1.12 Perspectives on Heritage: Fiction
“Everyday Use” by Alice Walker
 Analyze a work of fiction to determine and explain the
theme of the work
 Compare and contrast how two different authors
explore similar subjects and themes
OBJECTIVES
Family/ Identity
• What are some of the different personalities present in your
house?
• How are some family members different from others?
• How are they alike?
• Have you ever disapproved of how your parents live? Do you
know grown children who disapprove of their parents?
• How do parents handle that situation?
• RESPOND IN Quickwrites
Alice Walker: “Everyday Use”
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Born in 1944
• Video
From Eatonton, Georgia
Parents were sharecroppers
8 years old when the
Supreme Court ruled
“Separate but Equal” was
unconstitutional
• In college during Civil Rights
Movement
• “Everyday Use” Setting:
Rural South
Alice Walker: “Everyday Use” (58)
• Step One: MARK THE TEXT!! Individually
Group 1:
Austin, Ryan,
Nicole
Group 2:
Group 3:
Ashley,
Emily, Julia,
Kelsee, Sydnie Emma
Group 4:
Lauren, Jack,
Lauren
Group 5:
Dane, Zack,
Sabrina, Lexi
Group 6: Kyle,
Olivia, Jay,
Mary Grace
Group 8:
Bianca, Alex,
Kayla
Period 2
Group 7:
Rachel,
Shirlyn, Katy
Alice Walker: “Everyday Use”
Audio
• Step One: MARK THE TEXT!! Individually
2) Jon, Leah,
3) Jacob,
4) Alyssa,
• SIFT: 1) Aydan,
Drew,
Michael
Kasia,
Amanda
Frank, Lauren
C., Courtney
5) Tyler,
6) Duncan,
7) Kegan,
Lauren F.,
Camila, Austin Athena,
Austin J., Luke M., Kaden
Robert,
Aubrey
Period 6
Nick, Ashley,
Haylie
8) Amber,
Miranda,
Lauren W.,
Compare/ Contrast:
With a partner
• “My Mother Pieced Quilts” and “Everyday Use”
Questions to consider on your Venn Diagram:
• What are the characters’ feelings about their cultural
heritage?
• What do those attitudes reveal about the characters? About
what one’s cultural heritage actually means?
• Explain the role of education in the lives of the characters.
• How might each character be considered a symbol?
• What is the significance of the title? How does it relate to
theme?
Claims & Counterclaims
Example claim:
In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, most of the
characters in the novel are afflicted with Maycomb’s usual
disease, racism, showing that culture strongly influences a
person’s views on what is right and wrong with the world.
Example counterclaim:
While racism may be widespread, Scout’s character shows that a
person’s family more strongly influences a person’s views of others
than the broader culture does.
YOUR TURN!
(BELLRINGER)
Claim: In “Everyday Use,” the character Dee does not truly appreciate her
heritage but creates a connection to an imagined ancestry.
OR
Claim: In “Everyday Use” the mother is intimidated by her daughter Dee.
Counterclaim: _______________________________________