Character - John Henry
John Henry as a Character - How to Write Non-fiction in a Creative Way
John Henry as Character in Music
Images - American History Looks for Light - A Prayer for the Survival of Barack Obama by Roger Bonair - Agard
American History Looks for Light - A Prayer for the Survival of Barack Obama by Roger Bonair - Agard Discussion Questions: Identify the images used in this poem. You may refer to chapter 2 of Imaginative Writing and your class partner (s) for assistance. Consider how to the images in this poem appeal to the senses of the reader. Identify at least two concrete, significant details. Identify one figure of speech that enhances the ways this poet used images. Be "Reader of a Writerly Kind" In the comments box below, write about one of your favorite images in the poem and why it appealed to you as "a reader of a writerly kind". This answer should only be 2-3 sentences. Best practices include drafting the statement using word software and posting the revised answer into the comments box below.
John Henry definitely had a very strong and confident voice.
ReplyDeleteJohn Henry had a very confident voice and used it to prove his point
DeleteJohn Henry as thought. The man isn’t he video testing this event that is questioned makes one think that it is possible. If the action is possible then maybe he too was real and not fiction.
ReplyDeletedesire- to show a man is just as powerful is as strong as something man made.
ReplyDeleteimage- mountain of a man, physically inclined and advantaged
voice- presumably a deeper stern voice
conflict- the business men and ideals between man and machine
presented by author as a strong independent man that is faithful to his beliefs and desires
I think johns thoughts were selfless by wanting to keep humans on the frontlines of the work force to keep people working and making money.
ReplyDeleteNon-fiction explores character by extreme. If you're taking a nonfictional character and turning them into a larger than life character then you can just exaggerate their person to the extreme and have all the fun. I think John Henry is a hardworking, strong black man. He was confident but not arrogant and put 100% into everything he did. He wanted to best for his people.
ReplyDeletethe*- he always had to prove his orth to people, especially with theintroduction of the machine, I imagine he's very weary too.
DeleteJohn Henry is probably a very large man with strong muscles. His voice is most likely deep. I imagine he would be athletic and known for his bravery. The author presents him as a person who is trying to challenge industrialization. The conflict in the story is John Henry versus a machine, which is testing his grit or determination.
ReplyDeleteProbably 6’4, muscular and very deep voice. Wanted to prove them wrong, very confident
ReplyDeleteZoe Brewer
DeleteI think John Henry thoughts were about getting the job done. I looked him up so I could have a better idea of who John Henry was, and was told he was trying to make the most out of unequal society. He was striving to be the best to his ability. I see him as a tall man with a deep voice that had to work hard throughout his life.
ReplyDeleteI feel as though John Henry did what he did because of his situation, he is a man working a very laborious job and in order to be seen as someone who is non expendable to keep his job he challenged the very thing trying to take his job. Also I imagine him as being a wide shouldered stronger, taller man with some what of a chip on his shoulder. I believed he desired to keep his job and to prove himself useful to those employing him.
ReplyDeleteI picture John Henry as a tall and very imposing figure. Similar to the men in the video. I imagine his eyes are kind though. Like they've seen a lot of things that may have been hard to overcome, but didn't leave him jagged around the edges. I imagine the same persistency translated into his thoughts when he was completing the challenge.
ReplyDeleteMight have wanted to prove himself against machine that the will of man is stronger than machine. I imagine him as tall and strong with a deep voice. This is a story about grit and determination. It basically preaches the idea that you can do anything you put your mind to.
ReplyDeleteJohn Henry desired to beat the machine in the battle. He probably also desired to keep his job, and protect the jobs of other workers whose labor would be replaced by modern technology. I picture John Henry as a toned, buff man with a deep voice and a staggeringly tall figure, mostly because of the images that have been presented in the stories I have read about him (Disney short films, statues, illustrations). He was likely a character that took action quickly, but not necessarily a traditional leader; I think he gained attention, praise, and like ability because of his actions and his attitude, not because he desired to be the “top dog.”
ReplyDeleteI feel like John Henry looked a like someone who isn't very strong, but actually is. Tall and lengthy with a deep voice is how I imagine him. I feel like he also was obviously because of his job. I think he also was an old soul and wanted to prove himself against machine, and he felt that anyone could do what they wanted if they put their mind to it.
ReplyDeleteI pictured John almost similar to a lumberjack in a cartoon. Animatedly strong and tough looking. Facial hair may add a more "manly" look. When making characters based on real people, features may be dramatized. For instance strength in this manner helps makes the character larger than life. I imagined a gruff voice with neutral-colored clothing and possibly dirt from a hard day's work.
ReplyDeletei think john henry is very strong with a deep voice and i also think he tried to prove himself to alot of people because i dont really understand the point of drilling into a rock
ReplyDeleteJohn Henry is a strong, tall, and intimidating man. Someone who looks like a hero. His voice is deep and he is always seen walking confidentially. Some people around him are scared, some people around him doubt him. People say machine is better, people say he cannot do it, but he wants to prove to them that man can do what he puts his mind too. He also might be a little headstrong and full of himself, but as he should be. I think of him as a Chris Evans.
ReplyDeleteJohn henry is a muscley, natural, large man. He looks scruffy and has a very keep voice. I like to think of him as a man who lives in a cabin in the middle of the woods. A lunberjack type
ReplyDeleteI believe that john henry was a very big and strong man like the ones shown in the video. I believe that maybe John Henry wanted to prove that doing things your own way/ the old was is better or more effective than machines.
ReplyDeleteNonfiction and fiction can go hand in hand when you dramaticize real life. I bet he was tall, muscular, and a lower voice. I believe he had an air about him that alluded to bravery and confidence.
ReplyDeletehe seems to be very confident and is testing the strength of a man and that you can do anything if you set your mind to it. I can picture him being very strong and tall
ReplyDeleteHe is a man that needs to provide for his family. He has to put food on the table every night and rely on his job and skills to do so. He may be tall, like 6'4, dirty, and has a full face of hair, but well kept. He has a strong build, but an accepting personality. Then, someone comes up with a machine to replace him. Throughout this time, he has to prove his worth. He has to prove he is still an effective worker and is still worth the paycheck. he had to find a way to prove he was still better than a machine.
ReplyDeleteNot knowing much about John Henry's background, I am assuming he wanted to prove something to the world. He might have found himself in a bit of a bind (in some scenario) and this was his way to show that he was capable of so much more. To me, watching the video, there was a sense of respect given to John Henry and this might have meant he was heavily regarded after his accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteI imagine John Henry as a very masculine and big man. When I try to imagine what he looks like, I see Hercules. I see a regular man that is abnormally strong rather than a superhero or some kind of supernatural character. This folklore seems more real because I imagine a man that wants to test his abilities and understand the true potential of his strength. I imagine John Henry as someone that doesn't feel the need to prove himself, but rather he was interested in understanding his strength.
ReplyDeleteJohn Henry wanted to show that he is a strong man. I also picture the man as about 6’2 with a very deep voice. I feel like he is a very determined man that doesn’t take no as a answer
ReplyDeleteI see John Henry as a very confident person. He bet on himself to beat a machine, and he did. He reminds me of an underdog in a football game who pulled off a big upset. John Henry was tough, gritty, and self-aware. After the competition I am sure he said "I told you so" to a bunch of people.
ReplyDeleteThis video represents the lesson that in life you can accomplish anything that you put your mind to. Although it may be hard and the odds may be against you it is still always worth it to give it your all and to try your best. I definitely think that John Henry is a brave and strong man. I think it is pretty easy to generate the idea that John Henry is a strong-willed character who doesn’t show any worry or doubt within his own capabilities. I would guess that John Henry is a very fit man. It takes great strength to be able to hammer for that long and that intensely. I feel like this video was made to represent how similar John Henry’s strength is to a piece of equipment that does the same job but on its own.
ReplyDeleteJohn Henry thoughts: What are the limits to fictional exploration? Are we all on our own sort of search for a fictional answer. Everyone is told different folk stories but what originated these stories. Are their non fictional stories that present these non fictional stories and bring them to a reality
ReplyDeleteJOHN HENRY:
I think John henry was most definitely a real person, his backstory seems to be to detailed in my opinion for him not to be. The image he is presented as is a strong defined man that broke through a societal structure at the time. He was presented as a larger than normal person who was able to do inhumane things. He was known for being the man that beat the machine but what else could he be known for? Surely there is more to this person than just his brawn and muscle he brought to the mining industry. But It was clear he wanted to leave mark on Something I doubt he knew it was going to be a national known story. I’m not sure if John Henry even wanted to show his strength through his action he might’ve just wanted to be more efficient. None the less the description of him today exudes masculinity, a large strong man that cared for nothing else except his status, his efficiency, and his family.
I believe John Henry’s desires were just to dig and to be stronger than most. I feel like he looked like a big 6’3, brown or dark, long hair, with brown eyes, and was very buff. I feel like he had a very simple thought process but also had a chip on his shoulder because he wanted to be stronger than everyone.
ReplyDeleteI think John Henry wanted to make a statement, that machine will never overpower man. I envision him as a very muscular and tall man.
ReplyDeleteI imagine John as a large, strong man who is almost intimidating to look at. I think the purpose of this was to show the similarity between his strength and the machine with the same strength that does the same job, but without trying. He needed to have more willpower than the machine.
ReplyDeleteI think he would be a strong man. A man who wants to work hard for his family
ReplyDeleteNo matter what it takes. I imagine him to be tall and look intimidating, but doesn’t have an Intimidating personality.