Questions for Discussion

1. Francine Prose states, “Traditionally, the love of reading has been born and nurtured in high school English class” (para. 1). Do you think this is generally the case? Describe your experience on this subject.

   Chapter 5 - I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read - Questions for Discussion: Francine Prose states, “Traditionally, the love of reading has been born and nurtured in high school English class” (para. 1). Do you think this is generally the case? Describe your experience on this subject.
2. What does Prose mean when she writes, “[B]y concentrating on the student’s own history they [teachers] narrow the world of experience down to the personal and deny students other sorts of experience—the experience of what’s in the book, for starters” (para. 40)? Do you agree with Prose’s statement? Why or why not?

   Chapter 5 - I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read - Questions for Discussion: What does Prose mean when she writes, “[B]y concentrating on the student’s own history they [teachers] narrow the world of experience down to the personal and deny students other sorts of experience—the experience of what’s in the book, for starters” (para. 40)? Do you agree with Prose’s statement? Why or why not?
3. What is Prose implying in the following statement about what she calls the “new-model English-class graduate”: “But of course what’s happening is more complex and subtle than that [seeing books as unconnected to advertising], more closely connected to how we conceive of the relation between intellect and spirit” (para. 45)?

   Chapter 5 - I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read - Questions for Discussion: What is Prose implying in the following statement about what she calls the “new-model English-class graduate”: “But of course what’s happening is more complex and subtle than that [seeing books as unconnected to advertising], more closely connected to how we conceive of the relation between intellect and spirit” (para. 45)?
4. Whom does Prose blame for this state of affairs? Does assigning blame affect the cogency of her argument?

   Chapter 5 - I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read - Questions for Discussion: Whom does Prose blame for this state of affairs? Does assigning blame affect the cogency of her argument?
5. This essay was written in 1999. Do you think Prose would or could make the same argument today? Why or why not?

   Chapter 5 - I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read - Questions for Discussion: This essay was written in 1999. Do you think Prose would or could make the same argument today? Why or why not?