quote the author uses hog in comparison to Jefferson to show how
animal-like others think of him. Jefferson is described as messy and clueless,
which he takes to heart as seen throughout the book.
c. Step 3. ​The author wants the reader to understand how blacks were treated back
then. Although not slaves, they were still thought of as inferior to whites. The
symbolism of the hog shows how they thought of black to be bird-brained and
useless. Not only does the hog show how whites viewed blacks, but also how the
blacks viewed themselves. After years of being told they were nothing, some
started to believe it was true.
d. Step 4.
6. Transition into next quote- Another instance you see Ernest J. using symbolism is in
chapter 24.
7. Context- In this part of the book Grant, Miss Emma, and pastor Ambrose visit Jefferson
in jail. Jefferson had never ate any of the food that his godmom, Miss Emma, had brought
him. Grant tries to teach Jefferson about how to be a better person.
8. Quote 2- “It would mean so much to her if you would eat some of the gumbo…Will you
eat some of the gumbo? Just a little bit? One spoonful? He made a slight nod. I smiled at
him again.” (pg 191)
9. Analysis-
a. Step 1. In this quote you can see the tool of Symbolism being used. Food is being
used to symbolize love towards others.
b. Step 2. Ernest J. includes Jefferson’s rejection of food throughout the story to
show his progress towards the end where he accepts his godmothers food as well
as Grant’s advice.
c. Step 3. Food being shown throughout the story represents the love and tension
between the relationships in the story. Jefferson’s godmother brings Jefferson
food while he is in his cell out of love because it is the only thing she sees that she
can do. She is so upset with Jefferson for not eating it because in a way, he is
rejecting her love towards him. Jefferson thinks that the love is for those who are
‘alive’ and considers himself apart from the living due to his upcoming execution.
d. Step 4.
10. Transition to next quote- Towards the end of the book you see Ernest J. still including
symbolism.
11. Context- At the last chapter of the book Jefferson is at his execution while Grant decides
to stay behind at the school. Grant leaves the school to sit outside where he wonders if the
execution is over. Grant then shifts his focus on a butterfly he sees nearby.
12. Quote 3- “I probably would not have noticed..had a yellow butterfly with dark specks like
ink dots on its wings, not lit there...why did it light on a hill of bull grass that offered it
nothing? I watched it closely... the way it opened its wings again, fluttered, closed its
wings for a second or two, then opened them again and flew away..Yes, I told myself. It
is finally over. (pg 252)
13. Analysis-
a. Step 1. The tool displayed is symbolism. The butterfly is symbolized as freedom
and growth.
b. Step 2. Ernest J. gives detail about Grant analyzing the butterfly and why it would
be somewhere that gives it no benefit to connect to how Grant feels, where Grant
stays with Jefferson to teach him but gets no benefit from it.
c. Step 3. The butterfly can be seen as representing freedom and growth. When the
butterfly opens and closes its wings Grant takes that as a goodbye and believes the
execution is over. The butterfly symbolizes Jeffersons freedom and his growth
into finally becoming a man.
d. Step 4.
14. Concluding sentence- Throughout the book Ernest utilizes symbolism to give readers a
visual of the characters relationship with one another. It is important to see the meaning
of each relationship in order to get the meaning behind it. In the story Jefferson and
Grants relationship plays a big part in the future of Jefferson as he heads towards
execution.