Reference no: EM133563053

Assignment:

Answer the following questions about Setting for "Nobody Cries at Bingo" by Dawn Dumont.

Plot summary:

In Nobody Cries at Bingo by Dawn Dumont, the main character, discovers that despite failing one of the main rules, "not to cry at bingo", she nonetheless wins.

Theme:

Like most stories in literature, there are multiple themes present in Nobody Cries at Bingo. The theme we will explore in this exercise is the role "chance" plays in life.

Conflict:

The conflict between the characters all centre on and are reflected in the game of bingo. The central struggle or conflict is control versus chance.

Setting:

Answer the following questions on the setting of "Nobody Cries at Bingo" by Dawn Dumont.

1. "The first bingos our family attended were held in band halls, scheduled between the chief's meeting and the first aid training. Our bingo players dutifully travelled from one reserve to another in their crowded car."

Paying particular attention to the underlined words, what does this quote, which outlines where the bingos in this story are played, tell us about who the characters in the story are?

2. "City bingos were held in huge monoliths built to honour the bingo gods." What does this quote suggest about the possible role of bingo in the characters' lives? Find another quote in the story that illustrates the important position bingo holds for the people in the story. Then explain how this quote shows this importance.

3. "The goal was to bring yourself and those around you as low as possible so that if by some miracle the number was called, the rise to the top would be that much further and faster." How could this statement on bingo reworded be a philosophical statement on life in general?

4. In the end the main character wins the game, despite the fact that she broke a 'rule'. What does this say about the 'rules' of bingo? What does this say about the 'rules' of life? Can you find an example in the story of a rule that seems arbitrary (not based on any sort of skill)? Explain why you chose this quote.

5. "Luckless, I had to whine my way through life . . . 'This isn't fair. Life isn't fair'" This quote illustrates how the character must find ways to try to navigate through life in the face of unfair odds.

Please respond to one of the following writing prompts:

a) There is a time in my life where I have had to be resourceful when faced with situations that were unfair and/or out of my control. Describe this time.

OR

b) "Chance" has a role in terms of a person's economic situation, race, gender and other realities that can interfere with equal opportunity. Describe a situation in our society where this is evident.