Thoughts and images inside the mind of a “dumb and deaf” narrator brought to focus through students’ sketches and

analysis

“ “ I hide in the mop closet and I hide in the mop closet and listen, my heart beating in the listen, my heart beating in the dark, and I try to keep from dark, and I try to keep from getting scared, try to get my getting scared, try to get my thoughts off someplace else”.thoughts off someplace else”.

(NE: p. 6; OE: p. 12)

Analyzing the Chief’s Analyzing the Chief’s Chapter One DaydreamChapter One Daydream

Artistic Illustration

Explanation of the Chief’s Chapter One Daydream

As Chief Broom hid in the mop closet, he thought about when his father took him hunting. He thought about how his dog could sniff out the location of the bird. He compares this memory to the black boys when they start looking for him. Chief feels like they are sniffing out his fear. At first the bird keeps still just like he does in the closet but when the bird decides to fly off, it is shot down. Chief decides to make a run for it, by running out of the closet, and like the bird he is caught. He finds himself in the expecting arms of the black boys.