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November 06, 2005

Stuck on the Tar Baby

Harris, Uncle Remus stories (selections) (1881) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)

"You look sorter stuck up dis mawnin' 'sezee, en den he rolled on de groun', en laft en laft..."

Ha! I loved this selection of "The Wonderful Tay Baby Story" because of the Brer Fox's wit. After reading the accompanying analysis, I realized it's hard to determine who the protangonist is. I thought it was the Brer Fox, but is he really since he prevailed through a trick? I was happy to see Brer Rabbit get stuck and then Brer Fox make his comment about being "stuck up". I think Brer Rabbit was, in fact, the one who was stuck up because he tortured the Tar Baby for not talking to him. The story is hysterical, what do you think?

Posted by AshleyHoltzer at November 6, 2005 03:11 PM

Comments

I also noticed that the protagonist was hard to determine. It seems to differ from the first selection to the second selection.
It is a very entertaining story and I am not sure why? I mean it is like the road runner cartoon. Why is it entertaining? Maybe cause it is always fun to watch someone get tricked. Especially someone we don't particularly enjoy.

Posted by: michelle koss at November 7, 2005 05:24 PM

Michelle, it is interesting to think about how exactly why the story is entertaining. Maybe because the reader likes for the underdog to win. For example, how the rabbit was very cocky and stuck up towards the fox, it was like he deserved it all. Its like kharma...what goes around comes around.

Posted by: Ashley Holtzer at November 7, 2005 08:32 PM

I agree with you both. It is more fun to see something like that happen to someone that in a sense deserves it.

Posted by: Stacy at November 7, 2005 09:07 PM

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