THHS AP English 6

Michael Benjamin & Heidi Chang April 30th, 2011

Title: Go Tell It On The Mountain Author: James Baldwin Date of Publication: 1953 Genre: Semi-Autobiographic Historical Information about period of publication: During this period, many AfricanAmericans were impoverished and clung to religion as a means of coping. AfricanAmericans were also extremely segregated from whites, since around this time period; Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka began a popular case. This time is way after racism but is right before the beginning of the final push for civil rights. Biographical Information about the author: James Baldwin was born out of wedlock in Harlem during the mid-1920s. Baldwins stepfather was a Baptist minister and at the age of 14, Baldwin himself became a Pentecostal Preacher. Soon after, Baldwin would begin to reject his religion, turning him into a critic of the system he used to belong to. Characteristics of the genre: This genre parallels the authors life. Often, the author includes small details from his/her life into the novel. Plot Summary: John is a 14-year-old boy who lives in Harlem. He is the eldest of the three children of Elizabeth and Gabriel. Gabriel is a preacher at the local storefront church. Over the course of the novel, John is troubled over his future; part of him wants to become a secular being like the people he sees at the movies while the other part of him wants to fulfill what is expected of him, to accept God and take a place in the church. As the novel progresses, we learn about Florences (Gabriels sister), Gabriels, and Elizabeths past. We learn that Florence grew resentment towards Gabriel because her mother favored him. We learn the tale of Deborah, Florences good friend who was raped and whom Gabriel married as a way to grow closer to God. We learn of Gabriels affair with a prostitute who bore his first son, Royal. Royal grew up fatherless and was killed as a young man in a barroom fight in Chicago. Finally, we learn that Gabriel is not the father of John; that Elizabeth grew close to a man who committed suicide over the abuse he dealt with from police officers. At the novels end, John becomes a son of the church, and he is saved. Describe the authors style: James Baldwin called on his black church roots when he wrote this novel. During the narration, Baldwin used the slang of the people as well as employed music throughout. Examples that demonstrate style: Church and religion played a major role in the shaping of Baldwins style in this novel. Most of it takes place at a church and most of the characters names are either directly from the Bible, John, Gabriel, Elizabeth, Ruth, Elisha, or have religious connotations, Royal/Roy. It is also said that his writing is similar to the King James Version of the Bible. In addition, Baldwin uses parts from hymns to begin each section of the novel. Setting: In the present time, the novel is set in Harlem, New York. Then throughout Gabriel and Florences sections, there are flashbacks in certain parts to the Grimes life in the South. Harlem and the South are the most significant places, but there were brief parts that took place in Maryland (Elizabeths hometown) and Central Park (where John spends his free time). Possible themes / topics of discussion:

1. Searching for Ones Identity We follow John Grimes on his journey to find out who he really is. He grew up unable to distinguish his fathers ideals from his own. Everyone, including himself, expected him to be a preacher; his father imposed religion on him and conditioned him to believe that anything else was sinful. But John realizes that this might not be what he wants in life, that there might be something better out there for him. 2. Finding acceptance Each character in this novel has dealt with his/her own abandonment and loss issues. John is hated by his own father. His father has to deal with losing his first wife, Deborah, as well as a lover, Esther. His mother lost her first lover, Richard, in his struggle to find equality with white men. Aunt Florence was deprived of affection from her mother, who favored Gabriel over her, and married Frank, a gambling drunk who eventually died during WWI. After all theyve been through, they seek consolation and find it in God. Symbols: Although there are no specific symbols in Go Tell It on the Mountain, there are several allusions to different biblical stories. The title of the last part, The Threshing Floor, is literally a place where wheat is separate from the chaff. Chaff, symbolizing evil and worthless people, is removed from John in this last chapter. There is also the reference to the father-son relationship between Gabriel and John and between Noah and Ham. Ham sees Noah naked and has a cursed put upon him and his children; John sees Gabriel naked in the bathroom and suffers grief from it. Significance of opening scene: The opening scene is of John realizing it is birthday and a mental run-through of the sinners in his neighborhood, the church, Sunday service, etc. This shows how brainwashed John is as he is plagued by the thought of sin. This is the initial spark to his internal dilemma of whether he wants to be a preacher. Significance of closing scene: The ending was very inconclusive. Baldwin concludes with John getting saved and church members congratulating him, but nothing is definite. Theres a lingering note to remind the readers that the narrow path John wants to take is easy to stray from; he can easily falter. Memorable Quotations: 1. "Everyone had always said that John would be a preacher when he grew up, just like his father. It had been said so often that John, without ever thinking about it, had come to believe it himself." 2. He looked straight ahead, down Fifth Avenue, where graceful women in fur coats walked, looking into the windows that held silk dresses, and watches, and rings. What church did they go to? And what were their houses like when in the evening they took off these coats, and these silk dresses, and put their jewelry in a box, and leaned back in soft beds to think for a moment before they slept of the day gone by. 3. "People pay for what they do, and still more for what they have allowed themselves to become. And they pay for it very simply; by the lives they lead." 4. " 'Elisha,' he said, 'no matter what happens to me, where I go, what folks say about me, no matter what anybody says, you remember - please remember - I was saved. I was there.' " Significance of Quotations: 1. As the opening line of the book, it immediately gives the reader a sense of Johns lack of autonomy. Everyone had already decided what he was to be for so long that John accepted it as his own future. However, this is where Johns search for his identity originates. Thus, he starts to reject the goals everyone set for him and to find what he wants to do.

2. John grows up in a Christian family, with religious beliefs imprinted on him since he was little. He never questioned his faith and shunned sinful things. But as he starts doubting, he notices the sinners of New York City. They indulge themselves in sin every night, they dont go to church, and they dont feel guilty about it. Yet, John cannot imagine them as damned or going to hell. 3. This line is the major motif with which the book deals. All the major characters have sinned greatly in the past and continue to sin in the present. They have to repent and correct their incorrect ways. However, none of the characters do so, which makes the novel ironic because these characters are supposedly the holy and righteous figures telling others to confess their sins, yet they themselves dont acknowledge their own sin. 4. After he has been saved, John speaks to Elisha. These lines show Johns foresight and how he knows that he will fall eventually. He will stray from the right path and do wrong, but still he is the same John deep inside, the one who was saved. So he asks Elisha to give him a chance and not readily condemn him for any decisions he might make in the future. Characters: Name Role In Story Significance Adjectives John He is the storys The novel revolves around ugly questioning protagonist. Johns struggle with his identity, who he is as a person in this world and who he is as spiritual being. Roy He is Johns brother Roy serves as a contrast outspoken wild and Gabriels obvious between being Gabriels favorite son. biological son and not. Florence Gabriels sister and a Florence narrates a section resentful bitter secular woman who of the novel ad reveals the resents her brother. desire to be white as well as provides insight into Gabriels youngest days. Elizabeth Johns mother and Elizabeth is the person loving Gabriels wife. She is who knows Johns true one of the only people identity: he is not the son who treats John well. of a preacher, rather a dead, secular man. Gabriel Johns stepfather and Gabriel is the storys wild powerful preacher at the local antagonist; through most angry church. of the novel, the reader learns about Gabriels life and how it realted to John and who Gabriel is as a person. Deborah Florenes best friend Deborah is the holiest plain ghostly and Gabriels first person in the whole novel caring wife. She was raped yet she is treated the worst as a teenager. throughout.

Elisha

A young preacher at the church who is Johns teacher.

Johns role model.

big strong