Fried Green Tomatoes Socratic Seminar Topics

 

1)     Explore the topic of Race and Racism in the novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café. How does Fannie Flag present the issue of racism in Fried Green Tomatoes? What might her message on the topic ultimately be? When coming up with questions and searching for textual support on this topic, consider the following:

a.      The town’s way of dealing with racism.

b.      The position of white people in the town and whether or not that changes.

c.       The position of black people in the south and whether or not that changes.

d.      Big George’s, Sipsey’s, and Onzell’s roles in the town.

e.      Artis and Jasper and how their journey may differ from Stump, Ruth, and Idgie.

f.        Clarissa and Naughty Bird and their journey in the story.

g.      How Idgie deals with institutional racism vs others.

h.      How Evelyn views issues of Race in the 1980s and how this may compare to the fifty years leading up to it.

i.        How Ninny views issues of racism.

j.        How the issue of racism in the novel may tie in with Flannery O’Connor’s short story.

 

2)    Explore the portrayal of females in Fried Green Tomatoes. How does Fannie Flagg view the importance of the female voice in the novel? When coming up with questions and searching for textual support on this topic, consider the following:

a.      How women are treated in the families in the novel.

b.      Look at the different family units in the novel and discuss how the women play a role in each.

c.       How Evelyn views her role as a woman at the beginning of the book and at the end.

d.      How Idgie fits in the town of Whistle Stop as a strong female character.

e.      How the male characters in the novel view and treat women.

f.        How Ruth fits in the town of Whistle Stop and how she compares with Idgie.

g.      How Sipsey and Onzell play a role in their families.

h.      How Evelyn views the derogatory opinions of women prevalent in her society.

i.        How Fannie Flagg and Ken Kesey portray women differently.

j.        Whether or not the treatment/ portrayal of women has gotten better over time.

 

3)    Explore the concept of moving on and accepting change / finality in one’s life. What is Fannie Flagg’s ultimate message in how one should accept change and finality? When coming up with questions and searching for textual support on this topic, consider the following:

a.      How Ninny views death vs. how Tanner views death in the short story Judgment Day.

b.      Evelyn’s reaction throughout the novel to the fact that she is going through menopause.

c.       How the South (Birmingham and Whistle Stop) accepts, or doesn’t accept, the changing attitudes towards race in the nation.

d.      How the different characters move on, or don’t move on, after traumatic life events.

e.      How different characters accept a loved one’s death.  Think about Smokey and Idgie’s reaction to Ruth’s death.

f.        How Jasper and Smokey accept the closing of the railroad yard and its greater symbolism.

g.      How Hamlet’s views on death compare to Ninny’s and Evelyn’s views.