Last night's electrical storm caused a water leak in the classroom so we moved temporarily moved to the library for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd periods.  We read an essay called "That Lean and Hungry Look" by Suzanne Britt.  Click on the title to read the essay online if you were not in class.  The following questions were assigned:

The Facts

1.  In a nutshell, what bothers the author most about thin people?
2.  What is your view of the myth about the "jolly fat person" mentioned in paragraph 4?  What evidence is there for your view?
3.  In paragraph 9, what is the "list" objected to by the thin person?  What is ironic about this objection?
4. The thesis of Britt's essay is obvious, but what is her underlying purpose?  Since the essay is humorous, you might say that she simply wants to entertain the reader; but what more serious purpose is revealed?
5.  In paragraph 10, Britt claims that thin people "oppress."  What evidence does she cite to support this claim?

The Strategies

1.  The title of the essay is a literary allusion that is echoed in the opening sentence.  What is the origin of the allusion?  What other allusion can you identify in the essay?
2.  What rhetorical organization does the author use to develop her essay?  What advantage does her organization present?  What other type of organization could be used to contrast thin and fat people?
3.  Paragraph 5 and other paragraphs open with short declarative sentences.  What is the effect?
4.  Here and there throughout the essay, Britt uses figurative language.  Find three examples and label the kind of figure of speech used in each.
5. How does the author achieve humor in her essay?  Cite appropriate examples of her techniques.

If you were absent, it is your responsibility to read the essay and ask me which two questions you will be required to answer.