Tales from an English Teacher

Unit 1: Prose The Eyes are not Here – Ruskin Bond This poignant short story by Ruskin Bond revolves around an encounter between two blind strangers on a train. The narrator, a young man who prefers to hide his blindness, engages in a brief yet meaningful conversation with a girl who he later discovers is also blind. The story explores themes of perception, human connection, and the subtle beauty of fleeting encounters. Bond’s characteristic simplicity and vivid descriptions create a lasting impression, emphasizing the importance of inner vision over physical sight. The Kabuliwala – Rabindranath Tagore Set in colonial Bengal, this heartwarming tale by Rabindranath Tagore captures the bond between Mini, a curious little girl, and Rahamat, a Kabuliwala (Afghan trader). The story poignantly depicts themes of parental love, cultural differences, and human connections that transcend barriers of race and language. With its emotional depth and lyrical prose, Tagore portrays the universality of...

Stereotypes of African Americans grew as a natural consequence of both scientific racism and legal challenges to both their personhood and citizenship. Many of the stereotypes created during the height of the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and were used to help commodify black bodies and justify the business of slavery. For instance, an enslaved person, forced under violence to work from sunrise to sunset, could hardly be described as lazy. Yet laziness, as well as characteristics of submissiveness, backwardness, lewdness, treachery, and dishonesty, historically became stereotypes assigned to African Americans. The Mammy stereotype developed as an offensive racial caricature constructed during slavery and popularized primarily through minstrel shows. Enslaved black women were highly skilled domestic works, working in the homes of white families and caretakers for their children. The trope painted a picture of a domestic worker who had undying loyalty to their slaveholders, as caregivers an...