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Study Guide: The Measure of a Man

II. Introduction

A. Summary of Main Ideas

 

Based on what the author has written on pages xi – xiii, complete this summary of the main ideas of the Introduction. 

In the “Introduction” to The Measure of a Man. A Spiritual Autobiography, Sidney Poitier explains that his goal in writing his autobiography during his eighth decade of life was to (1)(insert answer here). In doing so, he maintained that it was important for him to write about the values that he had developed through his experiences and to evaluate how (2) (insert answer here). Some values that are meaningful to him are (3) (insert answer here),(insert answer here), (insert answer here), (insert answer here), and (insert answer here). Mr. Poitier did not want to come across as a “pontificating fool” and act as if he (4) (insert answer here). Instead, he wanted his autobiography to be an exercise in (5) (insert answer here). Since writers with a spiritual or a philosophical bent often make stories the backdrop for the lessons that they share, Sidney Poitier was fortunate that throughout his Hollywood career his roles had become vehicles in the telling of (6) (insert answer here) stories, stories which are part of the (7) “(insert answer here)” of many Americans who will read his book. The various films he starred in, films such as (8) (insert answer here), (insert answer here), (insert answer here), and (insert answer here), therefore give him and his readers “the possibility” of a (9) “(insert answer here)” and a (10) “(insert answer here).” As a result, Mr. Poitier believes, it should be easy for his readers to enter into dialogue with him.