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Jana Evans Braziel, Assistant Professor
229B Mc Micken Hall
Department of English and Comparative Literature
University of Cincinnati
ML 210069
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0069
Office # (513) 556-0834
Fax # (513) 556-5960
jana.braziel@uc.edu
evans_braziel@hotmail.com

James Baldwin, Go Tell It on the Mountain

• How does the physical environmentóboth the interiority of the house, the sanctuary of the church and the city itself -- all form part of the emotional geography of John Grimes in the first section, "The Seventh Day," of Go Tell It on the Mountain? Give specific examples.
• Compare the opening lines of "The Seventh Day" with the closing passages of this section. What similarities exist in the lines? Does this opening section end with resolution or does it end with uncertainty? Why?
• Why does Baldwin focus so much on the mundane elements of John Grimes' fourteenth birthday? How do the minute details of this day form a certain narrative "timelessness", especially as compared to the linear histories (those of Florence, Gabriel, and Elizabeth), which unfold in the second section, "The Prayers of the Saints"?
• How are Roy and Elisha similar and/or dissimilar to John? How does their lives seem to either contrast or parallel Johnís own life? What tensions exist between the brothers? How do John and Elisha seem affiliated (in personality, in camaraderie, in spirit, etc.) in the work?
• Discuss the importance of biblical imagery in Baldwinís autobiographical novel: consider the characters, the charactersí names, the plot, the themes of the novel, the use of biblical passages and the title and subtitles in the work. Why does Baldwin employ biblical themes? What impact does it have on the reader?
• Discuss the motif of father-son rivalry in the novel. How is this theme an important one in the work? How is the theme first outlined in the opening section of the book, "The Seventh Day"? What other central themes exist in the autobiographical novel?
• Is Baldwinís autobiographical novel one about faith? or the loss of faith? Explain your answer. Use specific details and/or quotes to bolster your opinion.

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