"A Dark-Brown Dog" (w.1893 p.1901) Stephan Crane

Question 1

What does the Dog represent?

Answer 1

A newly freed slave. He appears lost with his new found freedom, tripping over the leash, still in the mentality of slavery.

Question 2

What does the Child represent?

Answer 2

The Child represents the new generation of Southerners attempting to treat black slaves as equals. But as Crane alludes doesn’t quite treat the Dog as it deserves, nor can the Child protect it from more powerful forces.

Question 3

What does the Father represent?

Answer 3

He represents the “Jim Crow” Laws. Ultimately letting the Dog in the house just to spite the Family who protests, an angry and alcoholic man responsible for administering hateful abuse to the Dog resulting in its submission and inevitable death, despite the pleadings of the Child.

Question 4

What does the Family represent?

Answer 4

Crane does not release details other than when the first time the dog appears “they made great protest”. It may be that the wife represents the North and federal laws, remaining silent and therefore tolerance in the mistreatment of the Dog at the hands of the father. She participates in the beating similar to the federal ‘separate but equal’ decision.

Question 5

What does the Neighbours represent?

Answer 5

Their role in the story is as witnesses to the horror of watching the Dog thrown to his death. They are complicitous because they took mo action to stop the abuse, despite being aware.

Question 6

Key Theme: Subjugation

Answer 6

Stray Dogs, like recently freed slaves, don’t know they deserve to be treated well; they tolerate cruelty and seek affections; hoping conditions will improve

Question 7

Key Theme: Submission

Answer 7

An adaptive coping mechanism, easier than fighting or fleeing hatred

Question 8

Key Theme: Hatred is taught…

Answer 8

…not innate, the Child learns from the Father.

Question 9

Key Theme: Protection

Answer 9

…depends on the power of the protector, the Child is powerless to its Father.

Question 10

Key Theme: Limits of Faith

Answer 10

Praying for your enemy rarely changes them.

Question 11

Key Theme: Good intentions

Answer 11

…aren’t enough. The head of the house makes the rules, the others are powerless.

Question 12

Key Theme: Silent adaption

Answer 12

…while the Family is throwing objects and directly hurting the Dog, the Neighbours know the abuse is happening, but tolerate it, sharing guilt in the Dogs death.

Question 13

Etymology of Jim Crow

Answer 13

The origins of the term ‘Jim Crow’ came from a 19C song “Jump Jim Crow”
The white actor, Thomas Dartmouth, performed minstrel shows and popularised the character in his song and dance act in the 1830’s
The caricature name became a derogatory term for African-Americans

Question 14

What does the term “Jim Crow Laws” refer to?

Answer 14

The term “Jim Crow Laws” refers to the repressive laws and customs aimed to restrict African-American rights

Question 15

When was the Reconstructive Period?

Answer 15

(1865-1877) in the ‘Jim Crow South’

Question 16

What movement surged during the Reconstructive Period?

Answer 16

White supremacy campaigns as well as decades after the Civil War African Americans remained in serf-like conditions,rendered by an employer or landowner, culling basic rights

Question 17

What Federal protections were established to offer basic Civil Rights?

Answer 17

Amendments 13-15 called reconstructive Amendments

Question 18

What were Jim Crow Laws?

Answer 18

State and local statutes which segregated and effectively stripped African-Americans and poor white voters rights through strict election rules, literacy and record-keeping requirements

Question 19

How did Federal Governments help southern segregation?

Answer 19

Plessy vs Furgeson, the 1896 Supreme Court decision allowing ‘separate but equal’ institutions.

Question 20

What percentage of African-American were registered in Louisiana in 1910?

Answer 20

5%

Question 21

What did North-Carolina eliminate between 1896-1904?

Answer 21

All African-American voters

Question 22

How long did the ‘separate but equal’ implement last?

Answer 22

Until the World War II Era

Question 23

What did President Wilson, elected 1912, do towards “separate but equal”?

Answer 23

Imposed segregation of federal workers and allowed southern democrats to continue suppressing minorities.

Question 24

What did President Truman do in 1948 against “separate but equal”?

Answer 24

Desegregated the armed services

Question 25

Quote linking the Dog as still having the mindset of being a slave: “A little dark-brown dog came trotting with an intent air…”

Answer 25

“…a short rope was dragging from his neck. Occasionally, he trod on the end of it and stumbled.”

Question 26

A Quote linking the cruelty of the Child before realising the Dog is worth something: “On the way to his home the child turned many times…”

Answer 26

“…and beat the dog, proclaiming with childish gestures that he had held him in contempt as an unimportant dog, with no value save a moment.”

Question 27

Quote symbolising the naïvety of the dog and its subjugation: “For being this quality of animal the dog apologised…”

Answer 27

“…and eloquently expressed regret, but he continued stealthily to follow the child, his manners grew so very guilty that he slunk like an assassin”

Question 28

Quote symbolising the Childs recognition of the Dog as a valuable object: “the child suddenly saw him to be…”

Answer 28

“…a valuable thing. He made a swift, avaricious charge and seized the rope”

Question 29

Quote symbolising the mindset of the Dog having been ‘captured’ by the Child: “In his mind he was being dragged…”

Answer 29

“…toward a grim unknown”

Question 30

Quote symbolising the difference in power between the Child and the Dog: “The Child was victorious because he was…”

Answer 30

“…completely absorbed with purpose, and because the dog was very small”

Question 31

Quote symbolising the relationship between the Family, Child and Dog: “If the large folk kicked the dog…”

Answer 31

“…and threw things at him, the child made loud and violent objections.”

Question 32

Quote linking the reasoning for the Fathers rage towards the Dog: “enraged at some seeming…”

Answer 32

“…lack of courtesy in the dog”

Question 33

Quote symbolising the theme of the Child as being a guardian over the Dog: “It came to be recognised that if the dog was molested, the child would…”

Answer 33

“…burst into sobs…the dog therein had safeguard”

Question 34

Quote on the Dogs subjugation: “the dog always accepted these thrashings…”

Answer 34

“…with an air of admitted guilt”

Question 35

Quote highlighting the relationship between the Dog and the Child: “The scene of their companionship was a kingdom governed by this terrible…”

Answer 35

“…potentate, the child; but neither criticism nor rebellion ever lived in the heart of the one subject. Down in the mystic hidden fields of his little dog-soul bloomed flavours of love and fidelity and perfect faith.”

Question 36

Quote highlighting the neighbours as accomplices: “In appearance…”

Answer 36

“…she was like a gagged prisoner”