Name: Date: Block:

“My Mother Pieced Quilts”/”Everyday Use” Symbols and Theme Organizer

1. What could a quilt symbolize?

2. What do the quilts in “My Mother Pieced Quilts” symbolize? Pick two pieces of evidence from the poem, copy them into the spaces below, and explain what they say, show, and how they matter.

a. Evidence 1:

What does the evidence say?

What does the evidence show? (How does it relate to the rest of the poem?)

Why does the evidence matter? (How does this show what quilts symbolize?)

b. Evidence 2:

What does the evidence say? (1 sentence)

What does the evidence show? (How does it relate to the rest of the poem?)

Why does the evidence matter? (How does this show what quilts symbolize?)

3. Take background notes on Alice Walker and “Everyday Use” in the space below. ● “Everyday Use” written by Alice Walker, an African-American author and activist, in 1973 ● Story set in rural American South ● Pan-Africanist movement

○ Many young, educated African-Americans in the 1970s rejected cultural traditions that had come from slavery

○ Chose to embrace an “African” identity, often changing names and religions ● Characters

○ Mama (narrator) -- middle-aged African-American woman in rural South ○ Maggie -- narrator’s adult daughter, lives with her ○ Dee/Wangero -- narrator’s other daughter, member of Pan-Africanist movement ○ Hakim-a-barber -- Dee/Wangero’s boyfriend

4. Compare the characters Dee/Wangero and Maggie using the chart below. Pick three pieces of evidence per character. Explain what each piece of evidence says and shows about the character.

Dee/Wangero Maggie

Evidence 1: Says: Shows:

Evidence 1: Says: Shows:

Evidence 2: Says: Shows:

Evidence 2: Says: Shows:

Evidence 3: Says: Shows:

Evidence 3: Says: Shows:

5. For each character, pick one of the pieces of evidence above and explain why it matters.

Dee/Wangero Maggie

Evidence number: Why does this piece of evidence matter? What does this character symbolize? What kind of message could she represent?

Evidence number: Why does this piece of evidence matter? What does this character symbolize? What kind of message could she represent?

6. In the space below, brainstorm TWO possible themes for “Everyday Use.” Writing Task: Choose a quotation from the story and write a 6-7 sentence paragraph that explains how that quotation reveals the theme of “Everyday Use.” Start your paragraph by identifying the theme, then use the quotation to support your claim.