1. Do you think the opening paragraph is meant to shock readers? If so, how effective is
it? If not, what is its purpose?
I believe that yes, the opening paragraph is meant to shock the audience. I believe this due to
the fact that within the first few sentences of the essay, the author talks about a very heavy
topic. This is effective because it is graphic in its description (how the sister/aunt jumped in a
well to kill herself) and the first line is: “you must not tell anyone…” yet she is allowing the story
to be told to the whole world.
2. What is the mother’s attitude toward the aunt, as revealed in her story (retold by
Kingston)?
The mother’s attitude towards the aunt is that her becoming pregnant caused a humiliation and
a disgrace towards the whole family. Due to this occurrence, the village came and destroyed
their property and their house. This was “reasonable” due to the fact that the sister committed
adultery and had another man’s baby.
3. According to the mother, what is the purpose of telling the story? How does her purpose
set the stage for Kingston’s questions and reflections throughout the essay?
According to the mother, her purpose of telling this story is to scare Kingston out of having sex
now that she has hit menstruation. Her purpose creates a fear within Kingston and “gives her a
story to grow up on” and sets the stage for any questions and reflections she may have.
4. Why does Kingston immediately launch into this story without a prefatory explanation?
How would the impact of the story have changed if Kingston had provided an “introduction”?
I believe that Kingston immediately launches into this story because if she had offered an
explanation, this would take away any motivation for readers to continue reading this story. If
she had offered an introduction, such as a preface, the reader may not have been
instantaneously hooked. Through the first line of the paragraph the reader gets a sense of being
let in on a secret and that is motivation for the reader to continue on with the essay.
5. What is the rhetorical purpose of paragraphs 11 and 12? Are they providing transition,
or is their purpose more complex?? EXPLAIN.
I believe that they are providing both transition and exposing just a little bit of explanation for as
to why her mother would possible tell a little girl a story about suicide and adultery. It also
creates a warning for Kingston. The transition will take the readers to the deeper level of
purpose for this story.
6. What does Kingston mean when she says of her mother, “She will add nothing unless
powered by Necessity, a riverbank that guides her life” (paragraph 13)? Why does Kingston
capitalize “Necessity”?
Kingston means that her mother will only tell the parts of the story that is necessary for her to
teach her lesson and warnings to her daughter.. She capitalizes Necessity due to the fact that
this word is of the utmost importance when describing the difficult situation that her sister/aunt
went through. Necessity also seems to be a being that controls her life and a guideline that she
uses in order to teach her lessons.
7. Why does Kingston repeat the word “perhaps” throughout paragraph 16? Is she calling
her own credibility into question? Explain.
This study source was downloaded by 100000858936669 from CourseHero.com on 02-06-2023 11:06:52 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/53073619/Breuana-Duval-No-Name-Woman-Questions/
it? If not, what is its purpose?
I believe that yes, the opening paragraph is meant to shock the audience. I believe this due to
the fact that within the first few sentences of the essay, the author talks about a very heavy
topic. This is effective because it is graphic in its description (how the sister/aunt jumped in a
well to kill herself) and the first line is: “you must not tell anyone…” yet she is allowing the story
to be told to the whole world.
2. What is the mother’s attitude toward the aunt, as revealed in her story (retold by
Kingston)?
The mother’s attitude towards the aunt is that her becoming pregnant caused a humiliation and
a disgrace towards the whole family. Due to this occurrence, the village came and destroyed
their property and their house. This was “reasonable” due to the fact that the sister committed
adultery and had another man’s baby.
3. According to the mother, what is the purpose of telling the story? How does her purpose
set the stage for Kingston’s questions and reflections throughout the essay?
According to the mother, her purpose of telling this story is to scare Kingston out of having sex
now that she has hit menstruation. Her purpose creates a fear within Kingston and “gives her a
story to grow up on” and sets the stage for any questions and reflections she may have.
4. Why does Kingston immediately launch into this story without a prefatory explanation?
How would the impact of the story have changed if Kingston had provided an “introduction”?
I believe that Kingston immediately launches into this story because if she had offered an
explanation, this would take away any motivation for readers to continue reading this story. If
she had offered an introduction, such as a preface, the reader may not have been
instantaneously hooked. Through the first line of the paragraph the reader gets a sense of being
let in on a secret and that is motivation for the reader to continue on with the essay.
5. What is the rhetorical purpose of paragraphs 11 and 12? Are they providing transition,
or is their purpose more complex?? EXPLAIN.
I believe that they are providing both transition and exposing just a little bit of explanation for as
to why her mother would possible tell a little girl a story about suicide and adultery. It also
creates a warning for Kingston. The transition will take the readers to the deeper level of
purpose for this story.
6. What does Kingston mean when she says of her mother, “She will add nothing unless
powered by Necessity, a riverbank that guides her life” (paragraph 13)? Why does Kingston
capitalize “Necessity”?
Kingston means that her mother will only tell the parts of the story that is necessary for her to
teach her lesson and warnings to her daughter.. She capitalizes Necessity due to the fact that
this word is of the utmost importance when describing the difficult situation that her sister/aunt
went through. Necessity also seems to be a being that controls her life and a guideline that she
uses in order to teach her lessons.
7. Why does Kingston repeat the word “perhaps” throughout paragraph 16? Is she calling
her own credibility into question? Explain.
This study source was downloaded by 100000858936669 from CourseHero.com on 02-06-2023 11:06:52 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/53073619/Breuana-Duval-No-Name-Woman-Questions/
