#esj

Book: To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee published 1960

1. Canonicity: Why do you think this text is considered to be part of the canon? Who benefits or gets marginalized from an inclusion of this text in the curriculum?

This text, though written and published in 1960, takes place in 1930s Alabama and is often a supplementary text when teaching about segregation, Jim Crow, and even the civil rights movement. However, because the text is from the perspective of a white child, there isn’t a clear understanding of what that means for black people at the time.  It doesn’t show or explain the harsh realities of the time, yet is it considered an influential and defining text of the time.  

2. Contexts: What version of a given historical period does this text tell? How would the narrative differ if someone from a different race, gender identity, ethnicity, or class wrote it?

The story is told from the perspective a young, white, girl. Someone who lacks the awareness, knowledge, and experience to understand the acts of systematic racisms going on around her.  If this same story was told from the perspective of a even a black child, there would be a better understanding of the fear and hate that surrounded black people living in the south. There would be a better understanding of why the trial that takes place in the novel is so important, and why it was important that Atticus, a white man, was defending a black man in court. Scout had to be told why this was a big deal but it never felt like a large focus for her. She didn’t care or understand that this trial was putting a mans life a risk. 

3. Literary Elements: What cultural knowledge would someone have to have in order to understand the literary elements (symbols, theme, characterization, etc.) of this text? If the text includes minority characters, are these characters complex or stereotypical?

To understand the text, one would need a very basic knowledge of the Jim Crow era. There are not many instances where the main character directly interacts with people of color so the view of its effects are extremely limited. When she is taken to the church her black maid attends she sees her code switch for the first time, but only comments on it being weird that she never heard her maid speak that way before. She goes through a little culture shock but never dwells on the experience. All of the characterization takes place  through her, so if she doesn’t have a relationship with something or someone there will be little characterization. 

4. Teacher/Reader: How does your own identity, ability, sexual orientation, age, religion, socioeconomic status, race, etc. shape your reading of this text? In other words, how does your own positionality/privilege affect your perception of this text's value?

In some ways I can relate to the main character. She is blinded by her whiteness to fully understand that racism she is surrounded by. As a child, I too didn’t understand the systematic injustice around me. However, knowing what I know now, I don’t see much value in that. I don’t see any value reading a story about injustice from a position of privilege, especially when that perspective doesn’t fully understand it. I gain nothing from it. I would rather read the same story from the perspective of someone that is directly affected by the injustice, from that I would gain, insight, understanding and would grow to acknowledge the significance of that experience. 

5. Assessments: Would a summative assessment on this text allow students to think about ways to enact social change beyond the classroom? Would it allow them to move past the four corners of the text and even a personal connection with the text to understand how this text has greater significance to current issues and events?

requested by @snoopy3000 : 20 with Tony please!!! Thank you! 💕

prompt: 20-"You feel like home."

warnings: slight angst but fluffy towards the end!

pairing: Tony Stark x female!reader

A/N: Slightly inspired by an episode from teen wolf when Stiles had disappeared in season 3.

Tony pinched his nose as tried to rein his emotions in. Panicking won't do you any good. He needed to focus.

"Friday, search all cameras in a 2 mile radius and try to find (Y/N). Start near the cafe we found her phone." Steve ordered to the AI, the team already doing everything they could to find you.

It has been 6 hours since Natasha saw you the last time in the compound. You were leaving the property because Tony had pissed you with his ignorance.

You still weren't back and, upon tracing, Tony found your phone thrown on a sidewalk outside a cafe.

As he felt himself calmer and more level headed than before, he listened in on the conversation of the team making theories on what could've happened to you.

"I've found a CCTV footage from the cafe." Friday's voice rang throughout the common area.

A video started playing on the screen, showing you leaving the cafe. As soon as you did, however, so did two other men. Both of them caught you as you stumbled forward. They dragged you into a car right when you lost consciousness.

"She must've been drugged inside the cafe. That's the only explanation." Clint said.

The numbers on the plate of the car were not visible, making it even harder for the team to get to you.

In an abandoned industrial area not so far from the compound, you gingerly opened your eyes. You were freezing. There was no one around you, but you were shivering hard and your teeth were clattering.

You searched around, but saw nothing that could help you untie the restraints around your entire torso, hands and feet. You tried to move even just a little bit, but it was like your body was glued to the structure behind you.

Your eyes threatened to shut down again, but you forced them open. You weren't sure if they'd open again once closed.

"You look cold." A voice suddenly taunted.

You tried looking at the source, but your head was spinning, your vision was blurry and the man was standing far from you. It was practically impossible.

"You know," he drawled out, walking closer, "I don't really want anything from you. I just want to send a message to the Earth's mightiest heroes." He taunted.

"With the temperature and your clothing," he continued, rubbing a hand over the cotton t shirt you had on, "you wouldn't last half an hour. Let's see if your boyfriend finds you in time."

He punched you across the face and left the room.

You desperately tried to do something but it felt like all energy was drained out of you.

Back at the compound, the team looked at a photo received from an unknown server. A photo of you, unconscious and tied to a pole.

30 minutes. It read.

"We need to act fast!" Wanda said.

"How do we find her using this?!" Nat added.

"Friday, get a location on the device this is sent from." Tony ordered.

"Already done, sir." The AI produced a satellite image of the location.

Tony moved to put on his suit, but Steve's voice stopped him.

"We need a plan."

"There is no time for a plan!" He said.

"We can't enter an enemy base without a plan."

"Obviously this enemy isn't well prepared if we get her location so easily." Tony said.

"I think Tony's right." Natasha said. The team, including Tony, looked at her, shocked. She shrugged. "There's a small gang that uses the location as their base. I don't think they have a plan, either."

"Right. That's it. I'm going, you guys stay here. I doubt I'll need you."

As soon as Tony entered the warehouse, bullets started hitting his suit.

"Are you kidding me?" He muttered before stopping the men with one shot.

He searched the entire area, not finding you. He tried entering the basement, but it was locked from inside.

He blew down the door, a rush of cold wind hitting him. Even in his suit, he knew the room was freezing.

"(Y/N)!" He untied your restraints, picking you up and getting out of the room.

You were still unconscious, Tony leaving the building with you in his arms.

"She's unconscious and possibly hypothermic." He said into the comms.

×××××××××××××××

You were wrapped in blankets when you woke up. The room was warm, but you still felt cold. You looked around, finding that you were in your and Tony's shared room.

Tony entered the room, smiling in relief as he saw that you were awake.

"Thank god." He whispered before leaning down to embrace you. You put your head in the crook of his neck, inhaling his scent.

He inhaled deeply. "You feel like home. I missed you so much."

"What even happened?" You asked.

"Don't worry about it. You're safe. We're together. That's all that matters to me." He brushed his lips against yours softly, sitting down beside you on the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Cold." You answered honestly.

"Well, then, let's share some body heat." He smirked as he cuddled you closer to him, lying both of you down.

"You're sweating." You noticed. Was the room that hot?

He shrugged before pulling you closer.

"I still want your warmth."