Title: “Revelation” Forum Response
Course: BC - Literary Studies 11 - 1.1 > Section: Unit 6 - Short Fiction & Poetry

“Revelation” is a powerful story about the perils of self-righteousness, prejudice, and pride. Containing a kind of supernatural ending in which Mrs. Turpin has a religious vision of heaven, the assumptions about her worldview are turned upside down, revealing the error of her outlook, and bringing about a humbling realization that is sure to shake up the way she thinks about and treats others.

Select two of the following questions and write a 100-150 word response to each one you have chosen. In each response, aim to provide at least one direct quotation from the story (accompanied by a page citation), to help illustrate and support your claim.

*NOTE: if any of your quotations include the N-word, please just write "n" in its place, leaving out the rest of the letters. The word serves an instructive purpose in the story itself, to establish the moral poverty of the characters using the slur, but does not bear repeating here.

1. According to what model does Mrs. Turpin classify and rank the people of the world (page 6)? What does this vision of humanity say about her biases and overall worldview, and how does this foreshadow the “Revelation” she undergoes at the end of the story?

1. What do you think is the significance of the teenager’s name in the waiting room (page 16), and the title of the book she throws at Mrs. Turpin (page 4)? How does this dramatic event and the phrase she addresses to Mrs. Turpin act as a catalyst for the final climax of the story, leading to Mrs. Turpin’s ultimate epiphany?

1. Outward appearance is of paramount importance to Mrs. Turpin. After receiving the dark omen from the teenage girl, she thinks, “The message had been given to Ruby Turpin, a respectable, hardworking, church-going woman” (24), and later, “It's no trash around here, black or white, that I haven't given to. And break my back to the bone every day working. And do for the church” (32). Based on this, what do you think O’Connor is attempting to communicate about the significance of public pretense versus the inner workings of a person’s heart? How do these expressions of pride and self-satisfaction set Mrs. Turpin up for the revelation she is about to undergo at the end of the story?

1. In the final scene at the pigpen, who is Mrs. Turpin addressing with her line of questions? What moment in the story does this scene and its questions signal back to, and what does it reveal to the reader about her inner character? How would you describe the nature of the epiphany she undergoes (i.e. what does she ultimately learn), and how do you think it relates to the collection title the story appears in, Everything That Rises Must Converge?

1. Do some research on the general definition of the title word “revelation” as well as on the significance of this word in the New Testament of the Bible. What do you think is significant about the title of the story in relation to its themes and ending? What other biblical themes or quotations come to mind for you in thinking about the moral ideas of the story? What is the significance of her washing pigs when her vision occurs?

After you have created your own post, find one other student to respond to with a 75-100 word response. In your response, don’t just say, “I agree! Great job!” Ask a question, disagree charitably, add other evidence that you drew from the speech, or counter with a different interpretation. Try to add something meaningful and insightful to the conversation so that everyone’s understanding of “Revelation” can be increased.

Forum Post Rubric

 | Not Completed | Emerging (Unsatisfactory) | Developing (Satisfactory) | Proficient (Very Good) | Extending (Excellent)
 | 0 | 4 5             6 7   8 9 10
Initial Post | Not complete | Demonstrates lack of awareness of the topic. Comments are off topic or irrelevant. Demonstrates thinking that is confused or off-topic. Doesn’t make any reference to the lesson material. | Demonstrates awareness of the topic but offers little reflection on it. Provides mostly relevant comments. Demonstrates thinking that is mostly clear and organized. Occasionally references the lesson material to support reasoning. | Demonstrates consideration of the topic. Provides relevant comments. Demonstrates thinking that is clear and organized. References the lesson material to support reasoning. | Demonstrates thoughtful consideration of the topic. Provides relevant and insightful comments. Demonstrates exceptional logic and organization. Clearly references lesson material to support reasoning.
Response Posts | Not complete. | Responses demonstrate a lack of comprehension of the original post or are disrespectful. | Responses are respectful but do not add much to the conversation. | Responses are purposeful and respectful, adding to the conversation. | Responses are thoughtful, insightful and respectful,  adding meaning and depth to the conversation.
Total          /10 (averaged between posts)