English 12 Flashcards

Key Quotes and Themes in Literature

• Characters grappling with secrets and their impacts on relationships.
• Shoba’s relief in not knowing her baby's gender is a significant emotional element.
• The narrative perspective shifts illuminate crucial themes of truth and revelation in marital conflicts.

Postcolonial Literature Insights

• Postcolonial literature directly addresses the legacy of British colonization.
• Revelations about the struggles faced by newly independent nations post-colonization.
• The relationship between postcolonial literature and postmodernism; both address colonial impacts, but the former often incorporates a postmodern style.

Character Development and Relationships

• Shadia's observations on Bryan highlight cultural differences and personal adjustments to a new environment.
• The contrast between Shadia and Fareed illuminates differing morals and expectations, particularly regarding marriage traditions.
• Nwoye's character reflects complex relationships with his past and societal beliefs, especially concerning superstitions and heritage.

Narrative Techniques and Perspectives

• Third-person limited points of view deepen understanding of character emotions and conflicts.
• The descriptions of settings and characters serve to enhance thematic elements of identity and colonial legacy.
• Flashbacks and changes in narrative perspective are strategically used to build tension and reveal critical secrets in character arcs.

Important Contextual Themes

• Ethnic tensions resulting from arbitrary colonial borders emphasize the fragility of nationhood.
• Postcolonial writers confront themes of identity, racism, and cultural dominance often through the reappropriation of language.
• The evolving understanding of character identities through their interactions reflects broader social and cultural shifts, especially in postcolonial contexts.### Estrangement of Shoba and Shukumar
• Their relationship has declined to the point of avoidance, with each spending time on different floors of their home.
• Shukumar strategically positioned his desk in a room Shoba avoids, highlighting their separation.
• Communication has become a struggle, with Shukumar feeling compelled to find engaging topics just to capture Shoba's attention.

Shukumar's Reflection on the Past

• Shukumar longs for the connection they once had, reminiscing about when Shoba was bold and hopeful.
• The couple has stopped participating in social activities together and avoids being photographed, indicating their emotional distance.
• The memories of Shoba during her pregnancy weigh heavily on Shukumar, evoking feelings of loss and nostalgia.

Shoba's Planning Nature

• Shoba's preparedness for life's surprises is evident in her habits, such as buying items in doubles and stocking the pantry extensively.
• Unlike Shukumar's mother, Shoba maintains her composure and practical thinking in the face of life's challenges.

Vulnerability Through Darkness

• Shukumar and Shoba’s act of turning off the lights symbolizes their shared vulnerability and acknowledgment of grief.
• Their combined weeping suggests an emotional breakthrough, indicating a moment of connection amid their sorrow.

Shukumar's Anticipation for Parenthood

• A potent memory of him taking a cab to the airport signifies a pivotal moment of hope regarding future parenthood.
• Shukumar recalls feeling excited about the anticipation of having children during that trip, marking a contrast to his later sorrow.

Shoba's Relief About Gender Ignorance

• Shoba finds solace in not knowing the gender of the baby they lost, as it helps shield her from deeper emotional pain.
• She appreciates the ambiguity surrounding their loss, which allows her to grieve without a specific attachment.

Narrator's Frustration with the Audience

• The narrator expresses frustration over their audience's lack of awareness regarding societal issues, particularly in the context of exploitation.
• The memories of brutal exploitation encapsulate the narrator's critical view of the past actions that have negatively impacted her community.

Critique of Capitalism

• The narrator views capitalism as a rigged system that exploits individuals, noting a lack of genuine benefit for the majority.
• The reference to Swiss banks serves to underscore a critique of the wealthy and powerful who embezzle resources.

Social Media Relationships

• Skepticism regarding the authenticity of online relationships stems from a romanticization of traditional social interactions.
• Anecdotes about personal experiences illustrate the prevalence of deception facilitated by selective digital presentations.

Anonymity and Honesty Online

• The notion that anonymity can foster honest sharing contrasts with assumptions of deceit in online forums.
• PostSecret exemplifies how sharing secrets helps create connections, thereby mitigating the potential harm of anonymity.

Central Ideas in Essays

• The Point and Counterpoint essays reflect insights about the evolution of human relationships and honesty within social media.
• A mutual recognition of the changing dynamics in interpersonal communication suggests ongoing adaptation to technology's impact.

Importance of Responsible Reporting

• The articles emphasize the significant role of responsible journalism in mitigating misinformation while enhancing public understanding.
• Misinformation's pervasive nature necessitates a careful approach to both information consumption and dissemination.### Misinformation and Social Media
• Misinformation is often created or shared to incite chaos, troll individuals, or gain social media recognition through likes and shares.
• The prevalence of social media status updates is staggering, with around 1 billion posts made daily on Facebook alone.
• An individual would need 11,574 days (approximately 32 years) to read all posts from just one day on Facebook, highlighting the sheer volume of content.

Case Study: The Pope and Trump Misinformation

• The most widely shared story in the final months of the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign involved a fabricated story about the pope and Donald Trump.
• This story originated from WTOE5news.com, labelled as a "fantasy news website" and gained traction via EndingtheFed.com, an anonymous site known for disseminating fake news.

Impact of Misinformation

• Misinformation can spread due to innocent errors, humor, profit motives, or purposeful distortion for political agendas.
• Such inaccuracies result in tangible consequences, including the development of misguided beliefs, erosion of trust in institutions, and harmful actions taken by individuals based on falsehoods.

Implications for Media Reporting

• It is argued that responsible journalism should filter out biases to ensure credibility and truthfulness in reporting.
• Misinformation's widespread impact poses a serious threat to societal cohesion and trust.

Social Media Usage and Misinformation

• An emphasis is placed on how frequently leading social media platforms are utilized, with a heavy reliance on platforms like Facebook and Snapchat.
• The pressure of daily use may influence user behavior, with the notion that high visibility could deter dishonesty among users.