THE LIBRARY CARD
- Richard Wright (1908-1960)
1.LITERAL COMPREHENSION :
Once Richard Wright was reading a magazine. In the magazine ,he finds that H.L Mencken was severally criticized. H.L Mencken was a white writer and he was criticized by the white editor. So ,the narrator wants to know the reason behind criticizing H.L Mencken.He wants to read the books written by him . He did not have a library card because he was a negro. Therefore, he took the help of a kind man, Mr.Falk,a white man .He gave him the card of his wife. Taking that card, he went to library and asked to librarian to give him the books written by H.L Mencken . The librarian said him to tell the book's name which he wanted to borrow, but he had no idea about the books written by Mencken . At last the librarian gave him two books of Mencken named 'a book of prefaces' and 'prejudices' . Taking those books, he went his room and started reading. He faced very difficulties while reading like pronunciation of words,meaning of words etc. but he completed those books.Later ,he read many books of different writers. And he realized that he was different than others .he thought he used to live in dark. He knew why White people hates negros. he knew the struggle faced by his mother to grow up him. he found that there can be a war by words. So he thought to organise the black people against whites. but he remembered his grandfather's death by doing that. Later, he was become a literate.
2.INTERPRETATION :
This story may be trying to tell us that strong desire is the main cause to get success . one need not go to school or college to educate oneself.He can get education himself. it may also be interpreted to mean that reading makes one's life better and more meaningful.Education is very important in our life either it is formal or informal .
3.CRITICAL THINKING :
when I read this story written by an African American writer at the beginning of 20 century, I was shocked. Was Negro so hateful in the democracy like the USA? Was there such great discrimination between the black and the white? Otherwise this story is very inspiring .
4.ASSIMILATION :
This story has influenced me a lot. I learn the way to improve the language. in order to learn English easily, I must read more books in English. Only the English grammar and dictionary will not help me very much. if I read more books and enjoy the books , my knowledge of the language will be better . And i also realized that if we want to get success ,we should work hard.
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SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERS :
Q1.'Reading was like a drug, a dope',Explain with reference to 'The library card.'
ANSWER : To understand Mencken's view, the author wished to read a book written by Mencken. with the help of Mr Falk, he borrowed two books of Mencken from the library. it took the books home and started reading it. as he continued to read, he liked Mencken's book. he learned a lot from that books. after that his reading habits developed so much that it was too difficult to complete his day without reading. he started to read books by several authors. Just like people who use drugs get addicted to drugs,he was addicted to reading books. so it was said that 'Reading was like a drug a,dope.'
Q2.Discuss why Richard wright wants to read the books of H.L Mencken ?
ANSWER : Once Richard Wright was reading a magazine. In the magazine ,he finds that H.L Mencken was severally criticized. H.L Mencken was a white writer and he was criticized by the white editor. He wants to know the reason behind criticizing H.L Mencken.Therefore,he wants to read the book of H.L Mencken .
Q3.Why did the commercial appeal to call at H.L Mencken a fool ?
ANSWER : The commercial appeal called H.L Mencken a fool because he had talked about the equality between whites and blacks. he was against discrimination between whites and blacks people. he was different white rather than other whites.
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