Literary Analysis Outline Every day use 1 PDF

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Elianne Guia Perez

“Every Day Use” Literary Analysis

Intro: What does the word mother mean? The definition of mother in the western dictionary is a female parent, an elderly woman, or a woman in authority; for example, a nun in charge of a convent. There are several books and literary works (poems, short stories) that contemplate the different topics that tend to gravitate around the word mother. Mother is that person who gave us life. In some cases, mother is the person that take care of someone even if they are not biological relatives. Mother is that person that supports us and encourage us not matter what. Someone who can reprehend us and teach us the difficult lessons about life that we need to learn, by making us reflect in what we have done wrong. “Every Day Use” is a short story about the love of a mother for their two daughters, and the complicated relationship between them. The author of this excellent short story, Alice Walker, make us appreciate and analyze each of the characters of this story because she captivates us with her enchanting storytelling. Every sentence has perfectly enough details to paint a clear picture of what each character feels and thinks. The short story is told in first person by "Mama", an African-American woman living in the Deep South with one of her two daughters. [ CITATION Eve18 \l 1033 ] While reading this master piece, one can do nothing else than ask several questions. Reading “Every Day Use” many questions can pop into our head, but only one of those questions will make us want to analyze this story, to try and answer it.

What is the argumentative question you are exploring based on an element of the literary piece that is reflective of society? Does the love of a mother can end just because she and her daughter are completely different people?

Hook: In the world can exist a thousand reasons why a mother can be disappointed in her child, but she need only one, to keep loving him or her.

Thesis: “Every Day Use”, written by Alice Walker, makes us understand that different backgrounds, diverse points of view, and any conflicts that can exist in a family, are not enough to stop the love between a mother and her daughter.

Develop Your Argument with Primary Sources: To get an answer to the question that we are asking, we must first understand and learn about each character in the “Every Day Use” story. The best way to start analyzing a character is to learn about their background. In other words, their past. There are three main characters in this story, Mama, Maggie and Dee.

Make a claim 1: The background of the three characters are very different even if they lived in the same place in the past.

Evidence 1a: The character of Mama had a hard childhood, she never had an education because the school was close down. She could not ask questions because as said in the story, “… in 1927 colored asked fewer questions…”

Evidence 1b: Maggie is a young girl who is not only physically but also mentally scarred. The youngest daughter Maggie has burn scars and marks from the burning down of their prior home, and is very nervous and self-conscious because of it. Evidence 1c: Dee has always been very physically beautiful and is described as having a great sense of style.[ CITATION Eve18 \l 1033 ] Her friends even put her on a pedestal, just like Mama did. “They were nervous girls who never laughed. They were impressed with Dee, and they worshiped the well-turned phrase, the cute shape, and scalding humor that erupted like bubbles in lye”

Make a claim 2: The biggest conflict lies between Mama and Dee. Evidence 2a: The oldest daughter Dee constantly believes that she is better than the rest of the family. Evidence 2b: Mama enjoys the simple life she is living. Evidence 2c:

In Dee’s eyes the pasture that her Mama lives in is not comparable to her fast pace high style world.

pMake a claim 3: Mama do not stop loving Dee because of their different points of view, but she stands up for her own ideals even if that means that Dee will be a little bit hurt. Evidence 3a: Dee is the child returning home to visit. The visit is not exactly pleasant and ends after a stand-off between her and Mama. Evidence 3b: Dee begins asking for things around the house, like the top of a butter churn, and eventually she asks for a quilt as well. This quilt in particular is one that Mama had promised to Maggie, and Dee’s persistence frustrates Mama.[ CITATION Eve18 \l 1033 ]

Develop Your Argument with Secondary Sources: When Mama takes the quilts from Dee and give them to Maggie, she confirms her younger daughter self-worth: metaphorically she gives Maggie her voice. [ CITATION Tut93 \l 1033 ] This is an act of love as well. Secondary Source 1: Dee’s confusion about the meaning of her heritage also emerges in her attitude toward the quilts and other household items. [ CITATION Eve181 \l 1033 ] Secondary Source 2:

In "Everyday Use," the contrast between Dee's beliefs and those of her mother and sister is emphasized by the different values of the characters...[ CITATION Eve181 \l 1033 ]Dee’s embarrassment at her rural roots contrasts with the emotional connection that Maggie has to the quilts and her family.[ CITATION Eve181 \l 1033 ]

Conclusion: In some way the reader may not see this analysis as truthful or honest, but that is not the case. Everyone has their own opinion and has the right to analyze or interpret the story however they find acceptable. The answer to the question that made me want to analyze this story was the hole time in front of our eyes. It is true that the family conflict is grand. The background of the characters is proven to be different. The biggest conflict in the story lies between Mama and Dee. Mama stands up to Dee and defends Maggie’s interests. The love of a mother cannot end just because she and her daughter are completely different people. In the contrary, a mother’s love intensifies whit every passing day....