“Recitatif” Discussion Questions
After reading Toni Morrison’s short story “Recitatif” respond to the following questions. Responses need to be in
complete sentences but do not need to be longer than 2-3 sentences. When the question asks you to use “specific
evidence from the text” be sure to use a quote from the story and to cite the page number. When finished turn your
responses in to turnitin.com by November 2 nd at 7:00 am.
1. How does Morrison set up the story? How does she introduce you to time, space and the characters?
2. How does Morrison use imagery to position time?
3. Is this story told in present tense or past tense? Why does Morrison do this?
4. Why does Morrison jump around in time, not just throughout the story but also within a particular
time?
5. Why does Morrison use racially offensive language throughout the story?
6. “I am left-handed and the scissors never worked for me” What does this tell us? What does this tell us
about Morrison’s writing?
7. At the end of the orphanage section who do you think is black and who do you think is white? Point to
specific evidence in the section.
8. How does Morrison use descriptions to set up character, time and place?
9. At the end of the restaurant section who is black and who is white? Use specific evidence from the text
to back up your answer.
10. On page 169 what is the purpose of Twyla and Roberta’s interchange?
11. “’Okay’ I said, but I knew I wouldn’t. Roberta had messed up my past somehow with that business
about Maggie. I wouldn’t forget a thing like that. Would I?”(170) Why is this important? What concept
or theme is Morrison continuing here?
12. After this section who is black and who is white? Evidence?
13. At the end of the section that ends “’ I used to curl your hair’ ‘I hated your hands in my hair’” Who is
black and who is white? Evidence?
14. “’What was she saying? Black? Maggie wasn’t black.” (172) why can’t Twyla remember this? Why is
this significant? What is Morrison trying to do here?
15. What is Morrison using Maggie as?
16. At the end of the picketing battle section, who is black and who is white? Evidence?
17. Why does the story end with those lines? What does Maggie stand for?
18. What other issues besides race does Morrison take on in this story? How do these other social issues
intertwine with the theme of race and racism?
19. What are the themes of the story?
20. What are the symbols of the story?
21. What is the significance of the title?