What is the summary of Raymond's run?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia " Raymond's Run " is a short story by the American author Toni Cade Bambara, published as part of her collection Gorilla, My Love in 1972. The story concerns a young African-American girl's experiences as a talented long distance runner and her relationship with her disabled brother.
What is Raymond's run by Toni Cade Bambara about?
" Raymond's Run " is a short story by the American author Toni Cade Bambara, published as part of her collection Gorilla, My Love in 1972. The story concerns a young African-American girl's experiences as a talented long distance runner and her relationship with her disabled brother.
How does Bambara define herself in Raymond's run?
“Temperamentally, I move toward the short story ,” Bambara has said, defining herself, like her protagonist Hazel Parker, as “a sprinter rather than a long distance runner.” In “Raymond’s Run,” the young Hazel Parker relates the events of two days in her life in which she prepares for and runs a race.
What are the stylistic elements of Raymond’s run?
The most prominent stylistic aspect of “Raymond’s Run” is the narrator’s voice. Hazel Parker, narrating in the first person (“I”), recounts her experiences on the city streets and at the May Day races with verve and flair.
How old is squeaky in Raymond's Run?
Main Characters Hazel: Ten-year-old girl. Nicknamed “Squeaky.” Full name: Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker. Raymond: Hazel's older but mentally younger brother.
What is wrong with Raymond in Raymond's Run?
Raymond's Run is set in Harlem during the 1970s. Squeaky's brother has a condition called hydrocephalus. The symptoms of this disorder include a swelling of the head caused by too much fluid collecting in the skull. Sometimes the excess fluid damages the brain.
Who was older Raymond and squeaky?
In Raymond's Run Squeaky is the protagonist and is telling the book in her point of view , Squeaky is very protective of Raymond which is her older brother who has Down Syndrome which for example if he was 18 , he would have a mental age of 5.
Who is Raymond describe him in Raymond's Run?
Though the exact nature of Raymond's disability is never specified, the story implies that it's primarily intellectual: he has an unusually large head and is described as “not quite right” mentally and “subject to fits of fantasy.” It's Squeaky's job to take care of Raymond every day while their mother and father are ...
What is Squeaky's real name in Raymond's Run?
Hazel Elizabeth Deborah ParkerSqueaky, whose real name is Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker, is the narrator and protagonist of “Raymond's Run.” She's a skinny little girl with a squeaky voice (hence her nickname) whose greatest passion is running. Squeaky lives with her mother, father, and brothers Raymond and George in Harlem.
Is squeaky a good person?
In the short story Raymond's Run by Toni Cade Bambara, there is a sassy and bold runner named Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker “Squeaky.” Squeaky is very protective of her brother Raymond. Squeaky is a very confident runner and is not afraid of bullies. She stands up for herself and for other people.
Who is squeaky biggest rival?
1 Answers. Squeaky's (Hazel's) biggest competition in the race is Gretchen P. Lewis.
Who is the fastest runner in Raymond's Run?
SqueakyAs far as everyone else knows, Squeaky is the fastest person in the neighborhood—certainly faster than Gretchen, who's been bragging that she's going to win the first-place medal this year. Squeaky thinks this is ridiculous, since Gretchen has short legs and freckles, and no one ever beats Squeaky.
Why is squeaky so protective of her brother Raymond?
During their strolls down Broadway, a busy street in New York City, she's careful to keep him “walking on the inside close to the buildings.” This shows that Squeaky is protective of Raymond's safety because she is making sure that he does not get hurt.
Why is squeaky called Mercury?
Squeaky got her nickname because she has a squeaky voice. Why is she also called Mercury? He sometimes gets in her way when she is trying to practice running.
How is Raymond's run a coming of age story?
The race reflects her coming of age because she doesn't control her feelings before it, similar to how she may be close to maturing but her self-centered thoughts and actions get in the way before doing so. By using the technique of foreshadowing, the reader is able to get a glimpse of Raymond's future.
Who is the main character of Raymond's Run?
The main characters in “Raymond's Run” are Hazel Parker, Raymond Parker, and Gretchen P. Lewis. Hazel Parker, nicknamed Squeaky, is the story's narrator and protagonist. She is a confident young girl who excels at running and is protective of her brother, Raymond.
How did Gretchen and her friends behave with squeaky and Raymond?
they smile at each other , and squeaky notes that it is a real smile . the rivalry has ended because they have respect for each other .
What is the moral of Raymond's Run?
In Raymond's Run, the theme of the story is the significance of familial relationship in life. The theme reflects the selfless and antimate bonding between a brother and an sister.
What happens at the end of Raymond's Run?
RESOLUTION: Reveals the story's final outcome. Ties up any loose ends. Squeak realizes Raymond's potential as a runner and decides to sacrifice her desire and wants to train Raymond for next year's race FALLING ACTION: Reveals the outcome of the story's climax.
Who wins the race in Raymond's Run?
Squeaky wins the race, but the win has little importance for her, as she has already decided to put her own running career on hold in order to coach Raymond.
Who is the main character in Raymond's Run?
Raymond's Run | Characters. Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker , also known as Squeaky, is the protagonist of the story. She is a strong-willed, fast-footed runner who looks after her brother Raymond. Read More.
Who is Raymond Parker?
Raymond Parker is the middle brother of the Parker family. Although older than Hazel, he is under her care because he has a developmental disability. Read More. Gretchen. Gretchen P. Lewis is Hazel's competitor for the fastest runner. Her friends Mary Louise and Rosie are loyal to her and taunt Hazel on her behalf.
Why is Raymond called Squeaky's brother?
A lot of people refer to Raymond as Squeaky ’s little brother because he’s “not quite right” and needs supervision, but he’s actually older and much bigger than she is.
Does Squeaky love Raymond?
Squeaky clearly takes her role as Raymond’s protector seriously. It doesn’t matter to her that he’s “not quite right” and has a “big head” —Squeaky loves Raymond regardless of his disability (the exact nature of which is unspecified) and is willing to stand up to whoever bothers him.
Does Squeaky win a medal?
Active Themes. Squeaky wins first-place medals in every track competition she participates in. In private, though, Squeaky’s father races against her and effortlessly beats her, even when Squeaky gets a head start. But this is a secret, since racing against kids is embarrassing for Squeaky’s father.
Is Squeaky a runner?
Squeaky is clearly a talented runner, yet her father’s embarrassment at being seen racing her implies that he doesn’t take her passion seriously. Whereas Squeaky is willing to stand up to anyone who insults Raymond, their father doesn’t extend that same pride and protectiveness to Squeaky.
Does Squeaky think Raymond would make a good runner?
She thinks that Raymond would actually make a good runner—he always keeps up with Squeaky when she practices and even mimics her breathing exercises. Squeaky thinks that it doesn’t matter if she’s won or lost against Gretchen, since she could always retire as a runner and coach Raymond instead.
What is the point of view of Raymond's Run?
Like the language, the point of view of “Raymond’s Run” is that of Hazel Parker. The firstperson point of view (“I”) and the use of the present tense involve the reader in the pre-adolescent Hazel’s perception of the world in the present moment. This point of view also limits the story’s perspective; it does not allow the reader to enter the minds of other characters besides Hazel and does not allow Hazel the hindsight to consider the meaning of her experiences. The reader is invited to look beyond these limitations and evaluate Hazel’s observations and declarations and consider what is left unsaid. For example, Hazel describes her own and Raymond’s actions in the present, but it is up to the reader to assess and interpret the complexities of their relationship.
When was Raymond's Run published?
When “Raymond’s Run” was published in 1971, the Black Power Movement was having a significant impact among African-American artists and writers. While the Black Power movement, which extended through the decade from 1965 to 1975, grew out of the Civil Rights movement, the
What is the significance of the story of Hazel and Raymond?
While the story dramatizes the importance of identity, it also reflects on a particular moment of growth and change for both Hazel and Raymond. As the title suggests, not only Hazel’s but Raymond’s run has implications for both characters. The title points not only to Raymond’s own potential as an athlete, but also to Hazel’s intuitive recognition of his possibilities, a recognition that redefines her. Up until that moment, which occurs, interestingly, while Hazel is in the process of fulfilling a goal, Hazel has led a somewhat lonely existence, despite her vivacious style and tone. Her closeness to her family is evident, both in her father’s support for her running and in her mention of her mother, brother and grandfather.
What is an epiphany in the book Raymond's Run?
An epiphany is a sudden flash of insight, during which an ordinary object or person becomes illuminated with meaning. Hazel does not describe in any detail an experience of epiphany, but she implies that such a moment occurs during the race when she says “on the other side of the fence is Raymond. . . running in his very own style, and it’s the first time I ever saw that and I almost stop to watch my brother Raymond on his first run.” This important epiphanic moment in which Hazel’s perception of her brother suddenly shifts is suggested in the title of story, “Raymond’s Run.”
Who is the narrator of Raymond's Run?
“Raymond’s Run” plunges its readers immediately into the world of its narrator Hazel, known in her neighborhood as “Squeaky,” a young black girl verging on adolescence. We meet Hazel walking down a street in Harlem with her older—but mentally younger— brother, Raymond. While she guards her mentally challenged brother from dashing into the traffic or soaking himself in the gutters, Hazel resolutely keeps up breathing exercises to train herself as a runner. Known in the neighborhood as “the fastest thing on two feet” she is determined to maintain her reputation by winning the fifty-yard
Why does Hazel walk slowly to the track meet?
Hazel walks slowly to the race the next day in order to miss the May Pole dancing that precedes the track meet. Even though her mother thinks she should participate, Hazel rejects the feminine role of dressing up and “trying to act like a fairy or a flower.” Arriving at the park, she takes Raymond to the swings and finds her teacher Mr. Pearson approaching her, ready to sign up “Squeaky” as an entrant in the fifty-yard race. Hazel insists he write down her full name, “Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker.” When he suggests that she might consider letting someone else win this year, such as the new girl, Hazel stares him down and heads for the track.
The Black Liberation Movement and the Women's Movement
The black liberation movement was an activist movement that fought for social equality for African Americans, while the women's movement fought for gender equality.
Harlem
Harlem—the setting of "Raymond's Run"—is a predominantly African American neighborhood in New York City. The neighborhood and its strongly African American character arose around the turn of the 20th century.
May Day
May Day is an annual celebration on May 1 that is today associated with International Workers' Day. May 1 has been celebrated as a holiday since the festival of Beltane was held by the ancient Celts, an ethnic group living in the British Isles since the 7th or 8th century BCE.
Who wrote Raymond's Run?
" Raymond's Run " is a short story by the American author Toni Cade Bambara, published as part of her collection Gorilla, My Love in 1972. The story concerns a young African-American girl's experiences as a talented long distance runner and her relationship with her disabled brother.
What does Muther argue about Bambara's use of child narrators in "Raymond'
Muther argues that Bambara's use of child narrators in "Raymond's Run" and "Gorilla, My Love" allows her to "answer back, through the prescience and self-assurance of children, to the fraudulent postulates of an anxiety-stricken white supremacist culture.". In Muther's reading, the story's "transformational power" resides in Hazel's realization ...
Who is the girl in Squeaky?
Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker, known as "Squeaky", is an African-American girl from a poor background. A long distance runner and caregiver to her disabled brother Raymond, she rejects feminine gender roles, seeing social expectations of women as a pretense concealing women's true selves, and is protective of her brother and willing to fight those who mock him. Hazel particularly abhors another girl, Gretchen; eventually, though, after the girls race against each other, they acknowledge each other as worthwhile opponents. As well as recognising her own need to be true to herself, she comes to recognize Raymond's worth and potential as an individual, rather than simply as someone she must protect, after he shows himself able to keep pace with her when she runs.
