In every section of the world there are economic classes that divide the haves and the have-nots. For Sylvia, the line distinguishing the divide in economic classes is as blurred as sidewalk chalk oozing away in the hot summer sun. Bambara’s diction in “The Lesson” highlight Sylvia’s young age and lack of sophistication. The sentence structure conveys a sense of life and culture that exists at the time Sylvia takes her field trip. Tone in the short story varies from character to character in order to draw forth Sylvia’s reluctance to learn. “The Lesson” is a short story by Toni Cade Bambara that reveals her unfiltered style and varying tones to illustrate Sylvia’s struggle to accept her disadvantages.
