Everyday Use Alice Walker Historical Background Written in
“Everyday Use” Alice Walker
Historical Background • Written in 1973 • Black Nationalism/ Black Pride – Ideas encouraged African-Americans to learn about their African ancestry – emphasized cultural, political, and economic independence for African Americans – Discriminated against women • Alice Walker was against this movement
Black Feminism • Women’s Rights – Movement was started by white suburban females – African-American women felt excluded – Alice Walker, Toni Morrison, Gloria Naylor represented this movement
What makes something VALUABLE? • The word value means different things to different people. • For example, an old vase might have high monetary value or high sentimental value. • To some, it might have great historical, cultural, or artistic value. • But others might think it’s a useless piece of junk.
What makes something VALUABLE? • QUICKWRITE • If you could save only one precious possession of yours from being destroyed or left behind, what would you save? • Write a short paragraph identifying the item and telling why it is valuable to you.
Point of View/Strategy/Purpose • 1 st person – Retrospective • Retro = back / spec = looking – Ms. Johnson is uneducated, but uses sophisticated diction to explain her narrative – Expresses mixed emotions about her two daughters, Dee and Maggie • Strategy – Narrative – Comparison/Contrast • Purpose – To express/explore the traditional vs. progressive attitudes of young African-American females.
Symbolism and the Quilts an ces • Quilts contained pieces of the clothes Maggie and Dee’s grandparents wore. e f i • Presents a snapshot l of the life of the Johnson heritage. try str ug gle
Symbolism and the Quilts • Dee – Perceives the quilt as an ornate item/artifact of her culture • Wants to hang the quilts • Maggie – Perceives the quilt as both a product and a process (quilt making is process) upon which her way of life is dependent • Quilts should be put to “everyday use” rather than hung on a wall. – Scarred body resembles the faded patches of the quilts.
Language of Ms. Johnson • 2 nd grade education • Can be described as simple to complex – Uses simple sentence constructions and words to express complex perceptions and feelings
Contrasts • Maggie – Shy, devoted, awkward, sweet-natured, domesticated • Dee – Outspoken, stylish, attractive, “educated”, free spirited • Attitudes – Traditional vs. progressive
Dee’s Name • Named after her Grandma • Regards “Dee” as a slave name • Denies her authentic heritage by changing her name
Irony/Taking Pictures of House • House – Hated her house, but wanted to show friends pictures of her house • The Quilts – Refused them when her mother tried to offer them to her; now she wants to display/show them off.
Title of the Story • Quilts should be put to everyday use – not hung. • Quilting symbolizes the process out of which the unimportant and meaningless may be transformed into something that is valued and useful.
Vocabulary • • • Figure out the meaning of each boldfaced vocabulary word from the context. Sample answers appear in brackets. In your Reader/Writer Notebook, write a sentence that shows your understanding of each word. 1. sneaky, furtive behavior [secretive] 2. need time to recompose after your outburst [become calm again] 3. accept the club’s doctrine [set of rules] 4. remember your heritage when you leave home [family traditions] • doctrine • furtive • heritage • recompose
Homework • “Everyday Use” was published ten years after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Explain how the story reflects themes of “I Have a Dream” In other words, how is Walker commenting on the aftermaths of this movement?
- Slides: 15