Literature Courework
Yasheeka Palmer
Choose two stories from ‘An Evening in Guanima’ that you considered to be the “best” or your favourite. Explain the reasons for your choice considering: theme, characters and writer’s style.
The author got her inspiration for these stories from her birthplace, Cat Island, which many believe was originally called “Guanima” by the Lucayans. She frequently visited her grandparents in Port Howe, where, via storytelling, she discovered the fascinating world of Bahamian folklore. Therefore, it was for this reason ‘An Evening in Guanima’ was created. One of my personal favourites is “The Girl on the Gallows” because of the writer’s style – which I felt encompassed varied techniques; impressive characterization and theme. Another favourite is “The Gaulin Wife” with its distinct writer’s style, ingenious characterization and obvious, clear-cut theme. I love the writer’s extremely descriptive writer’s style; it paints picturesque scenes of this exotic land and enabled me to visualise the characters while learning about their personalities. “The sheen of Christa’s skin, the colour of honey from bees feeding on wild marigolds… and no less golden and beautiful was her hair” – this allowed me to effortlessly visualise Christa and Glinton describing her personality as being “sweet” told me she was a kind-hearted character. On the contrary, the author used words like “jealous” and “spiteful” when describing Anacarla and this, to me, denoted a vicious character. Christa was portrayed as a becoming yet humble girl with a kind personality while Anacarla on the other hand, was portrayed as “a cruel viper of a princess”. This made me despise Anacarla but feel nothing except fondness and sympathy toward Christa. I greatly admired the manner in which Glinton intertwined structure and symbolism when discussing the bird-messengers. She structurally highlighted the words “Princess” and “Queen” by capitalizing them and used each type of bird to symbolize
Choose two stories from ‘An Evening in Guanima’ that you considered to be the “best” or your favourite. Explain the reasons for your choice considering: theme, characters and writer’s style.
The author got her inspiration for these stories from her birthplace, Cat Island, which many believe was originally called “Guanima” by the Lucayans. She frequently visited her grandparents in Port Howe, where, via storytelling, she discovered the fascinating world of Bahamian folklore. Therefore, it was for this reason ‘An Evening in Guanima’ was created. One of my personal favourites is “The Girl on the Gallows” because of the writer’s style – which I felt encompassed varied techniques; impressive characterization and theme. Another favourite is “The Gaulin Wife” with its distinct writer’s style, ingenious characterization and obvious, clear-cut theme. I love the writer’s extremely descriptive writer’s style; it paints picturesque scenes of this exotic land and enabled me to visualise the characters while learning about their personalities. “The sheen of Christa’s skin, the colour of honey from bees feeding on wild marigolds… and no less golden and beautiful was her hair” – this allowed me to effortlessly visualise Christa and Glinton describing her personality as being “sweet” told me she was a kind-hearted character. On the contrary, the author used words like “jealous” and “spiteful” when describing Anacarla and this, to me, denoted a vicious character. Christa was portrayed as a becoming yet humble girl with a kind personality while Anacarla on the other hand, was portrayed as “a cruel viper of a princess”. This made me despise Anacarla but feel nothing except fondness and sympathy toward Christa. I greatly admired the manner in which Glinton intertwined structure and symbolism when discussing the bird-messengers. She structurally highlighted the words “Princess” and “Queen” by capitalizing them and used each type of bird to symbolize