An interesting part of The Lesson is Sylvia’s language and how she tells the story. Her sharp, witty, and sometimes defiant tone helps the reader understand the themes of awareness, resistance, and growth. Sylvia comes across as bold and opinionated. She doesn’t trust Miss Moore and sees her as someone who thinks she’s “better’n the rest of us” because she is educated and speaks differently.
Sylvia’s defiant attitude is a big part of her voice. She doesn’t like being told what to do or taught lessons, which makes her an interesting and complex character. When Miss Moore takes the children on a trip, Sylvia refuses to accept the lesson being taught: “And I’m really hating this nappy-head bitch and her goddamn college degree.” This unfiltered thought shows her resistance and frustration at feeling judged or out of place.
Bambara writes in a way that feels real, using slang, contractions, and informal speech to make Sylvia’s voice sound natural, as if she’s speaking directly to the reader.
Because of Sylvia’s strong voice and attitude, I would title this essay “Words with Attitude: How Sylvia’s Voice Shapes The Lesson.”
3 thoughts on “Mohon Miah “Discussion 3””
Mohon, I love your title, and I think the language is one of the things that makes this story so unique. Sylvia’s voice conveys all the things you mention, such as defiance and “attitude,” which make her such a rich and remarkable character. This topic would make a great essay, and you would never run out of wonderful, representative quotes!
I like how you talked about Sylvia’s strong voice. It really shows how she doesn’t want to listen to Miss Moore and feels upset and how also her words help us understand her attitude and how she feels about everything. I also think the title “Words with Attitude” is a good choice and it fits well because it shows how her way of talking helps tell the story. good job on showing how Sylvia’s voice is important in the lesson.
Hi Mohon! I loved your focus on Sylvia’s attitude and tone best! Her stubborn little attitude really makes her an interesting character, and I think that Bambara’s use of colloquial language does make her sound more realistic. Sylvia’s rebellion against Miss Moore is especially interesting because it shows how sometimes you don’t learn immediately, sometimes you grow quietly. Finally, the fact that she would rather recall the experience than forget it indicates that the lesson did sink in, even though she will not admit it. Your title, “Words with Attitude: How Sylvia’s Voice Shapes The Lesson”, is perfect because it both identifies her attitude and the impact of her voice.