Graded Assignment 3.14 Essays - English-language Films, Film

Graded Assignment 3.14 Cry the Beloved Country E ssay During the next several lessons you will write a nessay about the novel Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton. Essays must: Be at least 500 words (two pages dbl spaced) Contain at least three quotes from the text to support your ideas. Your essay may be a character analysis or a examination of the social issues discussed in the novel. Choose from the options below : Character Analysis Stephen Kumalo Write an essay describing the character of Stephen Kumalo. Choose three to five major characteristics to highlight about Kumalo, using specific evidence from the text to back up your argument. Be sure to describe how Kumalo changes internally over the course of the text, using quotes from both the beginning and the end to justify these changes. Stephen Kumalo and James Jarvis Write an essay comparing and contrasting Stephen Kumalo and James Jarvis. Make sure you are specific about the ways they are similar as well as the differences between them. Do you think the two men become more similar or different over the course of the novel? How do their similarities and differences impact their ability to relate to each other? James Jarvis and his Worldview Write an essay that describes the transformation of James Jarvis' views and actions as a result of his son's death. What specific events lead to his radical changes? How do these changes in his character and feelings impact on his behavior in the novel? How do they impact his relationship with Kumalo? Social Issues The Tribal System. What events in the novel illustrate the breakup of the tribal system? How is the tribal system destroyed? What is done to replace it? Author's Vision What is Paton's vision of the world? Does he express the view that human beings are immutable or capable of transformation? Are we left with any kind of message, any vision for mankind? If so, what is it? Alan Paton was born a native of South Africa, in a native village named Pietermaritzburg in Natal of 1903. Mr. Paton starting career was teaching wealthy Caucasians of South Africa. At the age of 30, he began to suffer from enteric fever, Which in turn caused him to reflect upon his life. He later quit his job and started working as a principal at a reformatory school in Johannesburg. He worked at the institution for ten years, until one day he felt he needed a change. So, after he sold his life insurance, he financed a prison study. Which took him to Scandinavia, England, and then to the United States. It was then he wrote his famed book "Cry, the beloved country." The story of Cry the beloved country, it is ab out a man named Stephen Kumalo, his tribe is slowly dying; his youth is moving away to the city, and his family is falling apart. He then gets a letter that tells him that his sister is sick, So he leaves to find her as well as search for his missing brother and son; Absalom Kumalo. His search then leads him to the city of Johannesburg. Throughout his search Stephen finds the city in ruins, he finds his sister in terrible living conditions, he also finds his son has been imprisoned; leaving a pregnant girl behind, and his brother had become a politician. Stephen changes a lot during the story, from the naive priest who wants to restore his family and tribe; to a man who knows of human suffering. However, one thing about Stephen that never changes throughout the story is, he is respectful, devout, and diplomatic. Stephen through his travels learns so much; He learns that his sister does not suffer from a physical sickness, but a moral one. When Stephen and his sister first meet for the first time, he is cold and unforgiving; he tells her she has shamed the family name; it is not until she agrees to leave the city with him does he began to warm up to her. Stephen comes to realize he cannot restore his tribe system and he had failed to restore his family- but he does not give up hope. He turns to the younger generation; which