Toning the Sweep
What is "toning the sweep" in the novel, Toning the Sweep?
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Asked by
Jill W
Last updated by
Jill W
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Emily explains toning the sweep as the act of hammering on a plow blade, also known as a sweep, to cause a mournful tolling that symbolically releases a deceased person from their earthly sorrows. According to Emily, toning the sweep was a customary action in parts of the south for several generations.
Toning the Sweep