Quicksand

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. The United States’s postbellum period saw a significant number of changes to the legal, political, economic, and social status of formerly enslaved persons. What were some of the legal decisions made regarding these persons’ rights? What was the reality of the situation? Explain.

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Answer question invites students to consider the theme The Impact of Racism in America in relation to the historical context preceding the Harlem Renaissance: the postbellum Reconstruction Era. After the Civil War, the former Confederate states grappled with the introduction of laws that were, in theory, meant to support formerly enslaved communities; however, lawmakers created ways to continue disenfranchising these communities, such as the establishment of “Jim Crow” in southern states, as well as the perpetuation of racism in the public sphere. While Larsen’s novel takes place over 50 years after emancipation, during the Harlem Renaissance, the lingering effects of slavery, perpetuated through systematic racism, are very much present. Larsen’s biracial protagonist Helga is not concerned with the politics of change per se; however, she remains a victim of her racist society.

• History.com explores the Reconstruction Era and its effect on formerly enslaved communities.
• This article from New York University explores the years between the Reconstruction Era and the Harlem Renaissance for African American literature.  (Please see also the second Recommended Next Read).

2. From the end of World War I to the onset of the Great Depression, African American arts flourished in a cultural development known as The Harlem Renaissance. What were some of the reasons for this “renaissance” of African American culture and art? How did such contributions to literature shape future generations of African American politics and society?

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Answer question invites students to reflect on the novel’s setting: 1920s Harlem. During this decade of the Harlem Renaissance, African American artists produced copious amounts of visual, literary, musical, and other forms of art, celebrating their culture and heritage, with the Manhattan neighborhood quickly becoming the movement’s epicenter. Much of this art would affect future generations of African Americans, particularly during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Helga’s years in Harlem reflect this excitement, as her social life consists of theater, live performances, and socio-political gatherings centered on the “Negro” question; however, Larsen further removes Helga from these conversations, as she believes her biracial background to further alienate her from her companions, a sentiment explored in the novel’s theme of The Impact of Racism in America.

• The National Museum of African American History and Culture explores the causes and effects of The Harlem Renaissance on African American culture in “A New African American Identity: The Harlem Renaissance.”
• The National Gallery of Art provides a fantastic range of resources for educators and students on their page “Harlem Renaissance.”

Short Activity

Nella Larsen is one of the many authors who contributed to African American literature during the Harlem Renaissance. Working in small groups, select one of the artists who contributed to the movement, and use the following questions as you research their background: What type of art did this person do? Where was this person from originally? How/what did this person contribute to the Harlem Renaissance? How did this artist express their unique point of view? What was the impact of this person’s work on African American culture as a whole? Share your findings with the class and include any relevant visuals or videos in your presentation.

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Activity invites students to explore the Harlem Renaissance within the context of group work. Encourage students to be as creative as possible in their presentations, including a variety of outside resources. Based on the level of the class, a post-presentation discussion on the content of the presentations may be a good opportunity to introduce the novel’s themes of The Impact of Racism in America, The Ongoing Repercussions of Puritanism Upon Sexuality, and The Importance of Colors.

• History.com provides a brief overview of notable writers of the Harlem Renaissance, including Larsen.
• Annenberg Learner provides information on “Nella Larsen (1891-1964)” and her contribution to the Harlem Renaissance.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

How do colors shape a narrative? Consider an artistic piece of work (i.e., literature, film, etc.). How did the writer or director use color to shape a certain type of thought?

Teaching Suggestion: This Personal Connection Prompt invites students to consider the novel’s themes of The Importance of Colors as it relates to their own experience with colors in artistic representation. Overall, Larsen intertwines the presence of colors throughout the narrative, using the observation of colorful clothing, landscapes, and facial features to indicate a particular mood in the scene. This Personal Connection Prompt directly relates to the Discussion/Analysis Prompt.

Differentiation Suggestion: For an extended comparative activity, the above questions can be amended to the following Prompt: Compare and contrast the use of color in literature and film. How does film display color in a way that literature does not, and vice versa?