Brief Bio of Tony Cade Bambara


Photo JoyceMiddler
(March 25, 1939 - December 9, 1995)

Toni Cade Bambara, born MiltonaMirkin Cade on March 25, 1939, lived the first ten years of her life in Harlem. Toni Cade Bambara was a writer, activist, feminist, and filmmaker. In 1982, in a taped interview with Kay Bonetti, Bambara reflected on her work: "When I look back at my work with any little distance the two characteristics that jump out at me is one, the tremendous capacity for laughter, but also a tremendous capacity for rage." Bambara spent her entire life writing about both. Her ability to laugh and imbue laughter into her stories came from her strong conviction and belief in family and community. Her rage came from the injustices she saw in the treatment of children, the elderly, and the oppressed black community

Geraldine Moore the Poet Vocabulary/ Synonym Match

1. muttering (v) a. cleanliness; staying clean

2. Superintendent (n) b. moan

3. hygine (n) c. delightful

4. glorious (adj.) d. grumbling

5. whimper (v) e. director

Identifying Character Traits in Geraldine Moore the Poet, by Toni Cade Bambara Worksheet

Actions: Character Trait they Reveal:

Character: ______

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Character: ______

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Character: ______

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Character: ______

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Character: ______

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Character: ______

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Character: ______

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What does the character say?
How does the character speak?
Speech
What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings?
Thoughts
What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters behave towards the character?
Effect on others toward the character.
What does the character do? How does the character behave?
Actions
What does the character look like? How does the character dress?
Looks
Clues to Characterization Work Sheet

Use the mnemonic device of STEAL to remember the five types of indirect characterization

Adapted by permission Readwritething.org

“Become a Character and Write Home”

Now that you know the five areas of character development, speech, thoughts, effect on others towards the character, actions and looks (steal), choose a character from the short story, “Geraldine Moore the Poet”, by Toni Cade Bambara, and become that character for a while. Your assignment is to write a minimum one page letter from your character’s point of view, to your Mother, Father, Sibling, Spouse, Good Friend, etc: someone who you can be comfortable telling your thoughts to; you decide. The letter is written at the end of the day that the story takes place. In the letter, your character should include these five points:

  • Something about your work on that day
  • An interaction you had with someone else
  • How you got home from work, if appropriate(model of car or mode of transportation)
  • What you’re having for dinner that night
  • What you wish for

Think about, based upon clues about your character you find in the story, what choices your character would make, and how they would speak; it will influence how you write from their point of view. Remember to refer to the Letter Writing Rubric for excellence.

Advanced / Proficient / Developing / Emerging
Letter is perceptive and convincing; character’s point of view is fully developed. All five points are covered Letter reflects a careful reading and understanding of the text. Letter includes relevant evidence that supports the interpretation of the character. Writing shows clear control of writing conventions though there may be a few errors that are “first-draft” in nature. / Letter is convincing. Character’s point of view is evident. All five points are covered. Letter reflects an understanding of the text. Writing shows control of writing conventions; errors do not interfere with meaning / Letter is simplistic, unclear, too brief, or only a summary of the text. Some points are covered. Writing may not connect to the text. Characterization is sketchy. Language is simple. Errors may interfere with meaning. / Letter is difficult to determine; extremely brief, unclear or incomplete. Characterization unclear. Too few or no points covered. Language is vague, and there may be incomplete or run-on sentences. Meaning difficult to understand.

Adapted with permission from: Oakland Unified School District