Gods bits of wood chapter summary

This strike leads to tension between the two parties and the soldiers end up violently attacking a group of Senegalese. From that broad
perspective, the narrative zooms on on a particular home, that of the family of Bakayoko, a respected and almost revered union leader. They come
promising to alter the land for the better, but end up using human lives as commodities to make the occupying country rich. We see this when
Ad'jibid'ji is talking and accidentally uses a French word. One of them, in a fit of frustration, runs outside only to be shot. During a conversation
with Bakayoko's step-daughter, Ad'jibid'ji, Niakoro becomes furious when the The workers of the railroad are preparing to go on strike due to
the conditions workers are experiencing. There they are met by influential traditionalists who warn them against behaving in such an outrageous,
unfeminine way, but are encouraged by Bakayoko, whose powerful speech to the crowd inspires a national general strike which, in turn, makes the
union and government authorities back down. It illustrates the different ways that the union leaders experience the strike. View the Study Pack.
There are Bakayoko's fellow union leaders the sensible Lahbib and the practical Doudou , members of the union with different perspectives on the
strike the enthusiastic Samba, the aggressive Tiemoko, the sullen and superficial Beaugosse , and members of management the judgmental Dejean,
drunken Isnard, and idealistic Pierre. The map at the beginning shows the locations and suggests that the story is about a whole country and all of
its people. As oppressed male black railroad workers in French colonial Africa struggle to improve their economic and social status, their women
who, in many ways, are just as oppressed by tribal and ethnic traditions, struggle to improve their own status, within both their communities and
their families. The machine is the railway, but it is also the occupation of colonial powers. View a FREE sample. But the onset of the strike gives
the role of bread-winner or perhaps more precisely, bread scavenger to the women. Others are true believers but find resistance from their
families. View the Lesson Plans. The new generation is accepting of the colonial ways and seems progressive whereas the older generation wants
things to stay traditional. This section contains words approx. Dejean, the French manager and colonialist, and Bakayoko, the soul and spirit of the
strike. The young don't see the big deal in taking on some of the French ways where the old want the French to go away. Every culture has a big
gap between generations but in the Senegalese culture during this period of time the gap is further expanded by the colonization that is taking place.
There is nostalgia for the old ways before the French occupied the territory, but also the acknowledgement that the railway brings about new
opportunities for the people there. Eventually, Bakayoko is forced to return to his homeland after a long time away, taking what he and others
believe to be his rightful place at the head of the strike movement. The book also highlights the oppression faced by women in the colonial era. The
story ends in the silence afterward with a lone voice singing about the virtues of protesting without hatred. Chapters 10, 11 and His negotiations are
futile, however, largely because he is unable to control his temper, so the women take matters into their own hands, planning a 60 km march.
Chapters 5 and 6. They struggle with obstacles such as weather, hunger, and fatigue, but they are triumphant in reaching Dakar. It is in part a story
of the ways that black men sought to improve their conditions under colonial rule, eventually throwing it off, and the ways that black women sought
to improve their lot under local customs. Views Read Edit View history. A large cast of characters plays out a complex interweaving of narrative
and thematic lines in this fact-based novel. The book deals with several ways that the Senegalese and Malians responded to colonialism. There are
elements that tend toward accommodation, collaboration, or even idealization of the French colonials. Niakoro scolds her for using the language of
the white man but Ad'jibid'ji didn't think anything of it until she was yelled at. The French colonization also brings about other changes in the
culture. Chapters 18 and Chapters 1 and 2. Even our culture has an generation gap. The fundamental conflict is captured in two characters: Many
of the men originally oppose the women's march, but it is precisely this show of determination from the marching women, who the French had
earlier dismissed as "concubines", that makes the strikers' relentlessness clear. As oppressed male black railroad workers in French colonial Africa
struggle to improve their economic and social status, their women who, in many ways, are just as oppressed by tribal and ethnic traditions struggle
to improve their own status, within both their communities and their families. This tension will probably lead to more problems during the
colonization and specifically during the strike since the French and Senegalese are both set in the ways of their own culture. Chapters 1 and 2
Summary A large cast of characters plays out a complex interweaving of narrative and thematic lines in this fact-based novel. Get God's Bits of
Wood from Amazon. View the Study Pack. With the organizational help of the men, the women set off on their march, overcoming obstacles
presented by weather, fatigue and hunger to gather more and more supporters, and eventually arrive in the heart of Dakar.

Summary of God's Bits of Wood by Sembene Ousmane

The story ends in the silence afterward with a lone voice singing about the virtues of protesting without hatred. Niakoro scolds her for using the
language of the white man but Ad'jibid'ji didn't think anything of it until she was yelled at. View the Study Pack. Even our culture has an generation
gap. Views Read Edit View history. This strike leads to tension between the two parties and the soldiers end up violently attacking a group of
Senegalese. Seeing the human effects of both the strike and its aftermath leads Bakayoko to the decision to stay home with his family rather than
continue his travels. When the men are able to work the factory jobs that the railroad provides them, the women are responsible for running the
markets, preparing the food, and rearing the children. Every culture has a big gap between generations but in the Senegalese culture during this
period of time the gap is further expanded by the colonization that is taking place. As the action moves back and forth between the Bakayoko
family home in Bamako, the base of many of the workers in Thies, and the seat of white power in Dakar, the narrative explores the lives and
relationships of its various characters. This page was last edited on 12 October , at The map at the beginning shows the locations and suggests that
the story is about a whole country and all of its people. In another sense, however, the main characters of the novel are the people as a collective
and the railroad itself. From that broad perspective, the narrative zooms on on a particular home, that of the family of Bakayoko, a respected and
almost revered union leader. More summaries and resources for teaching or studying God's Bits of Wood. Follow Us on Facebook. Chapters 1
and 2. With the organizational help of the men, the women set off on their march, overcoming obstacles presented by weather, fatigue and hunger
 to gather more and more supporters, and eventually arrive in the heart of Dakar. And in the silence that follows, from the crowd of women
protestors surrounding the community, a solitary voice sings a song in praise of "the man who does battle without hatred". Eventually, Bakayoko is
forced to return to his homeland after a long time away, taking what he and others believe to be his rightful place at the head of the strike
movement. They struggle with obstacles such as weather, hunger, and fatigue, but they are triumphant in reaching Dakar. View a FREE sample.
Chapters 13 and This study guide contains the following sections: At the same time the story details the strikers who work against the mistreatment
of the Senegalese people. This contrast between young and old can be seen in all cultures. Narration reveals that he and other members of the
railway workers union are about to go on strike for better wages and benefits, and also reveals that the women in their lives are somewhat reluctant
to go along, given that they fell they will be left with the responsibility of keeping the family homes functioning under increasingly trying
circumstances. Chapters 5 and 6. The theme of unity is significant for the building of the newly independent nation. This section contains words
approx.

Detailed Review Summary of God's Bits Of Wood by Sembene Ousmane

And in the silence that follows, from the crowd of women protestors surrounding the community, a solitary voice sings a song in praise of "the man
who does battle without hatred". Get God's Bits of Wood from Amazon. Teenagers today are much more technology oriented than our
grandparents were and many older people do not understand why teens use technology to the extent that we do and some don't even want to learn
how to use some new technologies. One of them, in a fit of frustration, runs outside only to be gods bits of wood chapter summary. The
circumstances become challenging as food and water become scarce, and the strike gods bits of wood chapter summary violent. This strike
leads to tension between the two parties and the soldiers end up violently attacking a group of Senegalese. There they are met by influential
traditionalists who warn them against behaving in such an outrageous, unfeminine way, but are encouraged by Bakayoko, whose powerful speech
to the crowd inspires a national general strike which, in turn, makes the union and government authorities back down. Some believe in the cause
but find themselves drawn back to old comforts, unwilling to make the sacrifices to stay the course. Bakayoko himself remains physically absent
for much of the strike and indeed for approximately two thirds of the narrativea main character whose ideas both move and encourage the strikers
but whose influence is felt, at least initially, mostly in spite of his absence. Men and women alike find themselves profoundly challenged by the
circumstances and results of the strike. Niakoro scolds her for using the language of the white man but Ad'jibid'ji didn't think anything of it until she
was yelled at. It is an examination of how the Senegalese biits Malians felt about colonial rule and the ways they handled the occupation. View a
FREE sample. God's Bits of Wood from BookRags. Articles needing additional references from April All articles needing additional references
Books with missing cover. But the onset of the strike gives the role of bread-winner or perhaps more precisely, gods bits of wood chapter
summary scavenger to ot women. Follow Us on Facebook. Bakayoko is absent from much of the narrative himself, but his ideas set gods
bits of wood chapter summary an inspiration among the people. It illustrates the different ways that the union leaders experience the strike.
Chapters 5 and 6. Chapters 1 and 2. With the organizational help of the men, the women set off on their march, overcoming obstacles presented
by weather, fatigue and hunger to gather more and more supporters, and eventually arrive in the heart of Dakar. Meanwhile, in sumkary enclosed
French community outside Dakar, a small group of French leaders is holed up, resisting orders to leave their positions and return home. The book
came out inthe year that Senegal achieved independence. SuperSummary, a modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, offers high-quality
study guides that feature detailed chapter chapyer and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Chapters 10, 11 and
sujmary These women go from merely standing behind the men to walking alongside them smmary eventually marching ahead of them. Browse all
BookRags Study Guides. At the end of the story, a group of French leaders is holed up in a protected community refusing to leave their posts.
Views Read Edit View history. Bakayoko is a respected union leader, and his family is beloved in their town. As oppressed male black railroad
workers woox French colonial Africa struggle to improve their economic and social status, their women who, in many ways, are just as oppressed
by tribal and ethnic traditions struggle to improve their own status, within both their communities and their families. Gids large cast of characters
plays out a complex interweaving of narrative and gods bits of wood chapter summary lines in this fact-based novel. The women set off. Dejean,
the French manager and colonialist, and Bakayoko, the soul and spirit of the gods bits of wood chapter summary. This pursuit of simultaneous
personal and communal integrity is the novel's anchoring thematic concern, manifesting in both character transformation and plot. There are
elements that tend toward accommodation, collaboration, or even idealization of the French colonials. Retrieved from " https: This contrast
between young and old can be seen in all cultures. He believes that Africa will once again triumph and come into the modern era as a power again.
This pursuit of simultaneous personal and communal integrity is the novel's anchoring thematic concern, manifesting in both character transformation
and plot. They come promising to alter the land for the better, but end up using human lives as commodities to make the occupying country rich.
The march is also a testament to struggling without giving in to hatred. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This tension will probably lead to
more problems during the colonization chapterr specifically during the strike since the French and Senegalese are both gods bits of wood chapter
summary in the ways of their own culture. Every culture has a big gap between generations but in the Senegalese culture during this period of time
the gap is further expanded by the colonization that is taking place. Many of the men originally oppose the women's march, but it is precisely this
show of determination from the marching women, who the French had earlier dismissed as "concubines", that makes the strikers' relentlessness
clear. There they are met by cultural traditionalists, who warn them about subverting their roles and behaving in such an unfeminine way. The
government eventually backs down. The women find new power as the strike goes on. The book deals with several ways that the Senegalese and
Malians responded to colonialism. In another sense, however, wod main characters of the novel are the people as a collective and the railroad
gods bits of wood chapter summary. They struggle with obstacles such as weather, hunger, and fatigue, but they are triumphant in reaching
Dakar. Women find more power under the modern ways of the French but in the end, this power is not worth much when the local people are
removed from making decisions about their homeland.