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The Hidden Figures Book Analysis

The document provides background information on the book "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly. It describes how the book depicts the real-life stories of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden. These four African American women worked as mathematicians and "computers" at NASA, contributing essential calculations to historic space missions in the 1950s and 1960s, despite facing racism and sexism in the workplace during the era of segregation in the United States. The document outlines their accomplishments and struggles, as well as the plot, characters, themes, settings and style of the book.

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Christine Rodriguez
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217 views15 pages

The Hidden Figures Book Analysis

The document provides background information on the book "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly. It describes how the book depicts the real-life stories of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden. These four African American women worked as mathematicians and "computers" at NASA, contributing essential calculations to historic space missions in the 1950s and 1960s, despite facing racism and sexism in the workplace during the era of segregation in the United States. The document outlines their accomplishments and struggles, as well as the plot, characters, themes, settings and style of the book.

Uploaded by

Christine Rodriguez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Background of The Hidden Figures: Explains the historical context of the book 'Hidden Figures' and its focus on African American women's contributions to NASA.
  • Summary: Provides a summary of key events and achievements of the pioneering women featured in 'Hidden Figures'.
  • Plot: Discusses the narrative structure, conflicts, and pivotal moments in 'Hidden Figures'.
  • Characters: Details the main characters in 'Hidden Figures', highlighting their personalities and roles.
  • Theme: Explores major themes such as resilience, teamwork, and perseverance in 'Hidden Figures'.
  • Setting: Describes the main settings of 'Hidden Figures', notably Langley Aeronautical Laboratory.
  • Style: Analyzes the stylistic techniques used in 'Hidden Figures', including symbolism and similes.
  • Point of View: Discusses the narrative perspective used in 'Hidden Figures'.
  • Tone: Examines the tone of 'Hidden Figures', which blends determination with seriousness.

Christine R.

Rodriguez
BSEd-3B
The Hidden Figures
By Margot Lee Shetterly
BACKGROUND OF THE HIDDEN FIGURES

• Hidden Figures consists of a prologue, 23 chapters, and an epilogue.


The chapters are both numbered and titled.
• Hidden Figures," a 2016 book by Margot Lee Shetterly. The National
Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), a precursor of National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), hired hundreds of
women as computers.
• Depicts segregated facilities such as the West Area Computing unit,
where an all-Black group of female mathematicians were originally
required to use separate dining and bathroom facilities.
• The three pioneering African American women whose calculations for
NASA were integral to several historic space missions, including John
Glenn's successful orbit of the Earth.
SUMMARY

Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden were
good at math. Really good. In 1943, U.S was at war: WWII. Dorothy wanted to
serve her country by working at NACA that designed airplanes. Test meant
numbers, numbers meant math and math meant computers.
Because Dorothy was black and woman, they thought it would be impossible for
her to get a job. In Virginia, Southern State, blacks and whites were kept apart.
But to Dorothy it was possible. She applied and became a computer.
America won the war in 1945. Americans and Russians were competing to build
best airplanes. That was the time when Mary got a job as a computer, wherein
she tested model airplanes in wind tunnels that improved their designs. She
wanted to become an engineer, but officials said it was impossible, because
engineers were men and she needed to take high-level math class. She did not
give up and became the first African-american female engineer at the laboratory.
SUMMARY

Katherine Johnson was good at math and always asked lots of questions. In
1953, she applied to the laboratory for a computer job. She tested actual planes
while flying in the air to prevent crashes. She wanted to go at meetings but her
boss said it was impossible and women are not allowed. But she asked him
again, and again, and again, and again, that he finally invited her to the
meetings. She fought to be treated same as men, she became the first woman
in her group to sign her name to one of the group’s reports.
In 1950s, Langley laboratory bought a machine computer, but it made mistakes.
However, Dorothy programmed the machines to got right answers. In 1957,
Russia launched satellite called sputnik to orbit around the earth. Then the
government decided to change the agency's name from NACA to NASA.
SUMMARY

On February 20, 1962, John Glenn blasted off into space, circled the earth and
made his way home safely. Meanwhile, laws began to change. Blacks and whites
could work together freely. They are all equal.
Christine Darden was good at math, and she loved electronic computers. She
started working at Langley in 1967. She wanted to become an engineer and
thanks to the three women, she knew it was possible. Eventually, she became an
engineer for supersonic airplanes, but her first job was to help NASA's mission to
the moon. Finally, on July 20, 1969, the world watched the three men including
Neil Armstrong arrived at the moon in their Apollo 11 spacecraft.
It was a success from takeoff and splashdown.The next adventure would not be
easy and would require lots of tests and numbers. But Dorothy, Mary, Katherine
and Christine knew one thing: with hardwork, perseverance and a love of math,
anything was possible.
PLOT

A. Narrative
• Chronological
• Flashback
B. Conflict
• Person against society
C. Pattern of action
• Climax-The rocket is shot into space and Katherine is no longer
needed in her department because a machine replaced her. But then she
needed to configure the number for the landing pattern.
• Denouement-three men including Neil Armstrong arrived at the moon
in their Apollo 11 spacecraft. It was a success from takeoff and
splashdown.
CHARACTERS

Protagonists
• Dorothy Vaughan
Strong-minded, extremely pragmatic. Organization’s first black female
engineer.
• Mary Jackson
A teacher and extremely bright.
• Katherine Johnson
Passionate, hardworking person and fearless.
• Christine Darden
A black female aeronautical engineer. A data analyst.
CHARACTERS

• John Glenn
An astronaut and the first American to orbit the Earth.
Confident, charismatic and well-prepared for his role.

Antagonist
• White characters who cannot get over their racist views.
THEME

• Racism, sexism, discrimination, inequality, persistence,


serendipity, bigotry, determination, hard work and perseverance.
• Resilience and intelligence is significant and ever present.
• A person with grit has courage, is conscientious, has long-term
goals, shows resilience, portrays excellence rather than
perfection.
• Power of teamwork
• Women advocating women
• Having true grit
SETTING

• Langley Aeronautical Laboratory in Hampton, Virginia, starting in


the early 1940s.
STYLE

• Simile
• ✓“As prudent and thorough as old family doctors, they examined every aspect of the
air flowing over the plane, making careful note of the vital signs.”
✓“Resisting the pilot like a shopping cart with a bad wheel.”
• Symbols
✓Colored -Discriminatory signs
-Colored computers, restaurants, restroom, buildings and many more.
✓Pearl necklace – Being different of Katherine from the team.
✓Dorothy-Success. Sky is the limit.
POINT OF VIEW

• Omniscient point of view


TONE

Tenacity, spirit and serious.

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