Mama Day Questions and Answers
Mama Day
What is the significance of hands in Mama Day By Gloria Naylor?
Hands are a very significant body part throughout this novel, and seem to symbolise both power and self-awareness. Note how Mama Day is described early on in the novel: She could walk through a...
Mama Day
What is the significant about the date 1823 in Mama Day? What role does it play in the legend of Sapphira Wade? And...
One of the major themes of Mama Day is the importance of mythology and belief in the context of large-scale identity. Mama Day knows that without the mythological presence of Sapphira Wade, Willow...
Mama Day
In Mama Day, why does Cocoa seem so wary of men and so cynical about people in general? What terms does she use to...
There are many reasons why Cocoa might be scornful or "cynical" about people. One reason might be her location. When Cocoa is in New York, she’s quite cutting. Her observations reduce humans to...
Mama Day
In Gloria Naylor's Mama Day, what is "candle walk?"
"Candle Walk" is a kind of alternate Christmas holiday observed by the residents of Willow Springs. Every year, on December 22, people take to the streets carrying a light and giving gifts....
Mama Day
In Mama Day, how does gender play a role as a significant theme in this novel? More specifically, the role of women...
Without a doubt, Gloria Naylor’s Mama Day is infused with folklore and superstition, including the beyond-the-grave relationship of Cocoa and George, Mama Day’s authoritative healing powers, and...
Mama Day
How have the Day women been unlucky in Mama Day by Gloria Naylor?
Mama Day, a 1988 novel written by Gloria Naylor, follows the relationship between Cocoa Day and her eventual husband, George Andrews. The novel explores a number of themes, including practicality...
Mama Day
What is the importance of circles in Mama Day?
In Mama Day, I don't think literal circles are so important to the story. The few times circles are mentioned, they don't seem too critical. However, if you want to talk about how circles in a...
Mama Day
In Mama Day, what is the relationship between the three prefatory documents (bill of sale, map, and family tree) and...
In the preface, the bill of sale explains how Sapphira Wade came to be Bascombe Wade's slave. The bill of sale also gives credence to Sapphira's legendary status as a "conjure woman." It states...
Mama Day
How does George end up beating Dr. Buzzard at poke and what is Dr. Buzzard's response?
George ends up beating Dr. Buzzard at poker by using the latter's cheating against him. First, George tries to ascertain how Dr. Buzzard is cheating by looking out for characteristic "tells." In...
Mama Day
What is the contrast between Cocoa and George?
One of the big contrasts between Cocoa and George is their different views of myths and the spiritual life. George says,"I may have knocked my head against the walls, figuring out how to buy food,...
Mama Day
What events are foreshadowed in Mama Day?
There is one event that is definitely foreshadowed in Gloria Naylor's mysterious and mystical novel Mama Day. But before we can discuss it, let's make sure we know what “foreshadowing” means. When...
Mama Day
What is the general idea of the novel "Mama Day"?
Since you don't have a specific question about the novel, I hesitate to give you a total summary. Instead, I'll refer to the link below and suggest you read the information enotes has provided. If...
Mama Day
What are some themes in Mama Day besides the supernatural?
There are a lot of themes in Mama Day, even if they aren't the most prevalent ones. An important one that runs throughout the novel is self-image. Cocoa's perception of herself is very important;...
Mama Day
On what pretext does Ruby lure Cocoa to her house in Mama Day? What does she do to her there?
Ruby is a deeply unpleasant, malevolent woman who brings great harm to just about everyone who comes across her. What makes her especially dangerous is that she has magic powers, which she uses to...
Mama Day
Who is Mama Day?
Mama Day is the eponymous character from a novel by the author Gloria Naylor, published in 1988. In the story, Mama (real name, Miranda) Day is a descendant of slaves, and she lives on a private...