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Summary. Analysis. The narrator (whose name is later revealed to be Sylvia) recalls a period from her childhood when an older, college-educated woman moved into her neighborhood. Sylvia and her friend Sugar mock the woman because of her “nappy hair” and “proper speech.”
- The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara Plot Summary | LitCharts
The Lesson Summary. “The Lesson” takes place in New York...
- The Lesson Study Guide | Literature Guide | LitCharts
Summary. Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Toni Cade...
- The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara Plot Summary | LitCharts
“The Lesson” follows the children on a trip to FAO Schwarz, a famous toy store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan that was known for its expensive deluxe toys. Read the full story summary , an in-depth character analysis of Sylvia , and explanations of important quotes from “The Lesson.”
Full Plot Summary. “The Lesson” begins with a presumably older Sylvia looking back on her childhood, and how, from her perspective, everyone else is wrong, and she and her best friend and cousin Sugar are “the only ones just right.”
- “The Lesson” Summary
- “The Lesson” Theme: Wealthy Inequality
- “The Lesson” Theme: Empowerment
The narrator, Sylvia, recounts a time from her youth when a woman, Miss Moore, moved into her neighborhood. She had nappy hair, was very dark, didn’t wear makeup, and didn’t use her first name. Miss Moore was college educated and took it upon herself to educate the local children, which always ended up including Sylvia and her cousin Sugar. She too...
This is the most obvious contrast in the story, the one on which it’s built. The children live in a poor neighborhood, possibly Harlem. They live in apartments with winos in the hallways and stairwells. Miss Moore bluntly calls them slums. She takes the kids to Fifth Avenue, which has some of the most expensive apartments in the country. The first ...
Miss Moore is trying to get the students to take action that will change society. This would require them to stand out and speak up, to be different. Miss Moore is a good example of this with her “nappy hair and proper speech and no makeup.” She also doesn’t use her first name and doesn’t go to church. The first step is to make the kids aware that ...
Apr 20, 2024 · This dystopian short story explores themes of equality, individuality, and government control, echoing Bambara’s examination of societal structures and their impact on marginalized groups. Both works challenge readers to contemplate the implications of striving for equality at the expense of personal freedom.
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