KHANH LY Everyday Use Theme “Everyday Use” Handout Activity One Answer the following questions as a way of summarizing the text after your first read of the short story Guiding Questions Response 1 Wh[.]
“Everyday Use” Handout Activity One: Answer the following questions as a way of summarizing the text after your first read of the short story Guiding Questions Response Who is the narrator? What words does the author use to describe the narrator? Compare and contrast the way the narrator dreams of being to the way she is in real life? ➔ What words/phrases describe her in the dream? What words or phrases describe her in real life? ➔ What does this daydream tell us about how Mama perceives her relationship with Dee? Reread the following quotation from the text: “Maggie can’t appreciate these quilts!” [Dee] said “She’d probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use.” ➔ What value does each character place on things for “everyday use,” like the quilts or the churn? Reread the following quotation: “Maggie smiled; maybe at the sunglasses But a real smile, not scared After we watched the car dust settle, I asked Maggie to bring me a dip of snuff And then the two of us sat there just enjoying, until it was time to go in the house and go to bed.” ➔ Interpret the meaning of these sentences How does the end of the story contrast the beginning of the story? ➔ What caused this change? The narrator is Mama “ a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands.” - - In the dream, she is pretty, thin and tender “sporty man like Johnny Carson who shakes my hand and tells me what a fine girl I have.” However, in real life, she is strong, fat - “I am a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands.” Mama wants Dee proud of her The quilts and the churn are really important in their family They are the heritages of their family Mama believes that Maggie will use them better than Dee because she uses them everyday These sentences show that Maggie is no longer scared of Dee because Dee went away Summary: After reading the story, write a 2-3 sentence summary of “Everyday Use.” “Everyday Use” written by Alice Walker describes the meeting of a mother and her two daughters They are very different, one is quiet and traditional - Maggie and another is educated and modern - Dee Determining a theme: Look at the theme subjects below Highlight the word that most accurately relates to the story Coming of Age Romantic Love Beauty of Nature Wealth Legacy Patriotism Activity Two: While answering these questions, consider your answers to the first part of the questions and the overall theme of the story Second Read Guiding Questions How would the story be different if it were told from Dee’s point of view? ➔ Why did the author choose to have Mama narrate the story? ➔ How the choice of narrator and her point of view contribute to the development of a theme in the text? How does the description of this daydream create suspense for the reader? Why would the author tell about this daydream before Dee arrives? ➔ What does this daydream and the background of the Dee’s history reveal about the theme of the text? Reread the following quotation from the text: “Maggie can’t appreciate these quilts!” [Dee] said “She’d probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use.” ➔ ➔ How Mama and Maggie’s reactions reveal what they think about Dee’s complaint? Response If the story were told from Dee’s point of view, the reader can only sympathize with Dee’s thought, limiting the point of view and the situations in the story The daydream shows Mama is hoping and waiting for Dee's visit It also makes the reader feel curious about who she is and the relationship with mama Mama hopes Maggie will use the quilts everyday that will help her remember her ancestors Maggie respects it and puts them to everyday use “Everyday use” is something you’re using everyday What is the significance of this quotation given the title of the story? Reread the following quotations: "You just don't understand," she said, as Maggie and I came out to the car Mama agrees with Maggie Dee didn’t really respect her family’s legacy She doesn’t really care about her family’s heritage "What don't I understand?" I wanted to know "Your heritage," she said.” ➔ Explain how this exchange reveals a theme of the text According to the author, whose opinion of “heritage” is correct? Why? Maggie's opinion of “heritage” is correct Because she uses them everyday that shows how she respects those heritages And she also doesn’t need those heritage to remember about her great grandma and ancestors but she still remembers them without those heritages And she also learns to the quilts from her grandma Determining a theme: Theme Subject: (from above) The legacy is an association with the people and the family What is Alice Walker’s message about that subject? Developing and maintaining the heritages are respectful to the ancestors Use the following sentence frame to construct a thematic statement In Alice Walker ’s short story, “ Everyday Use ,” she illustrates the idea that _the legacy is an association of the family, their ancestors and their story and developing and maintaining the family’s heritages are respectful to the ancestors. (thematic subject + the author’s message about that subject) *Note: Theme statements should be universal; not include any character names or details from the story ... Maggie will use the quilts everyday that will help her remember her ancestors Maggie respects it and puts them to everyday use ? ?Everyday use” is something you’re using everyday What is the significance... I came out to the car Mama agrees with Maggie Dee didn’t really respect her family’s legacy She doesn’t really care about her family’s heritage "What don''t I understand?" I wanted to know "Your... short story, “ Everyday Use ,” she illustrates the idea that _the legacy is an association of the family, their ancestors and their story and developing and maintaining the family’s heritages