ENG2603
7 steps to heaven
Revision PACK
Summary & Memo
,ENG2603
7 steps to heaven
Revision PACK
Summary & Memo
, Seven steps to heaven
Introduction
This novel is set in the exciting yet uncertain period beginning in 1991
The year after the release of Nelson Mandela and other prisoners
The title suggests that there are 7 steps to take to lead you closer to God,
this is seen as a spiritual journey and given that the life he leads it is ironic
When you get an extract: this extract introduces the theme of…. Which is
evident throughout the novel. In this essay I will elaborate on the theme
as it connects with….
Themes
Stereotyping
Stereotyping is defined as ‘a false or negative assumption about an
individual or group of people
‘People are like onions my mother would say they have many layers’ As
such people do not fit into any specific grouping, as each individual is
complex like the onion.
Racial stereotyping
Racial stereotype refers to the false on negative assumptions about a
particular race
There are many instances of racial stereotyping in the book.
“Yo bro, I’m talking to you”. “Yo, nigger, where you from, huh?
Patrick and Sizwe have a complex relationship
during their first meeting, Patrick speaks to Sizwe in a pseudo-black
American accent
He sees Sizwe and immediately presumes that since he is black and that
he is from city and would converse in this language style.
Sizwe is confused and in some cases offended by the way Patrick speaks.
Ironically, Patrick stereotypes Sizwe when he himself defies stereotypes
because of the way h he speaks and dresses “baggy jeans and a Lakers
shirt’.
He is hardly the stereotypical version of an eloquent Irish literary
student.
“All you whites are the same. Every time we give you a hand of friendship, you
chop it off”
this is from an argument that takes place between Sizwe and Patrick
when Patrick gives his manuscript to Sheree and he is not happy about it.
Sizwe is enraged when he says these words
He is referring to how white people take advantage of black people and
this is a broad generalization and stereotypical towards black individuals
7 steps to heaven
Revision PACK
Summary & Memo
,ENG2603
7 steps to heaven
Revision PACK
Summary & Memo
, Seven steps to heaven
Introduction
This novel is set in the exciting yet uncertain period beginning in 1991
The year after the release of Nelson Mandela and other prisoners
The title suggests that there are 7 steps to take to lead you closer to God,
this is seen as a spiritual journey and given that the life he leads it is ironic
When you get an extract: this extract introduces the theme of…. Which is
evident throughout the novel. In this essay I will elaborate on the theme
as it connects with….
Themes
Stereotyping
Stereotyping is defined as ‘a false or negative assumption about an
individual or group of people
‘People are like onions my mother would say they have many layers’ As
such people do not fit into any specific grouping, as each individual is
complex like the onion.
Racial stereotyping
Racial stereotype refers to the false on negative assumptions about a
particular race
There are many instances of racial stereotyping in the book.
“Yo bro, I’m talking to you”. “Yo, nigger, where you from, huh?
Patrick and Sizwe have a complex relationship
during their first meeting, Patrick speaks to Sizwe in a pseudo-black
American accent
He sees Sizwe and immediately presumes that since he is black and that
he is from city and would converse in this language style.
Sizwe is confused and in some cases offended by the way Patrick speaks.
Ironically, Patrick stereotypes Sizwe when he himself defies stereotypes
because of the way h he speaks and dresses “baggy jeans and a Lakers
shirt’.
He is hardly the stereotypical version of an eloquent Irish literary
student.
“All you whites are the same. Every time we give you a hand of friendship, you
chop it off”
this is from an argument that takes place between Sizwe and Patrick
when Patrick gives his manuscript to Sheree and he is not happy about it.
Sizwe is enraged when he says these words
He is referring to how white people take advantage of black people and
this is a broad generalization and stereotypical towards black individuals
