Writing Assignment #7

Due: Friday, 20 March 2009

In his poem, "The Lynching" (Norton vol. D, p. 1688), Claude McKay closes by observing the "little lads, lynchers that were to be / Danc[ing] round the dreadul thing in fiendish glee" (lines 13-14). Write 300-400 words about how Jesse in "Going to Meet the Man" compares to McKay's "little lads," referring to passages in Baldwin's story. You should place almost all of your analysis on Baldwin's story rather than McKay's poem, which you should assume your reader knows very well.

While your answer should be in complete, grammatical sentences, you do not need to write a formal essay.  There does not need to be a broad, declarative opening. You do not need to reach a thundering conclusion.  Dive right into the discussion.  If you are stuck with how to begin, just start naming the details you think are important.