Mildred D. Taylor's Roll Of Thunder Hear My Cry
Mildred D. Taylor, author of “Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry,” created an excellent book with many literary elements. Three of these elements demonstrated in the book are setting, point of view, and genre. Through these literary elements, Taylor creates an intriguing book which gives the readers’ insight into the life of an African American family during Great Depression when times are rough and racism is reaching its peak. Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry is set in rural Mississippi, 1933 during the heart of the Great Depression. Times are tough and it is even tougher for an African American family trying to make it through hard times, while trying not to conform to the racist views of the south. The people in this family’s community are of
two varieties: white and black. The whites consider themselves superior and demonstrate this superiority by making hard times even harder for the African American community. Most of the blacks have conformed to this racial view, and those who don’t are dealt with harshly. Tension has grown between the two groups and African American families fear for their lives. Taylor establishes both a physical setting and an atmospheric setting. These two types of settings give the readers a base to jump into the story from.
Taylor tells the story through the character of Cassie. Cassie is a nine-year-old African American girl, who does not understand the differences between blacks and whites. She is an outspoken, comical character through which Taylor reveals the themes and lessons of the story from. Throughout the story her innocence and obliviousness slowly wears away as she begins to realize the cruelty of her world. She recognizes her families stand against this cruelty, but also witnesses the affects that this causes. Her family is put in grave danger and she slowly begins to understand her predicament. The telling of the story through a child makes the story more relatable and a little less scary. The readers learn about the racial conflict and tension with Cassia and as a result seem to grow up with her.
This book demonstrates the genre of Historical Fiction. Taylor sets the book during the Great Depression and creates a story based off of the events and tension of that time. The book captures the conflicts between whites and blacks, the different economic achievements between African Americans, and the innocence of the children, both white and black, during this time frame. Taylor remains bound to the historical setting she has chosen, but exemplifies creative freedom through her characters and story.
Taylor has created an excellent book that demonstrates key lessons that every student should learn. She uses multiple literary elements to convey a convincing story that any reader could find enjoyable. Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry is an outstanding book that would be great to have in any classroom.
two varieties: white and black. The whites consider themselves superior and demonstrate this superiority by making hard times even harder for the African American community. Most of the blacks have conformed to this racial view, and those who don’t are dealt with harshly. Tension has grown between the two groups and African American families fear for their lives. Taylor establishes both a physical setting and an atmospheric setting. These two types of settings give the readers a base to jump into the story from.
Taylor tells the story through the character of Cassie. Cassie is a nine-year-old African American girl, who does not understand the differences between blacks and whites. She is an outspoken, comical character through which Taylor reveals the themes and lessons of the story from. Throughout the story her innocence and obliviousness slowly wears away as she begins to realize the cruelty of her world. She recognizes her families stand against this cruelty, but also witnesses the affects that this causes. Her family is put in grave danger and she slowly begins to understand her predicament. The telling of the story through a child makes the story more relatable and a little less scary. The readers learn about the racial conflict and tension with Cassia and as a result seem to grow up with her.
This book demonstrates the genre of Historical Fiction. Taylor sets the book during the Great Depression and creates a story based off of the events and tension of that time. The book captures the conflicts between whites and blacks, the different economic achievements between African Americans, and the innocence of the children, both white and black, during this time frame. Taylor remains bound to the historical setting she has chosen, but exemplifies creative freedom through her characters and story.
Taylor has created an excellent book that demonstrates key lessons that every student should learn. She uses multiple literary elements to convey a convincing story that any reader could find enjoyable. Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry is an outstanding book that would be great to have in any classroom.