Name___________________________
Date________
Biography excerpt taken from Seattle Arts & Lectures
www.lectures.org/kincaid.html
Jamaica Kincaid’s passion for writing was passed on to her from
her book-loving mother, who taught her to read at the age of threeand-a-half. Later in Kincaid’s childhood almost nothing could stop
her from acquiring a book. She confesses, “I stole money to buy
books. It’s true. I was quite a thief and quite a liar, and I’m sure the
only thing that stopped me was that I was never successful at either. I’ve always been found out,
and my lies all seemed so plausible to me, I never understood why they didn’t work for other
people. I suppose those were my first ventures into fiction.”
Born and educated in St. John’s, Antigua, in the West Indies, Kincaid, in 1966, moved to
New York City at the age of 17 and worked a series of short-lived jobs to help support her family
in Antigua. She began writing in the early 1970s for The Village Voice and six years later she was
hired as a staff writer for The New Yorker. Since then she has published several books including
The Autobiography of My Mother (National Book Award finalist, 1997).
Reading Reflecting, Writing & discussing the story “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
DUE Wednesday, October 12
o
Before you begin reading, please REVIEW the reflection QUESTIONS below. You will
want your literary terms handout handy!
o
As you read, use the questions to guide you. UNDERLINE and ANNOTATE important
information on the story. This will help you to efficiently refer to evidence (quotes from
the text) during our class discussion.
o
After a thorough reading, answer the questions on a separate piece of paper in a short
paragraph using QUOTES to support your ideas. Your reflections can be typed or
written by hand.
o
Come to CLASS prepared with your annotated story and your written reflections. A
lively and engaging discussion depends on your participation, which requires that you
complete each part of this assignment.
Discussion questions for “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
1. In the story “Girl,” Kincaid does not name the characters nor does she identify who they are
and how they are related to each other. What do you think the relationship is between the two
characters? Are they friends, mother and daughter, grandmother and granddaughter, teacher and
student? Explain what you think the relationship is using three sources of evidence from the
story.
2. How does Kincaid create conflict or tension in the story (see your literary terms sheet)?
Provide specific examples from the text. Use at least one piece of evidence from the story.
3. Who is the protagonist and who is the antagonist in the story? Why? Use at least one piece of
evidence from the story.
4. In your own life, what expectations are you grateful for that others place on you? Why?
5. In your own life, what expectations do you wish others did not place on you? Why?
Rubric for Erica & Janet to complete regarding written responses to discussion questions:
Meeting Standard
☐ Written in paragraph form
☐ Includes detailed and clear explanations
☐ Incorporates question into the responses
☐ Explains HOW and WHY the evidence
supports the claims
If you would like to go above and beyond…
☐ Effectively uses additional quotes to
support the claims
☐ Makes references to literary terms used in
the story
☐ Read and edited a first draft; both first and
☐ Story is annotated
second drafts are turned in
☐ Responses are on a separate piece of paper
☐ Story and written reflections are turned in
on time
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