Your critical essay on the story “The Lesson” by Toni cade Bambara. You are to choose one of the prompts below and write a 1200-word critical essay.
1. How does this story express the harmful effects on people, especially children, of socioeconomic injustice?
2. Aldous Huxley is quoted as saying: “Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you.” Do you agree or disagree? What difference would that distinction make for the children in the story? What could they “do” with this experience? Write about this quote as it applies to this story. Cite the text of the story for support.
3. One could say this is a story about innocence and experience. Relate how that theme applies to this tale.