Most of the discussion in Toni Cade Bambara’s “The Lesson” is about economic disparity, but part of the merit of the story is Sylvia’s refusal to learn and change. Rather than simply accepting Miss Moore’s lesson in institutionalized unfairness, Sylvia resists, holding onto pride and superiority to the other children. This isn’t stubbornness—it’s survival. She also won’t grow weak, illustrating how entrenched in her conviction is. The utilization of the first-person narrative by Bambara is critical in presenting Sylvia’s internal conflict. Her rapid, sarcastic voice captures her intelligence and confidence, but when the story ends, her silence and not wanting to think about it disclose that Miss Moore’s lesson has sunk in. What this shows is that development may not be in tangible terms. Sylvia’s defiance act, rather than being a sign of not learning, can actually be the beginning of true self-awareness.awareness.
Daily Archives: February 14, 2025
In “The lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara it shows more than the socio-economic issues. The story shows how Sylvia’s inner feelings impact her in a way she didn’t expect and how she comes to a realization. Throughout the story we can see her anger by the way she talks. Sylvia says “What I want to know is,” I says to Miss Moore though I never talk to her, I wouldn’t give the bitch that satisfaction”. Sylvia has a defiant attitude because she struggles with her pride. Her attitude is shown more to Miss Moore who is trying to teach them a lesson. She starts feeling emotions like shame and shyness and this frustrates her. She questions why she feels like this and at the end she came to a realization and her anger was now towards a determination that nothing will stop her. I good title for an essay can be “Sylvia inner realization to the lesson”
Miss Moore’s Way of Teaching in “The Lesson” In “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, Miss Moore is a very different kind of teacher. She does not tell the children what to think. Instead, she asks questions and makes them see things for themselves.Her way of teaching is not like school lessons—it is about real life. Miss Moore does not just say, “Life is unfair.” Instead, she takes the children to a fancy toy store where they see toys that cost more than their families’ rent. She asks them, “What do you think?” This question forces them to think about money, class, and unfairness in a way they never did before. Instead of giving answers, she helps them find the answers on their own. Instead of talking about rich and poor people, Miss Moore makes the kids feel the difference. They go from their neighborhood, where money is tight, to a store where some people can spend $1,000 on a toy boat. This makes them uncomfortable but also curious. They start asking questions: Why do some people have so much while others have so little? This lesson is powerful because it is real. Sylvia, the main character, does not like Miss Moore. She does not want to admit that she is learning something. But at the end of the story, she says she is “thinking this over.” This shows that Miss Moore’s lesson worked—even if Sylvia does not want to admit it. Her way of teaching is not about memorizing facts, but about making kids see the world in a new way. Miss Moore teaches in a way that makes kids think deeply.She does not give easy answers but pushes them to question the world. Her lesson stays with Sylvia, making her wonder about money, fairness, and what she can […]
When Bambara made Sylvia the narrator of his story, he was able to immerse us through a child’s perspective. He highlighted another side to the themes an AI generator would normally write about. Her encounter with Ms. Moore is not viewed as an opportunity to learn but as an intruder imposing her condescending opinions on them. Throughout the narrative, Sylvia expresses her disapproval of Ms. Moore based on other adults’ views. She describes Ms. Moore’s unwillingness to dress casually and wear makeup as another display of her superiority compared to the rest of her community. We can see Ms. Moore’s intentions in trying to educate the children, but from Sylvia’s perspective, we do not see those intentions come across clearly. This moment can be seen during the story when Sylvia refuses to discuss her reaction to the toy store with Ms. Moore. Sylvia struggles with her conflicting feelings of growing awareness over the social inequality she is faced with as a child. Bambara’s use of Sylvia’s point of view forces us to confront social inequality in the same way she was forced to face it through confusion and self-reflection. Through Sylvia’s narration, we also see another type of injustice when children are left to navigate these inequalities alone.
Hello My name is Heather Hansen, I may be doing this wrong but I am trying to catch up in discussion posts I missed. I am 41 years and permanently disabled and aspire to regain my independence through education and finding a passion and career where i can make a difference. I know we all struggles and I have been going through alot that have effected mt ability to focus on school. Between my disabilities and domestic violence and moving out of NYC when i needed to stay there for support and financial reasons I have been under a lot of stress, recent events have opened my eyes that after only a few months I need to come back to Manhatten to succeed in life and academics. I hope to accomlish and find a way to get bcak on track with my studies as they mean so much to me. I came as a transfer student with honor roll grades and due to DV my grades dropped. Not an excuse i take accountability, I thought I was strong enough to handle it all. I need help and I know BMCC has resources so I pray we can get me on a positive track before it is too latel
I think most of all after reading The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara is Sylvia’s resistance to accept change. She is smart and observant, but layers her discomfort under sarcasm and judgment. Instead of openly confronting the discrepancies Miss Moore points out, she directs her frustration toward Miss Moore and everyone around her. This is defensive; it helps her feel she has a level of control, even as she begins to wonder about her world. Her secret rivalry with Sugar brings this to the fore; when Sugar raises her hand, Sylvia feels challenged and suddenly is made aware that her grip is not as steady as she has always believed. Miss Moore’s method of teaching requires her to think for herself, and while she won’t admit it, days even weeks later, the lesson still lingers. Sylvia hates wealth but won’t let go of the money she won from Miss Moore, which suggests a tension between her hostility and awareness. I would title my essay “Sylvia’s Defense”.
I have appeciated reading the stories in class and the discussions and meanings we have what the literature reading means and habe enjoyed hearing the different opinions of how the reading effects the students in the class and what the interpetation is. i have i mention that in reading these stories and participating; I am nervoud about the MLA writing format. I did miss my tutor session yesterday due to a emergency involving thr police and I really needed the extra support of that tututoring. I do find that your teaching style seems to be unique in setting us, the students up for success. I have struggled with learning how to use this platform and when to respond to the discussions. I hope as time goes on I can become a stronger wrtier and comprehend the expectations of the class and assignements. I may over share with my discussions but that is part of who I am and I feel it gives me a chance for honest feedback. I am sorry my discussion post is late as I’ve been struggling and utilizing the accessibilty support is new to me and sometimes can be over whelming as it requires a lot of appointments. Please dont lose hope in me just yet as I have faith I will catch on.
In “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara the story is not just about money problems; it’s also about seeing things in a new way and growing up. Sylvia, who is the main character goes with her teacher who is named Miss Moore and her friends to a fancy toy store. At first Sylvia is upset because she can’t buy anything but as the day goes on she starts to understand more. Then Miss Moore takes the kids to the store to show them that some people are rich and some are poor and that not everyone gets the same chances in life. At first Sylvia didn’t understand. She was very angry and confused because she wanted the toys but she didn’t get why some people have a lot of money while others don’t. So the trip makes her think about things she had never thought about before. This story shows that growing up means learning hard things. But Sylvia doesn’t like it but she starts to see that the world isn’t fair. After the trip she feels like she has to figure out what to do about it. The story teaches that understanding how life works can be hard but it’s important if you want to make a change. In the end of the story Sylvia doesn’t just learn about money. She begins to understand more about how life is different for different people. She’s not just learning about money problems; she’s learning how to think for herself and make her own decisions. A good title for me for an essay about this could be: “Seeing the World Differently: What Sylvia Learns in ‘The Lesson.’”
