Exploring Riddles of Identity and Relationships in Tell Me a Riddle by Tillie Olsen
Tillie Olsen's "Tell Me a Riddle" delves into various riddles encompassing themes of social constructs, gender roles, individual identities, and relationships. Through the characters of Eva, David, and Jeannie, Olsen navigates the complexities of life, marriage, parenthood, and societal expectations. The narrative unfolds with a blend of introspection, challenge, and hope, inviting readers to contemplate the multifaceted nature of human experience.
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TELL ME A RIDDLE By Tillie Olsen
WHAT RIDDLES DOES TILLIE OLSEN EXPLORE IN TELL ME A RIDDLE? WHAT APPROACH DOES SHE SUGGEST WE SHOULD TAKE TO THESE RIDDLES? rid dle1 [ ridl] NOUN a question or statement intentionally phrased so as to require ingenuity in ascertaining its answer or meaning, typically presented as a game. What are the riddles that we can explore about the themes in this book? What are the social riddles? What are the gender riddles? What are the relationship riddles? What are the riddles of individual identities?
EVA What events shaped Eva s early life? What does she have more and more memories of? What events shaped Eva s life after she married? How do we learn about how she felt about her role of wife, mother, and the victim of poverty? What does Eva want at the beginning and through this work? What things do these represent for her? What is the immediate cause of the conflict in this story? Does the author take sides in this conflict? Does this conflict have a resolution? What underlying causes does it suggest? Why is Eva so angry about the appearance of the rabbi in the hospital? What does she mean by "Race, human; religion, none"?
DAVID If the title Tell Me a Riddle is considered a boastful remark from David asserted at Eva to parade his capacity for solving the riddle, the reader would find David facing the challenge of demystifying the riddle in his wife. While David assumes that all kinds of difficult problems could be solved by moving to Haven, he is quite unprepared for the most complex problem of Eva's emotional needs. For 47 years they have been living together as one family, yet it is not until Eva definitely departs from the family that her disappointment is voiced and heard (quite reluctantly at first). What changes, does David go through in this work? What shows his role as patriarch and what shows that he can give that up? Is David a complex character? How? Are we meant to look at him sympathetically, do you think? Why or why not?
JEANNIE A study guide offers this view: Finally, Olsen does give a hint of optimism for this type of change, through Jeannie. As the youngest member of the family with agency, Jeannie offers hope and brightness as she cares for Eva. What do you think Jeannie represents in this story? Does this story strike you as a novel of hope? What change might Jeannie represent?
"being able at last to live within, and not move to the rhythms of others, as life had forced her to: denying; removing; isolating; taking the children one by one; then deafening, half-blinding - and at last, presenting her solitude." "Singing. Unused the life in them. She in this poor room with her pictures Max You The children Everywhere unused the life And who has meaning? Century after century still all in us not to grow?"
FILM V. BOOK BASED ON THE O'HENRY AWARD-WINNING NOVELLA, THIS FILM WAS REVOLUTIONARY IN ITS CREATION AND SUBSEQUENT CULTURAL IMPACT. IT WAS THE FIRST FEATURE FILM IN AMERICA TO BE WRITTEN, PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY WOMEN; THE FIRST WOMEN'S FILM TO RAISE MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS AND TO RECEIVE MAJOR STUDIO DISTRIBUTION; AND, THE FIRST WOMEN'S FILM TO GET INTO THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL'S 'DIRECTORS'S FORTNIGHT.' What added features does the film bring? How do they help bring a greater understanding of the story? Do they interfere in any way for you? How?
