Cyber-Assignment: The Known World
1. Look at the themes: slavery, power and literacy. How do these three (3) themes play out in individual character's lives? Choose three to examine.
After looking at other themes students were told they could choose three (3) other themes to examine. Themes we looked at were: sacrifice, family, slavery, freedom, wealth, poverty, and personal histories and how these lives and their stories are changed or impacted both negatively and positively by the dominant social discourse.
Respond in three (3), in five (5) sentence paragraphs. Include a citation in each paragraph. Respond to a student post.
2. Fallacies 6A (in class contest). The E Team, E for Excellence won the first round with 17 points to the A Teams 15. We will have a rematch on Tuesday (smile).
3. Exercise 7B pp. 163-164. We didn't get to this. We will complete it on Tuesday in groups.
Homework:
1. Read in WLTC pp. 157-173. Skim the entire chapter. Complete exercises: 7A (163). You can post here and email to me as well (just in case).
2. Be prepared to do exercises: 7C, 7D, and 7E in class and 7B (see above).
3. Finish TKW. Homework, post five arguments in standard form taken from TKW here.
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Quan Lin
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
30 March 2011
Theme: Freedom
Character: Augustus
Augustus, started out as a slave, seeing that this life is tortuous, attempted to do something about it. Working towards a goal, he manages to earn enough to buy himself out of slavery. However that would only be the first step as he was forced to abandon his family temporarily since he didn’t have enough to buy them all out. He sees slavery as an abomination and criticizes Henry for owning slaves himself.
Theme: Power
Character: William Robbins
Robbins, being a white slave owner, he had essentially all the power in society. However he was also a caring individual, especially to Henry. He fits the ideal of “having power is knowing when to use it.” Even when he is this middle class white man, he still shows sympathy and emotions when it is necessary thus why Henry trusts William Robbins, his ex-slave owner, more than his own father.
Dennis Foley
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
March 31st 2011
Look at the themes:
Henry Townshed, Augustus Townshed, and William Robbins all face themes of slavery, power, and literacy. Obviously the experiences they encounter are very different.
Henry Townshed faces slavery as a boy when he works as a slave for William Robbins. His father Augustus Townshed successfully buys himself and his family out of slavery. During his time as a slave Henry takes an actual liking to his master Robbins, as does Robbins takes to him. His power struggle occurs during phases of his life as he goes from being a slave to being a powerful landowner/slave-owner. Henry during his young life he is illiterate. However because of his close relationship with Robbins he is sent to a local educator.
Augustus Townshed’s experience with slavery is much different than his sons. He did not enjoy his time as a slave thus bought himself and his family out of the situation. He is devastated when he discovers that his son is presently a slave-owner, and makes it clear that he strongly disagrees with Henry’s actions. Augustus’s power is very limited because of his race even though he is legally a free man he still faces intense prosecution. As a non-powerful former slave Augustus doesn’t have access to a proper education, however seems relatively literate and wise.
William Robbins, a powerful slave-owner, sees the world of slavery from a very different perspective. He shows his view of the black race as he buys and sells people as property. Robbins tone as he speaks to Moses, a slave owned by Henry, shows that he does not respect him as a human being “I will buy you just to take you out in the street and shoot you.” As a powerful land-owner Robbins’s power is immense. His has the money and powerful local persuasion on his side. Robbins is very literate he was properly educated in reading and writing as well as business tactics.
Jeff Norkunas
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
march 31, 2011
power-
alice holds power on the plantation through her ability to be crazy. By acting crazy see has more freedoms than other people in her position as a slave. Who else on the plantation could walk around saying “master dead maste dead master be dead” with out some sort of repercussions .
slavery-
slavery is shown in many different forms, from the harsh approach taken by Robbins that all are property and not necessarly human, to the approach shown by calidonia in her way of wanting to deal with elias’s escape attempt. Then there is Henery that semms to be somewhere in the middle. When deciding on the punishment for Elias’s he only had part of his ear removed instead of all of it. When comfonted with the thought of more punishment he stated “that would be a shame . to have both of them gone.”
Literacy-
At the time in history literacy seemed to be a way of showing that you deeply cared for another individual. Robbins, who had children with a mistress that was black, had those children educated. And when Henry bought his first slave and robbins took him under his wing as an equal, he paid for his education. We see this in the conversation between fern the teacher and robbins
ROBBINS-“Fernm, good day”
FERN-“good day, Mr robbins”
ROBBINS-“ I have someone who needs to be educated, starting with writing and whatnot. He can’t even write his own name. he should know how to do that much else besides. He should know how to conduct himself in Virginia.
Another theme I'd like to introduce into the discussion is hypocrisy. Robbins has a black family, mistress and children, and looks at Henry Townsend as one would a son, but he still owns slaves and sees himself as superior.
ReplyDeleteAugustus is not literate, which poses a problem when his son is no longer present to defend him. Later on in history, there is a law passed, prior to Plessey vs. Ferguson, which states, there were no laws protecting black citizens white men need honor.
I think Alice is one of the smarter characters in the novel. Is she a symbol of the irrational system slavery is founded on? Is she really sane and the rest of the county insane?
Sanity is another theme, that and intelligence. What does it mean to be a moral or ethical person in The Known World?
Isn't The Known World like Wise's world of privilege, the characters who benefit don't really think about it much until threatened. Those who are its victims also don't think about it much either.
Dylan Young
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
March 31 2011
Slavery, power and literacy play major roles in all characters lives. Henry is the first character we are introduced to that is affected by slavery. He is born a slave to Mr. Robbins and later is bought back by his parents Augustus and Mildred Townsend. Although his parents are both free they were both slaves to Mr. Robbins just like Henry, the concept of Henry’s freedom having to be purchased by his own parents goes to show how much slavery affects the life of Henry. Even upon his freedom he doesn’t known how to feel or act because he knows nothing outside of being a slave. On his ride away from the Robinson plantation he isn’t sure how to feel, his mother Mildred tells him “ You can just go on and do what ever it is you want to feel. Feel sad, go on and feel sad, Feel happy, you go on and feel happy” (Jones 49). Not knowing the power of freedom shows how large of a part of Henry’s life slavery is. This also affects his life later as he himself becomes a plantation owner.
Slavery and power both play large roles in John Skiffington’s life. Upon his marriage to his wife Winifred they receive a slave as a wedding gift. This is when we first learn that the Skiffington’s are both against slavery and the concept of owning another individual. He keeps this value close to home treating their slave Minerva as a housemate, rarely asking anything of her. They give her no limitations past that of a school child. This concept brings irony into John’s life as the town counts on him to control and regulate all of the slaves of Manchester county. His duty as Sheriff of a town that is mostly ran on slavery conflicts with his personal morals as an individual and it becomes part of his life struggle to find a balance between his personal beliefs and duty as head sheriff of the town.
William Robbins power comes from slavery, he is known as the most powerful man in Manchester county, owning 113 slaves but his power is only from the success of his plantation. He is an example of how those who are being enslaved are the ones keeping the town together. Robbins is a good master to his slaves, not often neglecting them unless they try to escape and he is actually liked by some of his slaves.
Frena Zamudio
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
31 March 2011
Freewrite: The Known World Themes
Slavery is one of the major themes in the book, The Known World. Although owning slaves is typical for White people, Henry Townsend, an African American man owns slaves as well. He was once a slave along with his parents, Augustus and Mildred Townsend but his father bought him from William Robbins. Slaves are usually bought from an owner to the other for couple hundreds of dollars at slave markets.
Aside from slavery, power is also an important theme in the book. William Robbins is the most powerful man in Manchester, he owns the plantation along with 113 slaves. He has the money and power to buy slaves and make them do whatever he wants. He has a wife, Ethel Robbins but they are not as affectionate to each other anymore. William has a mistress named Philomena Cartwright, a colored woman whom he visits every weekend.
Literacy is the state of being knowledgeable or educated. During this time, if you are well educated, you have the power, people will respect you no matter what skin color you have. People will think that you know alot and willing to help educate other people. Fern is a free black woman and a teacher to free black children during this time. She teaches Mr. Robbins children from her mistress, Philomena. Alot of people admire and respect her, they treat her equally as if she is not a black woman.
Andrea Giang
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
31 March 2011
Slavery, power, and literacy are important themes in The Known World.
Slavery plays an important role in Elias’s life. One of Henry’s slaves, he dreamt of leaving the plantation and being free. Elias became sick after just a few weeks of living on Henry’s plantation. Despite becoming very weak, he made the effort to run away, going as far as several miles before he could continue no further. As punishment for running away, Henry had part of Elias’s ear cut off. But the most interesting part about Elias’s character is that the chain keeping him on the plantation in the end was not a physical one but the invisible one that bound him to Celeste. Being bound to Celeste meant that he would “never again dream of being on that road” (Jones 102).
Power is an important aspect of Henry Townsend’s life. He grew up as a slave, eventually becoming a groom for Robbins. His father, Augustus, finally saved enough money to buy him from Robbins and set him free. Despite once being a slave himself, Henry bought his first slave, Moses, from his for master. At first, they acted as though they were friends, building Henry’s house together, but after Robbins lectured Henry, saying that slave owners should not be “rollin in the dirt with them” (Jones 123), Henry began acting like a slaver owner, someone with power and wealth.
Literacy is important in Fern Elston’s life. She chose to live as a free black person even though her skin color is light enough for her to pass as a white person. Fern makes a living by teaching children, especially Robbins’ children, how to read and write. She even teaches Henry how to read at Robbins’ request. Teaching has been so ingrained in her that Fern believes that she can “practically teach children in her sleep” (Jones 128).
Andrea Giang
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
04 April 2011
Response to Frena
I agree with you that education gives you power. I think that that particular idea was seen in this book. Slave owners and even whites who weren't slave owners like the Sheriff did not want to teach slaves how to read. If they gain the ability to read, they also gain more power and freedom than they had before they were educated. While that is true, I feel that Fern is treated with respect because of the color of her skin. She is said to be so light colored that she can pass off as a white woman. I feel that that might be a factor contributing to why people treat her respectfully.
Andrea Giang
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
04 April 2011
WLTC 7A
1. According to Pirsig, the most important part of the mechanic’s work is to look at the underlying picture. They have to make careful observations and do critical thinking based on what they see. Mechanics have to focus on their work to see the overall picture and compare it to what they see in their mind.
2. Pirsig defines induction as reasoning from specific experiences to general truths. Induction requires someone to take specific ideas and generalize it. Deduction is moving from general ideas to make predictions of specific observations. This requires a person to take one big idea and make specific conclusions based on it.
3. The scientific method relies on both induction and deduction. It requires interweaving between the two types of reasoning. Solutions to problems do not require just one type of thinking. It requires both types.
4. Alfred North Whitehead’s statement “There is a tradition between adherents of induction and deduction. In my view, it would be just as sensible for the two ends of a warm to quarrel” meant that induction and deduction work with one another. Reasoning requires both types, not one or the other. This is why he compares it to the two ends of a worm quarreling. Deduction and induction are two parts of one thing, reasoning, so they have to be used together to be productive.
Andrea Giang
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
04 April 2011
The Known World Arguments
Argument 1:
Premise 1: Henry buys slaves through Robinson.
Premise 2: Hillard and Hope buy Augustus to work for them to feed their family.
Conclusion: Power comes from owning property, including slaves.
Argument 2:
Premise 1: White owners won’t allow slaves to be taught to read.
Premise 2: Jebediah is able to forge free papers and passes.
Conclusion: Literacy gives power and allows more freedom.
Argument 3:
Premise 1: Elias could not escape from the plantation once he married Celeste.
Premise 2: Moses felt he needed to get rid of his family to be with Caldonia to gain his freedom.
Conclusion: Freedom is limited by family.
Argument 4:
Premise 1: Travis sold Augustus, a free black man, to a slave speculator.
Premise 2: Counsel killed his cousin to search Mildred’s house for riches.
Conclusion: For the greedy, no sacrifice is too small.
Argument 5:
Premise 1: Alice pretends to be crazy to map out the land.
Premise 2: Augustus had a craft to buy his way to freedom.
Conclusion: Escaping slavery requires intelligence.
Andrea Giang
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
04 April 2011
WLTC 7A
1. According to Pirsig, the most important part of the mechanic’s work is to look at the underlying picture. They have to make careful observations and do critical thinking based on what they see. Mechanics have to focus on their work to see the overall picture and compare it to what they see in their mind.
2. Pirsig defines induction as reasoning from specific experiences to general truths. Induction requires someone to take specific ideas and generalize it. Deduction is moving from general ideas to make predictions of specific observations. This requires a person to take one big idea and make specific conclusions based on it.
3. The scientific method relies on both induction and deduction. It requires interweaving between the two types of reasoning. Solutions to problems do not require just one type of thinking. It requires both types.
4. Alfred North Whitehead’s statement “There is a tradition between adherents of induction and deduction. In my view, it would be just as sensible for the two ends of a warm to quarrel” meant that induction and deduction work with one another. Reasoning requires both types, not one or the other. This is why he compares it to the two ends of a worm quarreling. Deduction and induction are two parts of one thing, reasoning, so they have to be used together to be productive.
Dylan Young
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
April 04 2011
Exercise 7A:
1. The most important part of a mechanics work is there formal scientific method.
2. Pirsig defines inductive reasoning through comparison to a lab notebook, everything is taken in and written down so it can be analyzed and compared to the big conclusions. He defines deductive reasoning by scientific methods.
3. The scientific method relies on deductive reasoning.
4. Arguments can be classified as deductive or inductive. They are both modes of reasoning, particular ways of reaching a conclusion. When a conclusion of reasoning is reached it can help us to understand abstract concepts, and scientists and humanists alike often refer to deductive and inductive reasoning to patterns of everyday life. Learning to properly distinct between the two is valuable for writing logically and thinking critically.
Ocean Beverly
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
31 March 2011
Freewrite
Power is an important theme in this book; Henry went from having no power to being a free black slave owner in the antebellum south. If not for his father buying his freedom Henry wouldn’t have had the opportunities that he had, thus the fate of his slaves probably would not have been as certain.
Literacy was something that was very important to people because it increasing your knowledge. It was important for slaves to not know how to read to they would stay stupid and not be smart enough to survive without their master. Fern had an ability that most blacks free or enslaved didn’t have and that was knowledge. She was able to be employ as a teacher thus making a steady living, enough to support her husband’s additions. This also ties into power, I seen that as a sense of power because she had the ability to do something most couldn’t. Knowledge is power.
Dennis Foley
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
April 5th 2011
Exercise 7A:
1) The most important part of a mechanic's work is careful observation and precise thinking.
2) Pirsig says that inductive inferences start with observations and end with conclusions.
While deductive start with knowledge an predict an observation.
3) Scientific method relies on both weaving back and forth between inductive and deductive.
4) I would say the meaning of this quote is that inductive and deductive are on two
completley different ends of the spectrum and one can't choose one side over the
Dennis Foley
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
April 5th 2011
Response to Andrea Giang:
"Power is an important aspect of Henry Townsend’s life. He grew up as a slave, eventually becoming a groom for Robbins. His father, Augustus, finally saved enough money to buy him from Robbins and set him free. Despite once being a slave himself, Henry bought his first slave, Moses, from his for master. At first, they acted as though they were friends, building Henry’s house together, but after Robbins lectured Henry, saying that slave owners should not be “rollin in the dirt with them” (Jones 123), Henry began acting like a slaver owner, someone with power and wealth."
Henry's experience with these themes are very distinctive. As a black man he does relate more to his slaves and befriends them. However because of his power and close relations with Robbins, a white man, he is pushed into treating his slaves as slaves and not as equals. The conflict is strong between his place of power and his internal moral feelings. With his place of power eventually overtakes his internal views.