Chan 1 Yin Mei Chan Gardner Hon.

English 10 1 18 November 2013 Into a Lesson Boswell, Marshall, and Carl Rollyson, eds. "Gaines, Ernest J." Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.

This article, written by Marshall Boswell provides a concise summary of the life of the author, Ernest J. Gaines. In the beginning of the article, Boswell touches on Gaines's hometown, education, and career as an author. For several of Gaines's novels, Boswell offers a succinct summary to provide the reader with a peek of what Gaines's works are directed towards. Also comprised in the article are tips to studying the passionate works of Ernest Gaines.

Significantly focusing on the study of Gaines's novel, Boswell's article is a convenient and advantageous article for students interested in Gaines's life, development, and concern as an author. To deeply inform his audience, Boswell incorporates one-sentence synopses of Gaines's more prominent novels, making this article both biographical of his life and informative of his works. Boswell uses clear and neutral diction to emphasize his purpose to "students interested in the life and artistic development of Ernest J. Gaines." This article, however, provides a minute amount of biographical facts that have little or no regard to his career. Stressing on the denotation behind the majority of Gaines's

Chan 2 novels, this article is a worthy research element for the narratives themselves, not the story of Gaines's lifetime.

Brown, Lois. "Ku Klux Klan." Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.

In this article, written by Lois Brown, the association of the Ku Klux Klan to racial discrimination is addressed. Brown opens his article with an introduction to the establishment of the organization and continues on to the prominent members of the group and their crimes against the non-white population. Additionally, Brown justly acknowledges the on-going existence of the Ku Klux Klan in today's world.

This article provides comprehensible information on the history of the Ku Klux Klan. Even though the article is moderately brief, Brown manages to state his point with defined and eloquent diction. Systematizing the information from the organization's launch to their current activity assists in the article's lucidity and clarity. Brown also integrates specific involvements of the Ku Klux Klan within the article; this notifies the reader of the true capabilities of the group when it comes to racial discrimination, generating a stronger and more potent tone behind Brown's words. Ernest Gaines's novel, A Lesson Before Dying, parallels the racial discrimination mentioned by Brown in this article. In both cases, the non-white populations are persecuted for their color and differentiations.

Kelly, David J., Novels for Students. Gale. Web. 26 Nov. 2013.

Chan 3

Within his article, David J. Kelly primarily describes his opinions and interpretations of character Grant Wiggins, the chief protagonist of the novel A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines. Kelly expounds his thoughts on Wiggins's actions, personality, and overall character, as well as exposes his interpretations on Gaines's use of the character Wiggins to demonstrate his general message.

This article is a reliable source for anyone wanting a second opinion on the character Grant Wiggins from A Lesson Before Dying. Though Kelly's article primarily embodies his outlook on Wiggins only, it does so with noteworthy support and description. At the beginning of the article, Kelly also states his thoughts on who the novel would be beneficial to; this precisely introduces the novel to the article's audience, drawing in the readers who may find themselves in the category presented by Kelly. Insightfully, Kelly further explains his thoughts on the protagonist Grant Wiggins rather than simply stating his appeal, making this article alluring and valuable for any reader interested in the works of Ernest Gaines.

Larson, Charles R., "End as a Man," Chicago Tribune Books. Web. 26 Nov. 2013.

In this article, Larson states his interpretation of Ernest J. Gaines's novel, A Lesson Before Dying. In the overall article, Larson focuses his attention on "Gaines's treatment of human dignity and the 'morality of connectedness'" in the novel. He provides a brief summary of A Lesson Before Dying and following, he states his most memorable part of

Chan 4 the story, and his belief of what the most prominent theme of the novel is: "standing tall and being a man in the face of overwhelming adversity."

To support his assertions, Larson provides necessary quotes and summaries to enforce his interpretation of A Lesson Before Dying. For curious readers wanting to be enlightened of Gaines's primary purpose of the novel, this article would deliver sufficient information and evidence. Along the way, the audience of this article would be able to further grasp the incidents taking place within the novel, as well as identify the significance of the incidents and how they relate to the overall theme, all doing so with the assistance of Larson's criticism article. The article is delivered in a highly critical tone, consisting of many opinions of the article's author. With the compilation of thoughts, the reader is given a sense of what to look for while interpreting the novel; additionally, they are also offered a second opinion, leading to more thoughts and maybe even a change of judgment.

Raynor, Deirdre. "Black Arts Movement." Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 22 Nov. 2013

This article on the Black Arts Movement, published by Deirdre Raynor describes the impacts and influences the movement had on the African- American population. Raynor begins with an explanation of the upbringing of the movement, and later addresses the accomplishments and benefits the movement brought upon the African- American

Chan 5 society. Additionally, Raynor notes the substantial figures of the movement, as well as their contributions to the historical act.

Raynor's article is crisp and straightforward; it simply distributes the noteworthy aspects of the Black Arts Movement to the article's audience. From the people of the movement to the masterworks of the act, Raynor includes specific names and examples to emphasize the reality of the poised revolution and accentuate the size and extent of the action. A Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest J. Gaines, subtly addresses the involvement of the African-American society and their attempts to revolutionize their culture. This connection between the novel and a factual historical act creates a sense of reality within the novel's presented issues. In A Lesson Before Dying, an African-American man, who is awaiting his execution, writes about his stories and feelings within a diary; this diary, becomes "a revolutionary art that exposed the white power structure that condoned violence directed against blacks and perpetuated institutional and social racism."

Werlock, Abby H. P., ed. "Gaines, Ernest J." Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.

This article, written by Abby H.P. Werlock, voices the story of author Ernest J. Gaines: from his early life to education, and his education to career. The text greatly annunciates the effects of racism on Gaines from his experiences, and how those experiences contribute to the novelty within his work. More specifically, this article reveals the greatest influences of Gaines's writing, as well as his approach to settle the disparagement of African- Americans in the South.

Chan 6

Informative and insightful, this article provides viable information explaining the influences of racial discrimination throughout Gaines's life. Werlock compiled and systematized the information in a style that is simple for students of young age to comprehend, yet complex enough for an article of rich thought. Their brief descriptions of several of Gaines's works such as, "In My Father's House (1978), reiterates the separation of fathers and sons, emanating, says Gaines, from the history of the slavery auction block," additionally enrolls this article as a reference for any individual interested in the writings of Gaines. This article acts as an informative biography, as well as an introduction to Gaines's many novels; it achieves her primary purposes with precise diction and organization, as well as insight and depth.