Sula By Toni Morrison

Keely Johnson

Ms. Mayr

English IB HL/1

7 May 2014

AP Great Book Assignment

Title: Sula

Author: Toni Morrison

Publication Date: 1973

Length: 174 pages

Historical Background of Publication Era: During the early 1970's, the civil rights movement is winding down and African Americans are starting to get some of the justice they deserve. At the same time, the first every female presidential candidate, Shirley Chisholm, runs for president, but doesn't win the democratic primary. She claims that there is more discrimination against women than there are against African Americans. In 1972 and 1973 there are several women's rights “movements” that start up.

Author Biographical Information: Toni Morrison was born in on February 18, 1931 in Lorain, Ohio. She has won many literary honors such as the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize. She lived in an integrated neighborhood and learned of racial segregation later in life, which greatly influenced her novels. After spending years as a professor and book editor, Morrison wrote her first novel in 1970 and was and African American literary star from then on.

Characteristics of the Genre: The genre literary fiction is driven mostly by characters, which is obvious in Sula. While there is a plot and theme to the story, the reader's main focus is understanding the characters and their motivations. This novel could also be considered a family drama because there are several squabbles between mothers, grandmothers, and daughters.

Plot Summary: The novel opens in a place called Bottom, a black neighborhood where a shell shocked veteran starts national suicide day to cope. Nel, and her mother Helene take a trip to visit Helene's dying mother. When they return, Nel, who has never been allowed to hav...

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... this manner he instituted National Suicide Day” (Morrison 14).

Significance of the opening scene: The opening scene is Shadrack, who started the National Suicide Day. It is just him, in a mental hospital, after the war. He is seen as odd and uncomfortable and is avoided my most. This scene is significant because later in the book, the “teachings” of this man cause the death of many people in the town.

Significance of the Closing Scene: In the final scene, we see Nel mourning for the loss of her friend Sula after a meaningful conversation with Sula's grandmother Eva. We see Nel cry, which is something that rarely happens because of the way she was raised. The final image leaves us with a message about the importance of friendship.

"Chloe Anthony Wofford." 2014. The Biography.com website. May 07 2014.