Name: Brandyn HIll Week #: 2

Golden Line Reading Journal: Notetaker

Requirements: Each notetaker assignment should include THREE “Golden Lines” from your chosen
text(s); this will appear on the left side of your entry, along with the page #. On the right, (1) begin with a
brief explanation, or background information, of what’s happening in the story when the “Golden Line”
was shared (summary). Then, (2) interpret the “Golden Line” and then provide and analysis of your
interpretation, this is where the work becomes a real metacognitive exercise.

Golden Line (page #__________) Background / Summary

“Dammit, sir” Judge Stevens said, “will you accuse a
lady to her face of smelling bad?” (A Rose For Emily,
Page 75)
In the town of Jefferson a old women (Miss Emily) who
has lived these last few years or possibly decades
without paying taxes has been repeatedly reported by
her neighbors for the stench coming from her house.
Because her status within the community an argument
is taking place among the local town officials of how to
handle the situation delicately.

“The man himself lay in the bed.” (A Rose For Emily,
Page 79)
Miss Emily’s Lover, unseen for forty or more years has
been discovered two days after Miss Emily herself was
buried. Breaking down a blocked upstairs door within
her house has revealed a room decorated as though
for a honeymoon, with rust covered silver toiletries
and a suit folded over a chair along with the body of
Homer Barron.

“We have promised to stay right where the awful

grandmother left us until she returns.” (Mericans, 71) At a Church in Mexico, a group of children sit outside
waiting for their grandmother to finish giving a prayer
for the whole family, incorporating a blessing for every
member of the family not there.
 Interpretation and analysis

I really like this line, because it shows how afraid these leaders of the community feel about this Miss Emily
despite being a new generation of leadership and their apparent inability to make her do anything she
didn’t feel like doing herself. These men would rather stage essentially a break in to her house later, to
spread some lime and stop the smell from annoying her neighbors. (A Rose For Emily)

The discovery of Homer Barron’s corpse was a definite surprise for me and for me may give a reason for her
housekeeper sticking around for so long, and then leaving like he did. He was possibly afraid of what the
town could of came to the conclusion of, true or not, things likely would have not ended well for him is Miss
Emily said blamed him. She did not seem to have money to pay taxes, I’m not sure how she would of paid for
most things would need, much less a servant to come bring her these items from town. The strain from
keeping this secret was probably one of the reason he was noted for not talking much, and having the
unused sounding voice that the narrator comments on. (A Rose For Emily)

I love the use of the term awful grandmother because of my own experience feeling trapped after being sent
to my Aunt and Uncles on weekend’s to be taken church on Sunday. It always felt we were forced to be the
last one at the Church for hours we would sit waiting for my Aunt to finish talking to her friends. I don’t think
any child likes feeling trapped for reason they don’t care about, the prayers or conversations of others feel,
like pointless impediments to what they really want. In this story the narrator just wants to go across the
street to spend some her hard earned allowance while her awful grandmother forced her to stay in front of
the church and play with here brothers.

Grading Criteria: Each Entry will be graded out of 4 based on the following standards-based criteria:

4 3
Reflection shows evidence of
keen and expert observation
of the text and thoughtful
and insightful connections.
Reflection contains a
thoroughly crafted
background summary that
included extensive details,
and ends with a strong and
insightful interpretation and
analysis of the “Golden
Lines”
Reflection is clear and
provides insight.
Reflection contains a
background summary that
includes several key details,
and makes a basic
interpretation with clear
analysis “Golden Lines”
2 1
Reflection is lacking insight
and depth.
Reflection contains minimal
to no background details
which makes it difficult to
understand why the “Golden
Line” is important.
Furthermore, the writer
makes a vague and/or
unclear interpretation with
little analysis of the “Golden
Lines.”
0
Reflections provides little to Assignment was not
no specific details; writing is completed.
unclear, disjointed, and lacks
insight or depth.
Reflection provides little, if
any, background summary.
Connections to the “Golden
Line” are incoherent and are
void of thought.