Water Dancer Study Guide (Ch 1-8)

Ta-Nehisi Coates

The title, The Water Dancer, is connected to how Rose used to dance by the River Goose with a water jug on her head. Also, how slaves leaped, gracefully, as if dancing into the ocean to escape being enslaved.

Maynard is Hiram's half-brother. They have different mothers but share the same father. Maynard is an ignorant fool. He owns Hiram and is both white and an antagonist.

<p>Thena is a slave and is said to be the meanest woman on the Street. Thena lost her husband, Big John, due to a disease. All five of her children got sold. When Rose gets sold, Thena takes Hiram under her wing. Thena liked Rose the best and she is a protagonist.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Historical fantasy</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Many families are broken throughout this story. For example, Pete and Maddie, who are siblings, get separated when Maddie's owner moves. Also, Thena's family is broken when her five children are sold.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Hiram is the narrator of this story. He is a slave, who has a white father, Howell Walker, and an African-American mother, Rose. His father is the owner of Lockless, a tobacco plantation. Hiram has an incredible gift; he can remember everything in detail and is the protagonist.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Rose is Hiram's mother. She is a very good dancer, beautiful, and people loved her. Rose was sold by Howell Walker, Hiram's father and Emma is her sister.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Hiram and Maynard drown in the River Goose. Hiram drives the horse-drawn carriage with Maynard in it. As Hiram drives over the bridge, it falls away and the carriage, along with everyone in it falls in the river. Maynard cannot swim and pleads for Hiram to help him but Hiram gives up on life and starts having flashbacks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Conduction is the transmission or conveying of something through a medium or passage, such as the transmission of heat or light.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Discuss passage from p. 88.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Water and Movement play a big role in this novel. The drowning scene in the first chapter represents water as Maynard and Hiram are drowning in the River Goose. Rose dancing the water juba represents movement as her body moves gracefully.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To encircle with or as if with a wreath.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A notable act or deed, often of courage.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A deceitful trick.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Describes a narrow-minded person.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>About to occur.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To raise or lift with great effort; to utter with effort or pain.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Completely puzzled or confused.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Facts and conditions that affect a situation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Made to seem smaller or less important.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Extreme physical or mental suffering.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An act of physically beating someone; a beating.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A person's death.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A color or shade.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To clarify the logical relationship between or among ideas.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Two closely related independent clauses that aren't already joined by a coordinating conjunction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Also, however, therefore, nevertheless, or furthermore.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Before.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Conjunctive adverb or transitional expression.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>As a result, for instance, on the other hand.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Before - semicolon, After - comma.</p> Signup and view all the answers