Intro to Author: Alice Walker (1944- ), a black feminist born in Eatonton, Georgia, the eighth child to sharecroppers. Due to her mother’s support & encouragement, Walker graduated at the top of her high school class & received a scholarship to Spellman College. She transferred to Sarah Lawrence after two years & graduated in 1965 with a B.A. before returning to the South. She taught writing & black literature while continuing her own writing, winning a Pulitzer Prize for her novel, "The Color Purple". Growing up in the midst of violent racism in underprivileged surroundings greatly influenced Alice Walker's writing.
Basic Passage: “This churn top is what I need,” she said. “Didn’t Uncle Buddy whittle it out of a tree you all used to have?” “Yes,” I said… “I can use the churn top as a centerpiece”… “and I’ll think of something artistic to do with the dasher.”
Correlation: This quote illustrates a parallel between Dee (Wangero) and the butter churn as well as Dee’s need for good aesthetics. The churn is something useful (the tree) used to create something purposeful while Dee attempts to do the same with herself. The irony being Wangero doesn’t want to maintain any part of her former self (Dee) and the churn retains properties of its former self (wood from the tree). The churn further represents change in that it turns milk into butter. As much as Wangero wants to be “better” and different from her former self, she’ll always have components of Dee in her. The essence of each of theses – tree/churn, milk/butter, Dee/Wangero, - remains intact (and perhaps merge) even though they undergo change.
Tragedy: In turning everything from her heritage into something ornamental – the churn, quilts, even herself – Dee makes herself the antithesis of heritage.
Comedy: Maggie understands heritage is part of everyday life and embraces this and does not feel the need to make it something elaborate and deliberate like her sister.
Intro to author: Alice Walker was born in Eatonton, Georgia in 1944 and is still living today. She was born the eighth child of an impoverished family. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in New York. Walker made her first publication on the civil rights movement in 1966.
Passage: "she will stand hopelessly in corners, homely and ashamed of the burn scars down her arms and legs,"
"My fat keeps me hot in zero weather. I can work outside all day, breaking ice to get water for washing."
Correlation: We discussed in class how both of these passages create a type of character. These passages are unique because Walker doesn't straight out tell you what the character is all about. She like "paints a picture" to describe them and lets your imagination take charge. This is a different way of writing that I actually enjoy reading.
Author Alice Walker was born in Georgia to a family of eight children. Her parents were poor black sharecroppers. She attended college in Atlanta and NewYork. She moved back down SOuth to Mississippi where she taught literature and fought were the rights of southern blacks. She rights novels and short stories. Her novelthe Color Purple was made in to a movie.
Basic Passage maggie cant appreciate these quilts shed probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use.
Correlation Dee thinks that using a quilt as a quilt is a backward use of a quilt. she is a forward thinking individual who has moved from her families farm to the big city. Dee has gone and become a real African.. she picked her out a tribal name and everything. Maggie and her mother live on a farm with cows. Dee or Wangero sees her mother and sister as poor and ignorant and she sees her self as enlightened and forward thinking. What is interesting in this story is that the openminded individual (Wangero) is the one who citicizes the others. And the supposedly ignorent and closeminded mother accepts her daughters new beliefs and gladly calls her by her new tribal name. It is a little like the dispute between 'liberals" and "Conservatives". I know that some conservatives can be extremely judgmental and critical towards the beliefs of progressive "liberals". But it seems like much of the time liberals are the ones who arethe most critical of others. If the stereotype for conervatives holds true (that they are ignoratnt and unyieliding etc)then they have an excuse for being critical judgemnetal of others beliefs but what is a liberal's excuse since they are the ones who are supposedly so open minded and "accepting' of differet points of view? Why dont they just let those who want use a quilt as a quilt do so in peace?
Comedy dee's mom and maggie are able to laugh and smile at Dee and not get upset by her beliefs or criticism Tragedy Open minded dee cant accpet the beliefs of her family
Author: Alice Walker was born in Georgia, the eighth child to sharecroppers. Considering the odds, she graduated at the top of her class and recieved a scholarship. She taught writing and black literature and joined the fight to improve welfare rights and increase voter registration among Southern blacks. Her first publicaton appeared in 1966, an essay on the civil rights movement. Her famous novel, The Color Purple, won the Pulitizer Prize and was made into an award-winning movie. Basic Passage: "Have you ever seen a lame animal, perhaps a dog run over by some careless person sidle up to someone who is ignorant enough to be kind to him? That is the way my Maggie walks." Correlation: This passages gives us a more description of Maggie. Her and Dee are complete opposites. Dee is confident and pretty where Maggie scars all over, is shy and is always walking with her head down, like she is ashamed. Tradedy: Dee can not accept her families traditions. Comedy: Maggie learns not to be like Dee. Diff:none
Alice Walker was born in Georgia in 1944. She graduated high school at the top of her class and received a scholarship to Spellman College. After two years she transferred to Sarah Lawrence College in New York. She taught writing and black literature in Mississippi.
Basic Passage: "I used to think she hated Maggie, too. But that was before we raised the money, the church and me, to send her to Augusta to school. She used to read to us without pity; forcing words, lies, other folks' habits whole lives upon us two, sitting trapped and ignorant underneath the sound of her voice...we seemed about to understand."
Correlation: In this passage it shows how Dee is ashamed of her family. She didn't really want anything to do with Maggie before she went to school. To me she almost brags about things just to prove that she does know stuff. To Dee it's important what people think of her but to her mother and Maggie it doesn't matter. Her mother is proud of how she is and everything she owns.
Tragedy: How Dee doesn't accept her family. Difficulties: None
I agree with knw. Maggie and Dee are complete opposites. Ever since the fire Maggie is ashamed of herself and holds her head down where as Dee is very confident in herself.
Author: Alice Walker was born in Eatonton, Georgia and not many people know about the real reason for Walker having glasses. When she was eight years old, she was playing with her brothers at her house. They accidentally shot her in the eye with a BB pellet. Her parents tried to treat the injury at home, but it only got worse. After a few days, they took her to the doctor. Unfortunately, they were too late. She was blinded in her right eye. Over time, the injury calcified and transformed into a white scar. Walker hated how this affected her appearance and how she was ridiculed for it.
Basic Passage:”Maggie will be nervous until after her sister goes: she will stand hopelessly in corners, homely and ashamed of the burn scars down her arms and legs, eying her sister with a mixture of envy and awe.”
Correlation: There seems to be a strong connection with Maggie and Alice Walker and I think that she places herself in Maggie’s place. The scars that Maggie seems so ashamed of seem to hold here down and make it harder for her to be open in public. Alice seems to have taken this scaring and used it to make people see her in a different light; she wants to be seen as a writer not as a blind person. I think that we all have flaws and we can either let them control us or we can control them.
Author: Alice Walker was born in Georgia in 1944, to an impoverished sharecropper. With her mothers encouragement Walker graduated at the top of her class earning a scholarship to Spelman College in Atlanta where she studied to become a writer. After two years there she transferred to Sarah Lawrence College in New York where she earned her B.A. She then returned to the south where she taught writing and black literature. She has won a Pulitzer Prize for her novel “The Color Purple,” and she has played a major role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Basic Passage: Then we were on stage and Dee is embracing me with tears in her eyes. She pins on my dress a large orchid, even though she told me once that she thinks orchids are tacky flowers.”
Correlation: This dream seems to be a premonition of the events that are about to unfold. Mrs. Johnson dreams that she and her daughter have a tearful reunion after years of separation. This could be symbolic of her wish for Dee to return home regretful of her ways. Upon Dee’s return Mrs. Johnson’s desire is fulfilled, but not in the way she expects. In the dream Dee pins an Orchid on her mothers dress even though she once said they were tacky. This gesture is representative of a change in Dee’s attitude toward her heritage including how she was raised. Dee always hated the house she grew up in and everything that she thought it represented as well as felt ashamed of her heritage in her earlier years. Once she actually returns, she seems to be embracing her heritage, but instead of being the proud enough of her origins to accept it and live it everyday, she wants to, in a sense frame it just like the quilts and put it on display. Rather than taking on her immediate heritage, such as using her grandmothers name, she wants to bypass who she came from and focus on her ethnicity. I don’t think ethnicity matters as much as moral fiber, which is something instilled in you as you grow up. People can be taught where they come from through religion and cultural teachings, but that is not solely what makes a person who they are. Who you are is an everyday existence. It is something special about you as much as it is something that makes you special, but is not something you can be on a special occasions. It just is.
Tragedy: In the story Mama and Maggie accept who they are, they live it everyday and seem to be fine with it. Dee on the other hand wants the aesthetically desirable part of her heritage, but doesn’t actually want to live it because of the stereotypes (mother and sister) she associates with it.
I agree with Sasuke. There is a correlation between Maggie and Alice Walker, but there is alittle of her in all three of these characters. She grew up very poor, got an education on moveed on ith her life (like Dee), but she was at on point self consious of herself (like Maggie),at the same she is proud of who she is and what she came from no matter what others think (like Mrs. Johnson).
Title: “Everyday Use” Author: Alice Walker Alice Walker was born in Georgia in 1944. She was the eighth child born into an impoverished family. Her mother was the one that always encouraged her to be who she wanted to be. She graduated top of her class. She went to Spelman College for women. Then she transferred to Sarah Lawrence College, where she graduated with a B.A. Most of Walker’s writings are reflected from her life.
Basic Passage: “I can kill and clean a hog as mercilessly as a man. My fat keeps me hot in zero weather. I can work outside all day, breaking ice to get water for washing; I can eat pork liver cooked over the open fire minutes after it comes steaming from the hog.”
Correlation: This to mean that the mother doesn’t care what she looks like. All she cares about is living and providing for her family. I can relate this to my life by the way that I don’t care what other people think about me. I am who I am and nobody can change that. I am not going to change for anybody. One time I met this guy and he wanted me to be somebody that I am not. I really did like this guy, but I’m not going to change who I am for some guy. If the guy really likes me he won’t ask me to change.
Difficulties: I had none
Tragedy: The way that Dee takes her family for granted.
I agree with sasuke about how everyone has flaws and we can either let them control us or we can control them. This is so true, because most of us live our lives by saying, "I should of did this in my life" or "I wish I hadn't of done this in my life." The point is either we did it or didn't do it. If you did it all you can do is ask for forgiveness and move on with your life. But if you didn't do something, you need to decide whether or not you should do it and if you think you should to make yourself feel better than do it. If you don't then take care of it soon then it will bother you until you do.
Author: Alice Walker was born in 1944 to poor black sharecroppers in Georgia. Her mother supported her education, and she eventually went to Spellman College and Sarah Lawrence. She taught black literature and writing and is famous for writing "The Color Purple".
Basic Passage: I am really taking from the entire conversation about the quilts
Correlation: I find it ironic that Dee/Wangero wants the quilts to remind her of her grandmother, but she won't take her name. Also, she thinks it is backwards to use the quilts everyday, but everyday use is what makes those quilts special. The memories and the care that went into those quilts are the things that make it priceless, just like the worn out hand prints in the butter churn and the rump prints in the bench. They have sentimental value because they were used everyday. I also agree with MHavard that she is forsaking her actual heritage for a life that she, and several generations of her family, have never known. She doesn't want to carry on family names or the family way of life, but she wants the possessions, really she expects the possessions.
Author Background: Alice Walker was born in 1944 in Georgia to a poor black sharecropper. She was encouraged by her mother to pursue education and writing. She attended Spelman College in New York and graduated with a B.A in 1965. She then returned to the south to teach.
Basic Passage: "Have you ever seen a lame animal, perhaps a dog run over by some careless person rich person rich enough to won a car, sidle up to someone who is ignorant enough to be kind to him? That is the way my Maggie walk. She has been like this, chin on chest, eyes on groung, feet in shuffle , ever since the fire that burned the other house to the ground."
Correlation: This paints a very vivid picture of Maggie. Alice Walker always paints such vivid descriptions of people. The way i correlate with this passage is just being sad over something and something being on my mind so much that other things faulter. For example getting sad and dragging my feet or acting mopy or things of that sort.
BACKGROUND: Alice Walker was born in 1944 in Eatonton, Georgia. She was the eighth child. She graduated at the top of her class in high school and received a scholarship to Spellman College. After two years, she transfered to Sarah Lawrence and graduated with a B.A.. Alice Walker returned to the South and taught writing and black literature. She won a Pulitzer Prize for her novel, "The Color Purple." Walker was a black, southern feminist.
TITLE: "Everyday Use"
BASIC PASSAGE: "...She will stand hopelessly in corners, homely and ashamed of the burn scars down her arms and legs, eying her sister with a mixture of envy and awe.”
CORRELATION: After reading this sentence, I had a very descriptive picture of Maggie in my mind. Obviously, she's got scars down her arms and legs and we begin to wonder, why? Also, after reading some other posts, I saw one student said Alice Walker herself suffered an injury, perhaps from a sibling, that caused her pain and doubt in herself from ridicule she received. The way I feel about that is, no one looks perfect. Everyone has something about themselves that they don't like, and chances are, no one notices except yourself. Our flaws are always high lighted when it comes to ourselves, but others may not see them. Also, you can choose to embrace your "scars" or you can allow them to control you.
DIFFICULTIES: None.
TRAGEDY: I think the tragedy is the hate or distaste Dee has for her family and what they represent.
COMEDY: When Maggie realizes she doesn't need to be like her sister, Dee to be happy.
A: Alice Walker was born in Eatonton, Georgia. She grew up poor and ridiculed due to having a blind eye with a scar on her face. She is most known for her novel the "Color Purple"
B: "She [Dee] wrote me once that no matter where we "choose" to live, she will manage to come see us."
C: In this line Walker puts choose in quotations as if to say that they don't really have a choice in where they live. The mother and Maggie just accepts her rundown house and their lifestyle. Dee on the other hand embraces her heritage and is desperately trying to keep up with the times and movements. Unlike in her past where she hated everything about her family and heritage, Dee now wants to sort of show it off by wanting to make a center piece out of the churn and hang up her mothers old quilts. I believe you should always be proud respectful of whatever ethnicity you are. Dee sees this but not in the most positive of ways. While the mother and Maggie just accept who they are and live up to the stereotypes.
Tragedy: That the mother and Maggie are happy where they live and don't try to better themselves. Comedy: That happiness that Dee has when she sees all the old things from her childhood.
Alice Walker was born in 1944 to a poor family of Georgia sharecroppers, and one of eight children. After outstanding performance in high school she went on to a scholarship at Spellman. Her other works include "The Color Purple" for which she won the Pulitzer prize.
"...But all this does not show on television, I am the way my daughter would want me to be; a hundred pounds lighter; my skin like anuncooked barley pancake."
This is key to understanding what is in play here. The story is about a woman whose daughter is ashamed of her. The daughter wants to be from something else, something better, something superior. Her daughter wants to break her ties from where she came from and forget. This is further revealed in the cases of the quilt that is taken apart, and Dee's changing of her name.
This story is completely tragic.
The only difficulty was that I am not a old black woman, so relation isnt complete, but other than that it is very easy to understand. The story is very image driven, and that makes it all the much easier.
Author : Alice Walker Walker was born in 1944 to a sharecropper in Georgia. Despite growing up in poverty, she managed to graduate at the top of her class and was granted a scholarship. She then went on to attend Spellman College and Sarah Lawrence. One of her most famous works is "The Color Purple". Basic Passage: "She will stand hoplessly in corners,homely and ashamed of the burn scars down her arms and legs" Correlation: This passage paints a sad image. Not only because she is burned but why she is burned. It is not said exactly but the author gives the reader the idea that her sister was the cause of the fire that burned her. She now feels inferior to her sister. We all have something about ourselves that we are unhappy with whether it is physical or not. I can relate to the character because I have sometimes felt jealous of my older sister because of how smart and beautiful she is. I have realized though that there are great qualities that I contain also and that I should not compare myself to my sister. Tragedy: That the burn defines who she is. Difficulties: None
Author: Alice Walker was born in Eatonton, Georgia in 1944. She was the eighth child in her family. She graduated high school at the top of her class and received a scholarship to Spellman College. She also attended college in New York. She taught writing and black literature in Mississippi and won the Pulitzer Prize for "The Color Purple".
Basic Passage: Maggie will be nervous until after her sister goes: she will stand hopelessly in corners, homely and ashamed of the burn scars down her arms and legs, eying her sister with a mixture of envy and awe.
Correlation: I enjoy authors who describe characters through their behaviors. This allows the author to be nonspecific enough so that you can be reminded of someone you know in the characterization. I though of my little brother. He's very shy and my moving away to college, i think, was necessary for him to grow up a little bit. No young adult wants to be in an older sibling's shadow. People can be in a sibling's shadow for a number of reasons; Maggie happens to be scarred. And it is sometimes necessary for the older one to move to give the younger a chance to grow up.
Difficulties: none.
Comedy: Maggie will not be like Dee when she grows up.
Tragedy: Dee cannot accept her family's beliefs and traditions.
I agree with blh. The way the characters are described it shows the fact that they do not care about what anyone thinks. They will work hard to provide for their family and not worry about changing for others. I relate to this also because it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks about you, you are yourself. I am always myself no matter what anyone thinks.
Comment on Creole's post: I'm confused, how can you possibly think Dee/Wangero is a forward thinking, open-minded character? She's completely fake & if anyone is backward enough, it's her. As for Mama & Maggie being ignorant, they're smart enough to understand their heritage is part of them on a daily basis & isn't something they have to force. Maybe the fact that she's doing the criticism should lead you to see Dee/Wangero isn't the open minded one & that Mama is because she tries to embrace her daughter's ideals even though Dee is mocking her with them.
'Loving, Everday Use'-Alice Walker is a Pulitzer Prize winning Southern writer who writes, less vehemently these days, about the plight of downtrodden black women and their lives. She has written many stories, most notably "The Color Purple". BASIC PASSAGE: "Just like when I'm in church and the spirit of God touches me and I get happy and shout. I did something I never had done before: hugged Maggie to me, then dragged her on into the room, snatched the quilts out of Miss Wangero's hands and dumped them into Maggie's lap. Maggie just sat there on my bed with her mouth open.". CORRELATION: Just as the title says, Maggie and Dee's Mother feels that Maggie will use the precious quilts for everyday use with the love that those who made them would want. Dee was going to 'hang them'; whereas Maggie was going to lovingly integrate them into her everyday living. Memories should not be hung up with no use for the memory, but they should be taken out and gone over and celebrated everyday or in everyday use. DIFFICULTIES: Easy reading, although I am not an authority on female, black suffering. The source of tragedy is that Dee cannot see the real beauty behind the quilts. The source of comedy is that the Mother sees why Dee wants them, but she can see the quilts real sentimental beauty and saves them for Maggie to use. You can turn tragedy into comedy by having Wangero turn into Dee, or Maggie.
I would like to comment on taytays' post. I like what she said about everyone having scars, or something wrong with them, or something they feel is wrong with them, some 'scar'. Sometimes it is something that only becomes noticeable when we point it out to others. No one would notice it if we did not bring attention to it ourselves. Even the most gorgeous, 'perfect' people have something they do not like about themselves. Acknowledge it, say I have a problem with this area, and get on with it(life)!
Comment on Pheurbel's post: Within this post, they stated "Memories should not be hung up with no use for the memory, but they should be taken out and gone over and celebrated everyday or in everyday use." I would like to expand on this idea. I am an avid picture taker. I feel my pictures capture memories for me. When I look at a picture, I can normally remember where I was, maybe when it was and very specific details of the moment. I 'hang' my pictures up. I feel that if I put them away, I wouldn't be able to re-experience all those moments in my life. I hang them in my room because they create conversations and keep my memories very much alive in my mind.
I agree with sasuke. It does seem that Walker places herself as Maggie. Growing up with seven siblings, you are going to have that competion between each other. Just like with any siblings, its just human nature. Who's prettier, smarter, the favorite. I think that everyone can relate to this. I didn't know about her accident with the BB gun, but that just confirms her placement as Maggie.
I agree totally with maggaly. I believe that her correlation is exactly what the passage is about. I can also relate to the passage. I am full blooded Guatemalan and love it now but also have had some issues with it in the past. I used to try to "americanize" myself to blend in with everybody else. I realized that no matter how much I tried to minimize my heritage it would always be there. Now I know that it makes me special and more attractive to some. I am more proud than ever to be Guatemalan and I have even joined the Latin American Student Association to celebrate my heritage.
i agree with brook's post. Reading something where the author paints a picture of characters instead of spoon feeding you their traits is both easier and more enjoyable.
28 comments:
Title: Heritage Lost?
Intro to Author: Alice Walker (1944- ), a black feminist born in Eatonton, Georgia, the eighth child to sharecroppers. Due to her mother’s support & encouragement, Walker graduated at the top of her high school class & received a scholarship to Spellman College. She transferred to Sarah Lawrence after two years & graduated in 1965 with a B.A. before returning to the South. She taught writing & black literature while continuing her own writing, winning a Pulitzer Prize for her novel, "The Color Purple". Growing up in the midst of violent racism in underprivileged surroundings greatly influenced Alice Walker's writing.
Basic Passage: “This churn top is what I need,” she said. “Didn’t Uncle Buddy whittle it out of a tree you all used to have?” “Yes,” I said… “I can use the churn top as a centerpiece”… “and I’ll think of something artistic to do with the dasher.”
Correlation: This quote illustrates a parallel between Dee (Wangero) and the butter churn as well as Dee’s need for good aesthetics. The churn is something useful (the tree) used to create something purposeful while Dee attempts to do the same with herself. The irony being Wangero doesn’t want to maintain any part of her former self (Dee) and the churn retains properties of its former self (wood from the tree). The churn further represents change in that it turns milk into butter.
As much as Wangero wants to be “better” and different from her former self, she’ll always have components of Dee in her. The essence of each of theses – tree/churn, milk/butter, Dee/Wangero, - remains intact (and perhaps merge) even though they undergo change.
Tragedy: In turning everything from her heritage into something ornamental – the churn, quilts, even herself – Dee makes herself the antithesis of heritage.
Comedy: Maggie understands heritage is part of everyday life and embraces this and does not feel the need to make it something elaborate and deliberate like her sister.
Difficulties: None.
Intro to author: Alice Walker was born in Eatonton, Georgia in 1944 and is still living today. She was born the eighth child of an impoverished family. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in New York. Walker made her first publication on the civil rights movement in 1966.
Passage:
"she will stand hopelessly in corners, homely and ashamed of the burn scars down her arms and legs,"
"My fat keeps me hot in zero weather. I can work outside all day, breaking ice to get water for washing."
Correlation: We discussed in class how both of these passages create a type of character. These passages are unique because Walker doesn't straight out tell you what the character is all about. She like "paints a picture" to describe them and lets your imagination take charge. This is a different way of writing that I actually enjoy reading.
Difficulties: none
backward Enough
Author
Alice Walker was born in Georgia to a family of eight children. Her parents were poor black sharecroppers. She attended college in Atlanta and NewYork. She moved back down SOuth to Mississippi where she taught literature and fought were the rights of southern blacks. She rights novels and short stories. Her novelthe Color Purple was made in to a movie.
Basic Passage
maggie cant appreciate these quilts shed probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use.
Correlation
Dee thinks that using a quilt as a quilt is a backward use of a quilt. she is a forward thinking individual who has moved from her families farm to the big city. Dee has gone and become a real African.. she picked her out a tribal name and everything. Maggie and her mother live on a farm with cows. Dee or Wangero sees her mother and sister as poor and ignorant and she sees her self as enlightened and forward thinking. What is interesting in this story is that the openminded individual (Wangero) is the one who citicizes the others. And the supposedly ignorent and closeminded mother accepts her daughters new beliefs and gladly calls her by her new tribal name. It is a little like the dispute between 'liberals" and "Conservatives". I know that some conservatives can be extremely judgmental and critical towards the beliefs of progressive "liberals". But it seems like much of the time liberals are the ones who arethe most critical of others. If the stereotype for conervatives holds true (that they are ignoratnt and unyieliding etc)then they have an excuse for being critical judgemnetal of others beliefs but what is a liberal's excuse since they are the ones who are supposedly so open minded and "accepting' of differet points of view? Why dont they just let those who want use a quilt as a quilt do so in peace?
Comedy
dee's mom and maggie are able to laugh and smile at Dee and not get upset by her beliefs or criticism
Tragedy
Open minded dee cant accpet the beliefs of her family
Difficulties
none
Title: Family Traditions
Author:
Alice Walker was born in Georgia, the eighth child to sharecroppers. Considering the odds, she graduated at the top of her class and recieved a scholarship. She taught writing and black literature and joined the fight to improve welfare rights and increase voter registration among Southern blacks. Her first publicaton appeared in 1966, an essay on the civil rights movement. Her famous novel, The Color Purple, won the Pulitizer Prize and was made into an award-winning movie.
Basic Passage:
"Have you ever seen a lame animal, perhaps a dog run over by some careless person sidle up to someone who is ignorant enough to be kind to him? That is the way my Maggie walks."
Correlation:
This passages gives us a more description of Maggie. Her and Dee are complete opposites. Dee is confident and pretty where Maggie scars all over, is shy and is always walking with her head down, like she is ashamed.
Tradedy:
Dee can not accept her families traditions.
Comedy: Maggie learns not to be like Dee.
Diff:none
Title: "Everyday Use"
Author: Alice Walker
Alice Walker was born in Georgia in 1944. She graduated high school at the top of her class and received a scholarship to Spellman College. After two years she transferred to Sarah Lawrence College in New York. She taught writing and black literature in Mississippi.
Basic Passage: "I used to think she hated Maggie, too. But that was before we raised the money, the church and me, to send her to Augusta to school. She used to read to us without pity; forcing words, lies, other folks' habits whole lives upon us two, sitting trapped and ignorant underneath the sound of her voice...we seemed about to understand."
Correlation: In this passage it shows how Dee is ashamed of her family. She didn't really want anything to do with Maggie before she went to school. To me she almost brags about things just to prove that she does know stuff. To Dee it's important what people think of her but to her mother and Maggie it doesn't matter. Her mother is proud of how she is and everything she owns.
Tragedy: How Dee doesn't accept her family.
Difficulties: None
I agree with knw. Maggie and Dee are complete opposites. Ever since the fire Maggie is ashamed of herself and holds her head down where as Dee is very confident in herself.
Title: Everyday Use
Author: Alice Walker was born in Eatonton, Georgia and not many people know about the real reason for Walker having glasses. When she was eight years old, she was playing with her brothers at her house. They accidentally shot her in the eye with a BB pellet. Her parents tried to treat the injury at home, but it only got worse. After a few days, they took her to the doctor. Unfortunately, they were too late. She was blinded in her right eye. Over time, the injury calcified and transformed into a white scar. Walker hated how this affected her appearance and how she was ridiculed for it.
Basic Passage:”Maggie will be nervous until after her sister goes: she will stand hopelessly in corners, homely and ashamed of the burn scars down her arms and legs, eying her sister with a mixture of envy and awe.”
Correlation: There seems to be a strong connection with Maggie and Alice Walker and I think that she places herself in Maggie’s place. The scars that Maggie seems so ashamed of seem to hold here down and make it harder for her to be open in public. Alice seems to have taken this scaring and used it to make people see her in a different light; she wants to be seen as a writer not as a blind person. I think that we all have flaws and we can either let them control us or we can control them.
Difficulties: None
Title: Forewarning
Author: Alice Walker was born in Georgia in 1944, to an impoverished sharecropper. With her mothers encouragement Walker graduated at the top of her class earning a scholarship to Spelman College in Atlanta where she studied to become a writer. After two years there she transferred to Sarah Lawrence College in New York where she earned her B.A. She then returned to the south where she taught writing and black literature. She has won a Pulitzer Prize for her novel “The Color Purple,” and she has played a major role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Basic Passage: Then we were on stage and Dee is embracing me with tears in her eyes. She pins on my dress a large orchid, even though she told me once that she thinks orchids are tacky flowers.”
Correlation: This dream seems to be a premonition of the events that are about to unfold. Mrs. Johnson dreams that she and her daughter have a tearful reunion after years of separation. This could be symbolic of her wish for Dee to return home regretful of her ways. Upon Dee’s return Mrs. Johnson’s desire is fulfilled, but not in the way she expects. In the dream Dee pins an Orchid on her mothers dress even though she once said they were tacky. This gesture is representative of a change in Dee’s attitude toward her heritage including how she was raised. Dee always hated the house she grew up in and everything that she thought it represented as well as felt ashamed of her heritage in her earlier years. Once she actually returns, she seems to be embracing her heritage, but instead of being the proud enough of her origins to accept it and live it everyday, she wants to, in a sense frame it just like the quilts and put it on display. Rather than taking on her immediate heritage, such as using her grandmothers name, she wants to bypass who she came from and focus on her ethnicity.
I don’t think ethnicity matters as much as moral fiber, which is something instilled in you as you grow up. People can be taught where they come from through religion and cultural teachings, but that is not solely what makes a person who they are. Who you are is an everyday existence. It is something special about you as much as it is something that makes you special, but is not something you can be on a special occasions. It just is.
Tragedy: In the story Mama and Maggie accept who they are, they live it everyday and seem to be fine with it. Dee on the other hand wants the aesthetically desirable part of her heritage, but doesn’t actually want to live it because of the stereotypes (mother and sister) she associates with it.
Difficulties: None.
I agree with Sasuke. There is a correlation between Maggie and Alice Walker, but there is alittle of her in all three of these characters. She grew up very poor, got an education on moveed on ith her life (like Dee), but she was at on point self consious of herself (like Maggie),at the same she is proud of who she is and what she came from no matter what others think (like Mrs. Johnson).
Title: “Everyday Use”
Author: Alice Walker
Alice Walker was born in Georgia in 1944. She was the eighth child born into an impoverished family. Her mother was the one that always encouraged her to be who she wanted to be. She graduated top of her class. She went to Spelman College for women. Then she transferred to Sarah Lawrence College, where she graduated with a B.A. Most of Walker’s writings are reflected from her life.
Basic Passage: “I can kill and clean a hog as mercilessly as a man. My fat keeps me hot in zero weather. I can work outside all day, breaking ice to get water for washing; I can eat pork liver cooked over the open fire minutes after it comes steaming from the hog.”
Correlation: This to mean that the mother doesn’t care what she looks like. All she cares about is living and providing for her family. I can relate this to my life by the way that I don’t care what other people think about me. I am who I am and nobody can change that. I am not going to change for anybody. One time I met this guy and he wanted me to be somebody that I am not. I really did like this guy, but I’m not going to change who I am for some guy. If the guy really likes me he won’t ask me to change.
Difficulties: I had none
Tragedy: The way that Dee takes her family for granted.
Comedy: That Maggie learns not to be like Dee.
I agree with sasuke about how everyone has flaws and we can either let them control us or we can control them. This is so true, because most of us live our lives by saying, "I should of did this in my life" or "I wish I hadn't of done this in my life." The point is either we did it or didn't do it. If you did it all you can do is ask for forgiveness and move on with your life. But if you didn't do something, you need to decide whether or not you should do it and if you think you should to make yourself feel better than do it. If you don't then take care of it soon then it will bother you until you do.
Author: Alice Walker was born in 1944 to poor black sharecroppers in Georgia. Her mother supported her education, and she eventually went to Spellman College and Sarah Lawrence. She taught black literature and writing and is famous for writing "The Color Purple".
Basic Passage: I am really taking from the entire conversation about the quilts
Correlation: I find it ironic that Dee/Wangero wants the quilts to remind her of her grandmother, but she won't take her name. Also, she thinks it is backwards to use the quilts everyday, but everyday use is what makes those quilts special. The memories and the care that went into those quilts are the things that make it priceless, just like the worn out hand prints in the butter churn and the rump prints in the bench. They have sentimental value because they were used everyday. I also agree with MHavard that she is forsaking her actual heritage for a life that she, and several generations of her family, have never known. She doesn't want to carry on family names or the family way of life, but she wants the possessions, really she expects the possessions.
Difficulties: none
"Everyday Use"
Alice Walker
Author Background:
Alice Walker was born in 1944 in Georgia to a poor black sharecropper. She was encouraged by her mother to pursue education and writing. She attended Spelman College in New York and graduated with a B.A in 1965. She then returned to the south to teach.
Basic Passage: "Have you ever seen a lame animal, perhaps a dog run over by some careless person rich person rich enough to won a car, sidle up to someone who is ignorant enough to be kind to him? That is the way my Maggie walk. She has been like this, chin on chest, eyes on groung, feet in shuffle , ever since the fire that burned the other house to the ground."
Correlation:
This paints a very vivid picture of Maggie. Alice Walker always paints such vivid descriptions of people. The way i correlate with this passage is just being sad over something and something being on my mind so much that other things faulter. For example getting sad and dragging my feet or acting mopy or things of that sort.
Difficuties: None
BACKGROUND: Alice Walker was born in 1944 in Eatonton, Georgia. She was the eighth child. She graduated at the top of her class in high school and received a scholarship to Spellman College. After two years, she transfered to Sarah Lawrence and graduated with a B.A.. Alice Walker returned to the South and taught writing and black literature. She won a Pulitzer Prize for her novel, "The Color Purple." Walker was a black, southern feminist.
TITLE: "Everyday Use"
BASIC PASSAGE: "...She will stand hopelessly in corners, homely and ashamed of the burn scars down her arms and legs, eying her sister with a mixture of envy and awe.”
CORRELATION: After reading this sentence, I had a very descriptive picture of Maggie in my mind. Obviously, she's got scars down her arms and legs and we begin to wonder, why? Also, after reading some other posts, I saw one student said Alice Walker herself suffered an injury, perhaps from a sibling, that caused her pain and doubt in herself from ridicule she received. The way I feel about that is, no one looks perfect. Everyone has something about themselves that they don't like, and chances are, no one notices except yourself. Our flaws are always high lighted when it comes to ourselves, but others may not see them. Also, you can choose to embrace your "scars" or you can allow them to control you.
DIFFICULTIES: None.
TRAGEDY: I think the tragedy is the hate or distaste Dee has for her family and what they represent.
COMEDY: When Maggie realizes she doesn't need to be like her sister, Dee to be happy.
Alice Walker
"Everyday Use"
A: Alice Walker was born in Eatonton, Georgia. She grew up poor and ridiculed due to having a blind eye with a scar on her face. She is most known for her novel the "Color Purple"
B: "She [Dee] wrote me once that no matter where we "choose" to live, she will manage to come see us."
C: In this line Walker puts choose in quotations as if to say that they don't really have a choice in where they live. The mother and Maggie just accepts her rundown house and their lifestyle. Dee on the other hand embraces her heritage and is desperately trying to keep up with the times and movements. Unlike in her past where she hated everything about her family and heritage, Dee now wants to sort of show it off by wanting to make a center piece out of the churn and hang up her mothers old quilts.
I believe you should always be proud respectful of whatever ethnicity you are. Dee sees this but not in the most positive of ways. While the mother and Maggie just accept who they are and live up to the stereotypes.
Tragedy: That the mother and Maggie are happy where they live and don't try to better themselves.
Comedy: That happiness that Dee has when she sees all the old things from her childhood.
Alice Walker was born in 1944 to a poor family of Georgia sharecroppers, and one of eight children. After outstanding performance in high school she went on to a scholarship at Spellman. Her other works include "The Color Purple" for which she won the Pulitzer prize.
"...But all this does not show on television, I am the way my daughter would want me to be; a hundred pounds lighter; my skin like anuncooked barley pancake."
This is key to understanding what is in play here. The story is about a woman whose daughter is ashamed of her. The daughter wants to be from something else, something better, something superior. Her daughter wants to break her ties from where she came from and forget. This is further revealed in the cases of the quilt that is taken apart, and Dee's changing of her name.
This story is completely tragic.
The only difficulty was that I am not a old black woman, so relation isnt complete, but other than that it is very easy to understand. The story is very image driven, and that makes it all the much easier.
Author : Alice Walker
Walker was born in 1944 to a sharecropper in Georgia. Despite growing up in poverty, she managed to graduate at the top of her class and was granted a scholarship. She then went on to attend Spellman College and Sarah Lawrence. One of her most famous works is "The Color Purple".
Basic Passage:
"She will stand hoplessly in corners,homely and ashamed of the burn scars down her arms and legs"
Correlation: This passage paints a sad image. Not only because she is burned but why she is burned. It is not said exactly but the author gives the reader the idea that her sister was the cause of the fire that burned her. She now feels inferior to her sister. We all have something about ourselves that we are unhappy with whether it is physical or not. I can relate to the character because I have sometimes felt jealous of my older sister because of how smart and beautiful she is. I have realized though that there are great qualities that I contain also and that I should not compare myself to my sister.
Tragedy: That the burn defines who she is.
Difficulties: None
Author: Alice Walker was born in Eatonton, Georgia in 1944. She was the eighth child in her family. She graduated high school at the top of her class and received a scholarship to Spellman College. She also attended college in New York. She taught writing and black literature in Mississippi and won the Pulitzer Prize for "The Color Purple".
Basic Passage: Maggie will be nervous until after her sister goes: she will stand hopelessly in corners, homely and ashamed of the burn scars down her arms and legs, eying her sister with a mixture of envy and awe.
Correlation: I enjoy authors who describe characters through their behaviors. This allows the author to be nonspecific enough so that you can be reminded of someone you know in the characterization. I though of my little brother. He's very shy and my moving away to college, i think, was necessary for him to grow up a little bit. No young adult wants to be in an older sibling's shadow. People can be in a sibling's shadow for a number of reasons; Maggie happens to be scarred. And it is sometimes necessary for the older one to move to give the younger a chance to grow up.
Difficulties: none.
Comedy: Maggie will not be like Dee when she grows up.
Tragedy: Dee cannot accept her family's beliefs and traditions.
I agree with blh. The way the characters are described it shows the fact that they do not care about what anyone thinks. They will work hard to provide for their family and not worry about changing for others. I relate to this also because it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks about you, you are yourself. I am always myself no matter what anyone thinks.
Comment on Creole's post:
I'm confused, how can you possibly think Dee/Wangero is a forward thinking, open-minded character? She's completely fake & if anyone is backward enough, it's her. As for Mama & Maggie being ignorant, they're smart enough to understand their heritage is part of them on a daily basis & isn't something they have to force. Maybe the fact that she's doing the criticism should lead you to see Dee/Wangero isn't the open minded one & that Mama is because she tries to embrace her daughter's ideals even though Dee is mocking her with them.
'Loving, Everday Use'-Alice Walker is a Pulitzer Prize winning Southern writer who writes, less vehemently these days, about the plight of downtrodden black women and their lives. She has written many stories, most notably "The Color Purple". BASIC PASSAGE: "Just like when I'm in church and the spirit of God touches me and I get happy and shout. I did something I never had done before: hugged Maggie to me, then dragged her on into the room, snatched the quilts out of Miss Wangero's hands and dumped them into Maggie's lap. Maggie just sat there on my bed with her mouth open.". CORRELATION: Just as the title says, Maggie and Dee's Mother feels that Maggie will use the precious quilts for everyday use with the love that those who made them would want. Dee was going to 'hang them'; whereas Maggie was going to lovingly integrate them into her everyday living. Memories should not be hung up with no use for the memory, but they should be taken out and gone over and celebrated everyday or in everyday use. DIFFICULTIES: Easy reading, although I am not an authority on female, black suffering. The source of tragedy is that Dee cannot see the real beauty behind the quilts. The source of comedy is that the Mother sees why Dee wants them, but she can see the quilts real sentimental beauty and saves them for Maggie to use. You can turn tragedy into comedy by having Wangero turn into Dee, or Maggie.
I would like to comment on taytays' post. I like what she said about everyone having scars, or something wrong with them, or something they feel is wrong with them, some 'scar'. Sometimes it is something that only becomes noticeable when we point it out to others. No one would notice it if we did not bring attention to it ourselves. Even the most gorgeous, 'perfect' people have something they do not like about themselves. Acknowledge it, say I have a problem with this area, and get on with it(life)!
Comment on Pheurbel's post:
Within this post, they stated "Memories should not be hung up with no use for the memory, but they should be taken out and gone over and celebrated everyday or in everyday use." I would like to expand on this idea. I am an avid picture taker. I feel my pictures capture memories for me. When I look at a picture, I can normally remember where I was, maybe when it was and very specific details of the moment. I 'hang' my pictures up. I feel that if I put them away, I wouldn't be able to re-experience all those moments in my life. I hang them in my room because they create conversations and keep my memories very much alive in my mind.
I agree with sasuke. It does seem that Walker places herself as Maggie. Growing up with seven siblings, you are going to have that competion between each other. Just like with any siblings, its just human nature. Who's prettier, smarter, the favorite. I think that everyone can relate to this. I didn't know about her accident with the BB gun, but that just confirms her placement as Maggie.
I agree totally with maggaly. I believe that her correlation is exactly what the passage is about. I can also relate to the passage. I am full blooded Guatemalan and love it now but also have had some issues with it in the past. I used to try to "americanize" myself to blend in with everybody else. I realized that no matter how much I tried to minimize my heritage it would always be there. Now I know that it makes me special and more attractive to some. I am more proud than ever to be Guatemalan and I have even joined the Latin American Student Association to celebrate my heritage.
i agree with brook's post. Reading something where the author paints a picture of characters instead of spoon feeding you their traits is both easier and more enjoyable.
I agree with taytay no one is perfect. We gave scars whether it be physical or emotional.
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