Cane

How does Toomer approach the theme of The Mind/Body/Soul Relationship over each part of this novel? At what point do the components typically converge for his characters? At which points do they diverge? Explain.

Teaching Suggestion: Readers might benefit from a prepared list of characters who serve as strong examples for this complex prompt. Toomer’s text focuses on the divergence of The Mind/Body/Soul Relationship, particularly as he parses the mental and physical states of his characters. Many of the characters have minds that wander from reality and souls lost from their bodies; furthermore, his female characters are often identified (and frequently disregarded) by their physical exteriors alone. Students who determine this commodification of the female body can then make connections to the theme of Modernism and Black Women’s Bodies, and perhaps discuss how the women characters are exalted for physical appearances that often clash with their soul and/or mind. The lack of convergence of the three elements further signifies the complexity of life for Black people in the US. 

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Toomer’s Female Protagonists”

In this activity, students will select one of the female protagonists from the novel to analyze and from whose perspective to write a first-person narrative.