Bobby continues to diligently keep up his homework reading and consequently, we finished our discussion of the novel today by analyzing whether the author feels optimistic about race relations in the US. I directed Bobby to the final pages of the novel, and we identified specific events that suggest the author is hopeful such as the symbolic butterfly that appears on the day of Jefferson's execution. I explained how the butterfly reenforces the novel's imagery of Jefferson as a Christ-like figure in that a caterpillar rises from an apparent death- like state in a chrysalis to become a butterfly. On the other hand, we read portions of the text wherein Grant,the narrator, claims to be "a slave" , and we examined why Grant's lack of faith separates him from the others in the community who find freedom in faith. Bobby actively participated in class discussion on both of these recondite subjects. We then reviewed Bobby's homework answers on the study guide and worked on supplementing answers and eliminating sentence fragments. We will have a test on the novel on Tuesday. For Monday, complete essay#4 on the novel.