Discussion #13 pg. 413 - 443 March 7

Discussion Leader-Rika Wong

Questions:

1. What is the importance of clothing to Aminata?
2. Do you support Armstrong's action of holding slaves captive when they were in Africa? Why?

3. What do you think is going though Aminata's mind as she has travelled many hours to come to her "home" that is unexpectedly foreign to her?
4. Why do you think Aminata decided to travel inland rather than leave to go back to England?
5. How do you think Aminata felt when she started to bond with the villagers?

For the first question, Harkirn first replied by saying that clothing had great meaning to Aminata as it made her feel comfortable like a blanket or teddy bear would do so for a child. Anisha added by reflecting back on the time when she was younger when the gift of a scarf was able to give her a little bit more strength and confidence in the situation she was in. Later on in her life, clothing, specifically scarves, definitely brought her memories of that safety net, and it continued to be something that she cherished. For the second question, there seemed to be a lot more controversy and argument between the thoughts. Anisha started by saying that in some ways she was OK and not OK with what Armstrong was doing in Africa. What made her somewhat OK with this situation was that the slaves were getting what they needed and were still able to enjoy a certain quality of life that they would not have otherwise. However, we all agreed that Armstrong was being very hypocritical by being against slavery, when what he was doing supported the act of slavery as well. We later moved on to the next question and Harkirn answered that she believed that Aminata had come to the age where she would be close to the end of her life where she should enjoy it and fulfill her dreams by going back to Africa. Anisha added by saying that this was a time where she could dedicate something for herself after all that she had gone through in her life. Lastly, for the fifth question, we all agreed that Aminata was able to somewhat satisfy herself by bonding with the fellow villagers that she had found on her journey. This experience was able to make her feel a lot more at home in her homeland which is what she was longing for throughout her life. 

Illuminator-Anisha Sangha
Quotes (five):

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5.  
Word Wizard-Harkirn Mangat

 1.Ornamentation 

Page #- 414

Paragraph#- 4th

Phrase from the text (context): "In its size and ornamentation, the Bance Island castle rivalled Government House in Halifax." 

Definition and/or meaning in context: An accessory used to beautify the appearance of something to which it is added or of which it is a part of.

2. Molasses

Page #- 415

Paragraph#- 4th

Phrase from the text (context): "It tasted like what I could only imagine to be a mixture of molasses and urine."

Definition and/or meaning in context: A thick syrup produced during the refine of sugar. 

3. Limerick 

Page #- 416 

Paragraph#- 3rd

Phrase from the text (context): Armstrong said he had heard a silly limerick on the subject.

Definition and/or meaning in context: A kind of verse of five lines 

4. Cauldron  

Page #- 417

Paragraph#- 2nd

Phrase from the text (context): "A temne who was dresses properly and who had a large clubbing stick tied to his hip brought out a cauldron of watery gruel and dumped it in a trough."

Definition and/or meaning in context:  A large kettle or boiler. 

5. Thatched

Page #- 423

Paragraph#- 1st

Phrase from the text (context):"past the thatched huts where African workers slept"

Definition and/or meaning in context: A material used to cover roofs of houses. Is kind of like straw, rushes and leaves. 

Stagecrafter-Harkirn Mangat
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