Raymond’s Run
by Toni Cade Bambara
Feature Menu
Introducing the Story
Literary Skills Focus: Style—Dialect
Literary Skills Focus: Style—Allusions
Reading Skills Focus: Analyzing
Style—Literary Devices
Writing Skills Focus: Think as a
Reader/Writer
Tech Focus
Raymond’s Run
by Toni Cade Bambara
What does a person need to do to gain respect?
Raymond’s Run
by Toni Cade Bambara
Click on the title to start the video.
Raymond’s Run
Introducing the Story
Squeaky got her nickname because she’s small,
with skinny arms and a squeaky voice.
Squeaky may be small,
but she has won every
track meet she ever
entered.
For the first time, she
faces a talented
opponent. Will she keep
her first-place status?
[End of Section]
Raymond’s Run
Literary Skills Focus: Dialect
Dialect is a way of speaking characteristic of a
certain geographical area or certain group of
people.
Hey,
sugar.
How y’all
doin’?
A dialect becomes accepted in a culture and is
adapted and used in speaking and writing.
Raymond’s Run
Literary Skills Focus: Dialect
Everyone speaks a dialect of some kind. For
example, in the American dialect of English, a car
has a hood in front and a trunk in back, and it runs
on gas.
petrol
gas tank
tank
bonnet
hood
trunk
boot
hood
trunk
gas tank
bonnet
boot
petrol tank
A British speaker of English uses different words:
He or she speaks in a British dialect.
Raymond’s Run
Literary Skills Focus: Dialect
Writers may use dialect to bring a character to life.
My
character is
thirsty.
Would she
ask for . . .
a
soda?
a tonic?
some
pop?
Raymond’s Run
Literary Skills Focus: Dialect
In “Raymond’s Run,” the main character speaks in a
dialect used in New York City’s Harlem in the 1970s.
But a lot of people call him my little brother
cause he needs looking after cause he’s not quite
right. And a lot of smart mouths got lots to say
about that too, especially when George was
minding him. But now, if anybody has anything to
say to Raymond, anything to say about his big
head, they have to come by me.
“Raymond’s Run” from Gorilla, My Love by Toni Cade Bambara. Copyright © 1971 by Toni Cade Bambara. Reproduced by permission of
Random House, Inc., www.randomhouse.com.
How does Squeaky’s “voice” help you picture her?
[End of Section]
Raymond’s Run
Literary Skills Focus: Allusions
An allusion is a reference drawn from literature,
popular culture, or current events.
For example, a writer
might say, “He lied so
much he had a nose like
Pinocchio” or “She was as
sweet as Snow White.”
In both cases, the writer is
making an allusion to a
familiar literary character.
Raymond’s Run
Literary Skills Focus: Allusions
The writer assumes that the reader is familiar with
an allusion through general knowledge.
Even though his name
was Joe, his friends
called him Honest Abe.
Writers use allusions to create comparisons that
make characters come to life.
[End of Section]
Raymond’s Run
Reading Skills Focus: Literary Devices
This story’s main character, Squeaky, speaks in
dialect and uses allusions.
These and other details help
create Squeaky’s voice.
Raymond’s Run
Reading Skills Focus: Literary Devices
Into Action: Use a chart to record and analyze
details from the text. Identify the types of literary
devices (irony, figurative language, slang, dialect).
Story Details
Literary Device
“And a lot of smart mouths got
lots to say about that too . . . .
But now, if anybody has
anything to say to Raymond, . . .
they have to come to me.”
dialect
“The big kids call me Mercury. . . .”
“Raymond’s Run” from Gorilla, My Love by Toni Cade Bambara. Copyright © 1971 by Toni Cade Bambara.
Reproduced by permission of Random House, Inc., www.randomhouse.com.
[End of Section]
Raymond’s Run
Writing Skills Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer
Find It in Your Reading
The story’s main character, Squeaky, is quite
memorable.
So I’m strolling down Broadway breathing out
and breathing in on counts of seven, which is
my lucky number, and here comes Gretchen
and her sidekicks: Mary Louise, who used to
be a friend of mine. . . .
“Raymond’s Run” from Gorilla, My Love by Toni Cade Bambara. Copyright © 1971 by Toni Cade Bambara. Reproduced by permission of
Random House, Inc., www.randomhouse.com.
As you read, make note of her funny observations:
Write them down in a notebook.
[End of Section]
Raymond’s Run
Writing Skills Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer
TechFocus
As you read, think about how you might use video
and digital technology to portray the story’s
characters.
[End of Section]
Vocabulary
Raymond’s Run
Vocabulary
prodigy n.: child with exceptional talent.
reputation n.: the way others see a person.
Raymond’s Run
Vocabulary
Some children have an exceptional ability in a
particular field or activity.
A highly talented child is sometimes called a prodigy.
Raymond’s Run
Vocabulary
Which photo shows the most likely prodigy?
Raymond’s Run
Vocabulary
Which photo shows the most likely prodigy?
Describe a prodigy that
you’ve met or heard about.
At what activity did he or
she excel?
Raymond’s Run
Vocabulary
How others see you determines your reputation.
When you have a good reputation, other people
hold you in high regard.
Raymond’s Run
Vocabulary
Most sports experts would agree that Tiger Woods,
perhaps the #1 professional golfer in the world, has a
reputation for
a. training and working
hard.
b. being rude to golf
officials.
c. quitting when he’s
losing.
Raymond’s Run
Vocabulary
Most sports experts would agree that Tiger Woods,
perhaps the #1 professional golfer in the world, has a
reputation for
a. training and working
hard.
b. being rude to golf
officials.
c. quitting when he’s
losing.
How can a person’s reputation
change?
[End of Section]
The End