Colson Whitehead and Vocabulary

Over the years, whenever I taught Colson Whitehead's The Intuitionist (1999), students would respond by noting the nature of the novel's words. Some were frustrated that they needed a dictionary to understand some terms. Other students liked the challenge. I've been intrigued on the recurring attention to the vocabulary of the novel over the years.

I decided to write an episode for Remarkable Receptions based on some my observations concerning student responses to The Intuitionist. Moving forward, I hope we produce more episodes on receptions to works among students. And more, I hope that the critical discourse on African American literature does more to chart the student receptions to works. 

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Related:

• Episodes of Remarkable Receptions