Understanding Single Stories

What is the central idea of the text?

• Literature primarily shapes the understanding of children, while adults are less likely to construct their views of the world based on a single story.

• By only exposing ourselves to a single story, we run the risk of constructing overly-simplistic understandings of other people and places.

• By only reading a single story, we cheat ourselves of experiencing different cultures from different perspectives.

• Literature is reflective of the stories that are most popular and that people are most likely to identify with.

What connection does the author draw between British, American and African stories?

• British and American stories are more readily available across the world, while African writers and their stories are less accessible in other countries.

• British and American stories are more popular because more people can identify with them, while African stories do not provide identifiable experiences.

• British and American stories are more popular because most people are unwilling to read something different, like the works of African writers.

• British and American stories discuss a greater variety of experiences, while African stories are limited.

What is the author's purpose in the text?

• Adichie wants to show people how she has managed to avoid being influenced by a single story, so that they can do the same.

• Adichie wants to warn people who primarily consume stories of Western culture, that they have likely been influenced by a single story.

• Adichie wants to show how important it is to acknowledge more than a single story in order to fully understand what you are unfamiliar with.

• Adichie wants to prove how limited the United States' understanding of other cultures is, as most of her experiences with single stories have been in the U.S.

How do paragraphs 22-24 contribute to the development of ideas in the text?

• 1. They illustrate the damage that single stories can cause to groups of people.

• 1. They emphasize the vigilance of those in power to circulate single stories.

• 1. They show the consequences of believing single stories.

• 1. They demonstrate that anyone can fall victim to believing single stories.

Which rhetorical strategy does Adichie use to support her argument? (Word from our notes yesterday!)