Compare and Contrast What It Is Like to Be a Black Girl and Country Lovers
RUNNING HEAD: Lovers and To be A Black Girl
Literary Comparison: “Country Lovers” and “What It’s Like to Be A Black Girl
ENG 125: Introduction to Literature
Instructor: Amber Carpenter
1
Lovers and To Be A Black Girl
In literature, we find stories designed to portray human life and action through some characters who, by their words, action and reaction, convey certain messages for the purpose of education, information and entertainment. It is impossible to find a work of literature that excludes the attitudes, morale and values of the society, since no writer has been brought up completely unexposed to the world around him. What writers of literature do is to transport the real-life events in their society into fiction and present it to the society as a mirror with which people can look at themselves and make amends where necessary. Thus, literature is not only a reflection of the society but also serves as a corrective mirror in which members of the society can look at themselves and find the need for positive change. (http://expertscolumn.com/content/literature-reflection-society). Prejudice, Inner struggles and bondage are issues that we see in both of these pieces of the literary works. With this paper I will present a short story and a poem that deals with issues on race. “Country Lovers” is a story of forbidden love between a black woman and the son of her white masters. It was a story of a love that bore out of childhood romance that blossomed to adulthood until the harmless flirtation lead to sexual curiosity. “What It’s Like to Be a Black Girl” is a poem about young black girl’s transition into black woman hood at a time where both being a black girl and a black woman was not as welcomed. 2
Lovers and To Be A Black Girl Nadine Gordimer was born into a well-off family in Springs, Transvaal, an East
Literary Comparison: “Country Lovers” and “What It’s Like to Be A Black Girl
ENG 125: Introduction to Literature
Instructor: Amber Carpenter
1
Lovers and To Be A Black Girl
In literature, we find stories designed to portray human life and action through some characters who, by their words, action and reaction, convey certain messages for the purpose of education, information and entertainment. It is impossible to find a work of literature that excludes the attitudes, morale and values of the society, since no writer has been brought up completely unexposed to the world around him. What writers of literature do is to transport the real-life events in their society into fiction and present it to the society as a mirror with which people can look at themselves and make amends where necessary. Thus, literature is not only a reflection of the society but also serves as a corrective mirror in which members of the society can look at themselves and find the need for positive change. (http://expertscolumn.com/content/literature-reflection-society). Prejudice, Inner struggles and bondage are issues that we see in both of these pieces of the literary works. With this paper I will present a short story and a poem that deals with issues on race. “Country Lovers” is a story of forbidden love between a black woman and the son of her white masters. It was a story of a love that bore out of childhood romance that blossomed to adulthood until the harmless flirtation lead to sexual curiosity. “What It’s Like to Be a Black Girl” is a poem about young black girl’s transition into black woman hood at a time where both being a black girl and a black woman was not as welcomed. 2
Lovers and To Be A Black Girl Nadine Gordimer was born into a well-off family in Springs, Transvaal, an East
References: Nadine gordimer. The Georgia Review, (Spring 1995) 49, 272. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/217923316?accountid=32521 Jablonski, N. (2012). The struggle to overcome racism. New Scientist, 215(2880), 26-29. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu "About Patrica Smith." About Patrica Smith