Ticket In #1

Homeless Bird

Everyone should answer Part I (questions 1-3) and Part II. Look for your name regarding the other questions and answer that question under Part III. Be sure to use specific textual support (quotations) and indicate the page number.

Part I

1. Who is the author?
2. When was Homeless Bird first published?
3. Very briefly discuss the significance of Koly remaining a virgin even though she was once married.

Part II

Create a question you believe will lead to sustained, productive class discussion (you do not have to answer the questions you create). Explain why this is a good question. (What is it you want others to explore/discover through the question?)

Part III

Group 1

• Brakebill, Jeri Lynne
• Chambers, Jessica Leigh
• Davis, Neely R
• Eubanks, Elizabeth Catherine
• Fay, Micheal A
• Forrester, Sandra E

In an interview with National Public Radio regarding Homeless Bird, Gloria Whelan states that she's never been to India. Rather, she relied on research (in part) to tell Koly's story. She also told the interviewer that "you do a lot of writing about other times and other places and as you do your research and you begin writing the story, you get so immersed in those other places that you actually feel that you're there. So it's a kind of a magical way to time travel, to write these stories about distant places or other countries or other times." There is a risk involved, however, when writing of other cultures in that authors sometimes project their own, perhaps cultural, ideologies on characters from these other cultures. In what ways might have Whelan projected her own cultural ideologies on Koly and why would it matter? (It might be helpful for you to consider what you have learned to value in our culture)

Group 2

• Garrett, Regan Britney
• Graham, Victoria F
• Hatten, Deonna D
• Henderson, Brittany A
• Huggins, Sherry Beth

Consider how India, Indians, and Indian culture are represented in Homeless Bird. Compare those to the U.S., Americans, and U.S. culture. What might these differences and similarities suggest?

Group 3

• Lawnicki, Louis Nicholas
• Leake, Sarah M
• Lenoir, Dawn Renea
• Lopeman, Tara A
• Mann, Grant L

In Homeless Bird, Koly tells her own story. This is called "first person" or "participant" narration/point of view. Consider some of the advantages and disadvantages of reading a novel written in first person, particularly one depicting "other" places. Consider who controls the text--the readers, protagonists, or narrators. Why might this be significant?

Group 4

• Parker, Rachel
• Pruitt, Audrea Danielle
• Robison, Loretta Ann
• Taylor, Anthony V
• Tijerina, Gonzalo
  

There are several Cinderella-like motifs (images) that surface in Homeless Bird. Discuss those and discuss what takes the place of the fairy godmother. What's the significance of this?

Group 5

• Martin, Laura A
• Massingill, Dickie D
• Mayeaux, Geneice F
• Newell, Yvette Lenore
• Olmsted, Cheryl

Discuss the various attitudes toward literacy in Homeless Bird. Who holds these attitudes and why? What might these attitudes (and who holds them) suggest?