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missed you all in class on November 4th. Since no one showed up then, I am going to preemptively cancel this Fridays class, November 11th. Reading responses for our next reading assignment are due on our next meeting, November 18th. Also, our midterm will be in class on December 2nd; more information on that in class on the 18th. Reading Response Prompts for 18 November 2011 Think about these questions as you read and reread Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs, from our Ways of Reading textbook. Then respond to these prompts (in at least 300 words). You dont have to answer all the questions, or even address them in your response. There are no real right answersthese prompts are just meant to guide your reading and thinking. If there is something interesting in the story that youd rather respond to, go ahead and do it. We will talk about these questions and your responses in class. 1. Think about what you already know about slavery in America, and the literature associated with the African-American struggle for equality. In what ways does Incidents fit with what you already know or have read about? In what ways does the content and style of the text challenge your expectations and prior knowledge? Would you expect a former slave to be so eloquent? 2. Examine the text with an eye towards the role of religion and Godwho calls upon God and religion? Why? How is God/religion used to justify or excuse slavery in the text? Why do you think many slaves try to explain their condition by claiming it is Gods will? How do different characters in the text use free will or fate to explain the world around them? 3. In what ways is Incidents a coming of age story? How does the character of Linda Brent change over the course of the text, and why? How much of her coming of age is biological, and how much is cultural? What about Harriet Jacobs? Does she also come of age somewhere in the text? Is she in the story at all, or just the author? In other words, what is the relationship between the character Linda Brent and the author? 4. Questions for a second reading #2 (page 496) 5. Questions for a second reading #3 (page 496)