How does Dada Bibi’s story about the African queen (p. 531) resonate with Rae Ann’s immediate story?  Why, when Rae Ann repeats the story to the kids on her block, does she include Gretchen’s interruptions?

Read “A Girl’s Story,” by Toni Cade Bambara

Questions for Paragraph 2, pick one to write your thoughtful reaction.

1. Why is Rae Ann so taken with Dada Bibi?  What is the Center?  How is it both a uniting force and a dividing force in the community?  What is the story’s setting, in time, and how is that important?

2. Explain the significance of the following quote from page 532:  “You’re becoming a woman and that’s no private thing.”

3. What seems to have happened to Rae Ann’s mother?  Explain.

4. How does Dada Bibi’s story about the African queen (p. 531) resonate with Rae Ann’s immediate story?  Why, when Rae Ann repeats the story to the kids on her block, does she include Gretchen’s interruptions?

5. How would you describe the tone and meaning of the story’s final paragraph?

6. Explain the complex symbolism of blood in “A Girl’s Story.”

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