Summary - pgs. 56-111
At this point of the story, Dr. Martin Luther King is now putting his ideas into motion. He is also starting to make his opinions heard by the mass population of his community. With help from his fellow everyday African-Americans, he was beginning to create a legacy that would later change the views of Whites in America. As King kept pressing on, more and more people began to follow him. This all leads up to the day when he gives his powerful "I Have a Dream" speech, which was said to be an impassioned plea for political rights.
Quotation Explanation
The author uses vivid metaphors to describe African-Americans through the eyes of White people who discriminate them by saying that, "There lived in Montgomery at the time fifty thousand Negroes. But they were neither citizens nor subjects. To most white people, the Negro populace was composed of objects, tools, instruments, things to be manipulated, dominated, and endured." (Bennett 55).
My Reaction
The author's writing style is still subjective, thus most of the writing is still a bit uninteresting. However, he still implements high-level vocabulary into his paragraphs, making them sound extraordinary. The Quotation Explanation was on the first page of the chapter, and it immediately caught my attention when I skimmed through and saw the word, "manipulate". Bennett's use of verbs like this can serve as a "hook" of some sort that can draw the reader into the book, making him or her eager to press on and read more of the story.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
What Manner of Man: Post #2
Summary - pgs. 34-55
The next chapters of Dr. King's biography describe his pathway to success. All his trials and all his mistakes are told in good description. It was not easy for him to go his way, however. Many times in his life, King had to make some sacrifices. At some points, his life was threatened as well, mostly by people who do not want to see him succeed, or by those who were simply jealous of him. At this point, King began to ponder about why, in his time, people were acting the way they were when it comes to racial discrimination. He deduced that the heated history between Whites and African-Americans should be able to end in some way. Trying to find this answer, King decided to keep researching for a possible answer.
Quotation Explanation
The author gives a small description of Coretta Scott King's personal ambitions when he says, "Beyond all that was a deeper and more compelling reason. By this time, Coretta was convinced that her future life would revolve around the concert stage." (Bennett 45).
My Reaction
As with the previous chapters, Bennett's writing style is still subjective. Despite this, his extensive use of high-level vocabulary makes his sentences stronger. At this point of the book, he begins to use metaphors, as seen in the Quotation Explanation. I can see that all the prior events of King's life are leading up to a major event in his future life. This could happen near the end of this life, where all of his efforts will pay off and improve a factor in America's society at the time period.
The next chapters of Dr. King's biography describe his pathway to success. All his trials and all his mistakes are told in good description. It was not easy for him to go his way, however. Many times in his life, King had to make some sacrifices. At some points, his life was threatened as well, mostly by people who do not want to see him succeed, or by those who were simply jealous of him. At this point, King began to ponder about why, in his time, people were acting the way they were when it comes to racial discrimination. He deduced that the heated history between Whites and African-Americans should be able to end in some way. Trying to find this answer, King decided to keep researching for a possible answer.
Quotation Explanation
The author gives a small description of Coretta Scott King's personal ambitions when he says, "Beyond all that was a deeper and more compelling reason. By this time, Coretta was convinced that her future life would revolve around the concert stage." (Bennett 45).
My Reaction
As with the previous chapters, Bennett's writing style is still subjective. Despite this, his extensive use of high-level vocabulary makes his sentences stronger. At this point of the book, he begins to use metaphors, as seen in the Quotation Explanation. I can see that all the prior events of King's life are leading up to a major event in his future life. This could happen near the end of this life, where all of his efforts will pay off and improve a factor in America's society at the time period.
What Manner of Man: Post #1
Summary - pgs. 3-33
Being the first few pages in this biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an in-depth synopsis of his early life and career is described. He grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, with his mother, father, and two siblings. Important roles in King's academic and social development are also described. For example, King first became interested with the ideas of civil rights when he attended Morehouse College to study, where he researched about the history of factors that impede the promotion of equal rights. The state of society during his time was relevant, with the mass amount of discrimination against people of color.
Quotation Explanation
The author gives an example of discrimination in Dr. King's campus community when he says, "During King's undergraduate days, the Morehouse campus was alive with political and social ferment. On one occasion, a campus strike and boycott of the dining room raised tensions to a record high." (Bennett, Jr. 27).
My Reaction
Before beginning to read this novel, I did not know much information about the life of Dr. King. After finishing this first chapter, though, I feel that I have gotten a bit more information about him, expanding on my prior knowledge. So far, the author's style of writing is very distinguished. Use of strong vocabulary in his writing, such as the Quotation Explanation stated above, gives it a professional look. However, his subjective style of writing, meaning stating facts and not making opinion-based judgments, might begin to detract the reader's interest in reading more.
Being the first few pages in this biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an in-depth synopsis of his early life and career is described. He grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, with his mother, father, and two siblings. Important roles in King's academic and social development are also described. For example, King first became interested with the ideas of civil rights when he attended Morehouse College to study, where he researched about the history of factors that impede the promotion of equal rights. The state of society during his time was relevant, with the mass amount of discrimination against people of color.
Quotation Explanation
The author gives an example of discrimination in Dr. King's campus community when he says, "During King's undergraduate days, the Morehouse campus was alive with political and social ferment. On one occasion, a campus strike and boycott of the dining room raised tensions to a record high." (Bennett, Jr. 27).
My Reaction
Before beginning to read this novel, I did not know much information about the life of Dr. King. After finishing this first chapter, though, I feel that I have gotten a bit more information about him, expanding on my prior knowledge. So far, the author's style of writing is very distinguished. Use of strong vocabulary in his writing, such as the Quotation Explanation stated above, gives it a professional look. However, his subjective style of writing, meaning stating facts and not making opinion-based judgments, might begin to detract the reader's interest in reading more.
What Manner of Man: Post #5
Summary - pgs. 197-229
The final chapter of this biography describes how the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is commonly referred to during times today. Judging by the epic struggle King had to deal with, the author describes him as a natural-born leader. He also states that his powerful philosophies, such as the famously-known "I Have a Dream" speech, have been paved in the minds of people recently introduced to them.
Quotation Explanation
"By the end of the centennial celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation, Martin Luther King, Jr. was more than a symbol. His influence, running on before him, shooting off sparks, had made him a presence in the land, a persuasive and prevailing social force" (Bennett, Jr. 197-198)."
My Reaction
To conclude this biography with great vigor and strength, Bennett goes the extra mile to let the readers know how much King's ideas shaped the way of society of America today. However, as with previous chapters, he writes in a rather subjective style, meaning that he writes everything based on facts, not opinions. Fortunately, his extensive use of vocabulary and descriptive writing compensates for subjective tone. The Quotation Explanation stated above supports the entire biography as a whole. It is saying that Dr. King has shaped the way of society today, and without him, our country would be very different today.
The final chapter of this biography describes how the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is commonly referred to during times today. Judging by the epic struggle King had to deal with, the author describes him as a natural-born leader. He also states that his powerful philosophies, such as the famously-known "I Have a Dream" speech, have been paved in the minds of people recently introduced to them.
Quotation Explanation
"By the end of the centennial celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation, Martin Luther King, Jr. was more than a symbol. His influence, running on before him, shooting off sparks, had made him a presence in the land, a persuasive and prevailing social force" (Bennett, Jr. 197-198)."
My Reaction
To conclude this biography with great vigor and strength, Bennett goes the extra mile to let the readers know how much King's ideas shaped the way of society of America today. However, as with previous chapters, he writes in a rather subjective style, meaning that he writes everything based on facts, not opinions. Fortunately, his extensive use of vocabulary and descriptive writing compensates for subjective tone. The Quotation Explanation stated above supports the entire biography as a whole. It is saying that Dr. King has shaped the way of society today, and without him, our country would be very different today.
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