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“Everyday Use”

“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

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“Everyday Use”

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  1. “Everyday Use” Alice Walker

  2. HistoricalBackground • 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

  3. 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

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. Point of View/Strategy/Purpose • 1st 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.

  7. Symbolism and the Quilts ancestry • Quilts contained pieces of the clothes Maggie and Dee’s grandparents wore. • Presents a snapshot of the life of the Johnson heritage. life struggle

  8. 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.

  9. Language of Ms. Johnson • 2nd grade education • Can be described as simple to complex • Uses simple sentence constructions and words to express complex perceptions and feelings

  10. Contrasts • Maggie • Shy, devoted, awkward, sweet-natured, domesticated • Dee • Outspoken, stylish, attractive, “educated”, free spirited • Attitudes • Traditional vs. progressive

  11. Dee’s Name • Named after her Grandma • Regards “Dee” as a slave name • Denies her authentic heritage by changing her name

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. 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, furtivebehavior [secretive] • 2. need time to recomposeafter your outburst [become calm again] • 3. accept the club’s doctrine [set of rules] • 4. remember your heritagewhen you leave home [family traditions] • doctrine • furtive • heritage • recompose

  15. 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 the themes of “I Have a Dream” In other words, how is Walker commenting on the aftermaths of this movement?

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