8/10/2019 Prose May 2005 Paper 1

1/1

Jan Lowman

English A1 HL, Paper #1. (a)

Introduction to a Commentary on a Passage from R L Sasakis The Loom

This passage depicts a family, in particular an aging mother and her daughters. The mothers depression,perhaps a result of her empty nest after a lifetime of child-rearing, is alleviated when her middledaughter, Sharon, gives her a loom. Through her weaving, the mother revisits the days when she wascentral to her daughters lives, becomes part of a community of weaving friends, and finds a su btlemeans of expression of her own internal colors. Sasakis minimalistic use of dialogue andcharacterization, her color and nature imagery, and the archetypal symbolism of weaving and the loomall combine to evoke the miraculous, mystical fabric of family life.

II. Sasakis understated dialogue and characterization demonstrate the tensions and underlying lovebetween the characters.

A. Movement from I give up to Youd never know it unless you looked real close. Jo

1. Figurative quality to opening des criptions of the mothers state 2. Abroad, Michael, leaving. . .B. Linda loyal, staunch; Terrys mother at Bachans house no dialogue?C. Sharon gave her mother a loom, helpful, teaching/gallery, Put it on D. blue, Cathys favorite color dead? Otherwise absent?

III. Color and nature imagery evoke the nostalgic beauty of the mothers relationship to her children andthe subdued loveliness of the mother herself.

A. Allusion? bending to the loom with painstaking attention, threading the warp tirelessly,endlessly winding, threading, tying

B. five inches of one weave, two inches of another precise, exact, smallC. Colors subdued, neutral but with flashes of color (You know, theres actually red in here. .

. and even bits of green.) The need to look closely! D. Golden brown Central ValleyE. Cool, emerald waters Merced RiverF. Food eggs, pickled vegetables, white rice balls

IV. Archetypal symbolism of the loom and weaving enlarge this passage into an evocation of thetimeless care of maternal affection.

A. Ll. 14-20 (hidden color, like the mothers hidden personality) B. The muffler was warm about Jos neck symbol of maternal caringC. Final sentence link to universal womanhood

V. Rephrasing of Sasakis minimalistic use of dialogue and characterization, her color and natureimag ery, and the archetypal symbolism of weaving and the loom all combine to evoke the miraculous,mystical fabric of family life. The initial impression that the mother is mentally ill, echoed subtly at theend as she leans as an object of lighter mass naturally tends toward a more substantial one, dissipateswith because of the therapeutic weaving.