Modou so long a letter

Activity Sheet per French 149 Novel

in Introduction to Mariama Bâ’s So Long A Letter

Deadlines:

 For Monday, March 12: → I will start to read Mariama Bâ’s novel So Long A Letter (chapters 1-13) and prepare the

activities #1-7. → I will also write film essay #2 on Africa (see Assignments for the list on Blackboard) if I

choose to do so. I will bring a paper copy of this film essay (with proof of submission to Turnitin) and also load it up on Blackboard by class time.

→ I will also turn in all my journal activities about Ambiguous Adventure that same day.

 For Monday, March 19: → I will finish reading Mariama Bâ’s novel So Long A Letter (chapters 14-end) and prepare the

activities #8-11. → I will also write book essay #2 on Cheikh Hamidou Kane’s novel Ambiguous Adventure if I

choose to do so. I will bring a paper copy of this film essay (with proof of submission to Turnitin) and also load it up on Blackboard by class time.

→ I will submit my First Draft/Progress Report for my creative project → I will make sure to have completed my Academic Integrity Workshop by that day!

1. So long A Letter: Chapters 1-13 Activity #1: At home and in class. Read the first the first page of the document entitled “Introduction to Mariama Bâ”.

 What are 5 facts you learned about Mariama Bâ’s life and work? Activity #2: At home.

 The second document, “Mourning and Funeral in Senegal” is optional. It introduces you to the rituals involved after a death.

 There is also a link entitled to a folder “Women’s Issues” if you have questions regarding polygamy, marriage, and arranged marriages. This is totally optional but your instructor might invite you to take a look at some of these documents if you have specific questions. Attention: there can be changes in webpages and addresses! If so, let me know!

Activity #3: At home. Before you start reading the novel, check the document #3, a chart presenting all the characters in Mariama Bâ’s book. It should help you figure out the relationships between the

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different characters. There are several characters who have the same name: this might be confusing. Activity #4: At home. Read chapters 1-13 of So Long A Letter. Activity #5: At home.

 While reading chapters 1-13, check the questionnaire below to be able to figure out what happens in Mariama Bâ’s novel So Long A Letter.

 You do not need to write your answer down, except for the two charts which you find under the headings of chapters 6 and 12: these you complete in writing.

Chapter 1:

 With the title and the beginning of the book, can you indicate the nature of this book?

 Who is the narrator?

 Who is the narrator talking to?

 What is the link between the person writing and the person to whom the letter is intended?

 When and why does the person writing decide to write? Chapters 2-3:

 What are some traditions observed during the mourning?

 Compare these traditions with that of your culture under such circumstances.

 Who is Binetou? Chapter 4:

 What does Ramatoulaye discover after Modou’s death?

 What are some of the problems that arise with Modou’s death? Chapter 6:

 Contrast how Modou appears in the first five chapters with Ramatoulaye’s description at the beginning of the chapter 6.

Past Description Current description

Chapter 7:

 How do Ramatoulaye’s parents react when she decides to marry Modou? Why?

 Is Ramatoulaye’s marriage a traditional one?

 How is Ramatoulaye’s marriage different from her parents’? Chapter 8:

 How do people react when Aïssatou and Mawdo get married and why?

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 Is this important do you think and why? Chapters 9-11:

 What is Mawdo’s mother reaction when she learns of Mawdo’s wedding plans? Chapter 12:

 What does Mawdo’s mother get even with her son marrying outside of their caste? What does she do? Are actions successful?

 What is Mawdo’s reaction when confronted with his mother’s plans? Could he have react- ed differently?

 What does Aïssatou when she learns of Mawdo’s actions?

 Describe the actions or reactions of the following characters in Chapters 10, 11 and 12:

Modou Madow

Madow’s Mother Little (or Young) Nabou

Aïssatou Mawdo's reaction to Aïssatou's letter

 What is Ramatoulaye’s comment about Mawdo and about men in general. Chapter 13:

 What happens in chapter 13 and what brought it about indirectly?

 Choose one of the two topics below and write 300-400 words about it. → Who is the main character in So Long A Letter? What is the relationship between

Ramatoulaye & Aïssatou? Who are Modou & Madou? What is the book about? → Who are you two favorite characters of the book & why? Find 4 quotes related to them

that really spoke to you and explain what they mean and why they are relevant in your opinion.

Activity #6:

 Which two articles are you going to read for the next class?

 A reminder: No need to download and/or to summarize them. We will be discussing them in class.

Activity #7: When you have done the assigned reading and orally answered the questionnaire, do the following in writing:

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 What is this book about? Who are your two favorite characters & why? Find 4 quotes related to them that really spoke to you. Do not forget to explain why that is. You should be able to write a 10-15 line paragraph about each of your favorite character.

2. So long A Letter: Chapters 13-End Activity #8: At home. Read chapters 13-28 of So Long A Letter. Activity #9: At home.

 While reading chapters 13-28, check the questionnaire below to be able to figure out what happens in Mariama Bâ’s novel So Long A Letter.

 You do not need to write your answer down, except for the two charts which you find under the headings of chapters 15 and 20: these you complete in writing.

Chapter 14:

 What is Daba’s reaction when she learns of her father's marriage with her friend Binetou? What past reaction does she allude to? And how does Ramatoulaye react to the fact that she now has a co-wife?

 What are the similarities and the differences between Aïssatou’s and Ramatoulaye’s from the beginning of their story to the end.

Chapter 15:

 Compare and contrast Little (Young) Nabou and Binetou.

 How are they similar? How are they different?

Little (Young) Nabou Binetou

Chapter 16:

 How does Mariama Bâ describe friendship in her novel?

 Describe the friendship between Ramatoulaye and Aïssatou.

 What is your vision of friendship?

Chapter 17: What does Ramatoulaye reflect about in chapter 17? What conclusion does she reach at the end of this chapter? Chapitre18:

 Who is Tamsir?

 What does Tamsir want with Ramatoulaye?

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 What is Ramatoulaye’s answer? Chapter 19:

 Who is Daouda Dieng?

 What do Tamsir and Ramatoulaye discuss about at the end of her forty days of mourning? Chapter 20:

 What does Daouda Dieng ask Ramatoulaye?

 Compare and contrast Tamsir and Daouda.

Tamsir Daouda

Chapter 21:

 What does Ramatoulaye answer and how does she respond?

 How are Modou’s debts settled? Chapter 22:

 Describe family life from Ramatoulaye’s perspective.

 Who are Mawdo Fall and Jean-Claude? What is the issue between them?

 What kind of couple are Daba and her husband? Chapter 23:

 Who are Arame, Yacine and Dieynaba? What are they doing that Ramatoulaye might not approve?

 What does Ramatoulaye worry about in regards to her children? Chapter 24:

 Who has an accident? How and why does this happen?

 Who is pregnant?

 How does Ramatoulaye learn of the pregnancy?

 What is Ramatoulaye’s reaction when she learns of that pregnancy?

 What does she say about being a mother? Chapter 25:

 Who is Ibrahima Sall?

 Why does he meet with Ramatoulaye?

 What does he promise her?

 Why does Ramatoulaye reflect on her daughter Young Aïssatou? Chapter 26:

 What are Ramatoulaye’s thoughts about children?

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Chapter 27:

 How does the novel end?

 What conclusions does Ramatoulaye draw at the end of her letter? Activity #10:

 Which two articles are you going to read for the next class?

 A reminder: No need to download and/or to summarize them. We will be discussing them in class.

Activity #11: When you have done the assigned reading and orally answered the questionnaire, choose one question and answer it in writing a 15-20 line paragraph.

 Discuss briefly the views of men vs. women regarding polygamy as they are presented in So Long A Letter?

 Is Mariama Bâ a feminist? Explain your answer.

 Clearly Daba and Young Aïssatou have different view about being a woman. How is their view different from Ramatoulaye’s?

 There are several traditional couples in the SLAL: which ones? How are they different?

 How does Mariama Bâ’s novel So Long A Letter end? Is it a good end?

A reminder: Do not forget the two essays on 2 different books and your 2 film critiques. You need to write your 650-700 word for each essay. Use double spaces 3-4 pages. Or if you prefer, create a semester project and write 1 essay on a book and one on a film. Check the deadlines for these on your Overall Course Reading & Assignment Schedule.