Literary analysis response: selecting and developing a thesis

.....space below to complete this section. Include the number and first sentence of the prompt you chose from the list of prompts.)

Prompt 2: 'In some stories, characters come into conflict with the culture in which they live.'

For this literary assignment, I have chosen Prompt 2, which explains that the characters of some tales enter into discord with their surrounding culture. Usually, a character may feel estranged and different from the society on account of his/her ethnic/racial group, sex, or social class.

What interests you most about this prompt and why?

The above prompt interests me as it addresses the subject of heritage and culture. Modern-day individuals depict greater cultural sensitivity and awareness and are more mindful of the distinctions between themselves and others, compared to their forebears. Humanity has now permitted its cultural disparities and backgrounds to guide its social interactions with individuals belonging to other backgrounds. Some, however, reject their personal history and backgrounds; hence, clearly, culture forms a key component of conflict. One may perceive cultures to be akin to underground rivers which traverse one's life and associations, conveying messages which influence one's notions of oneself and other individuals, one's opinions, beliefs and attributions. Cultures, although strong, are usually unconscious and subtly impact conflict as well as conflict resolution efforts (Morris & Fu, 2001).

What text will you write about? Why?

(Use the space below to complete this section. Your response must be 100 to 150 words.)

I will write about Alice Walker's 1973 story, "Everyday Use" from In Love and Trouble: Stories of a Black Woman. Walker provides readers with an interesting and meaningful view of how individuals fight their heritage as well as the steps some take to spurn their heritage (Harrisson, 2006). This short story set in the civil rights era (i.e., 1960s America, where blacks were attempting to culturally define their unique identities) deals with blacks' dilemma when they risk an awful deracination for escaping penury and bias; the surrender from everything that described and sustained them. A number of blacks wished to revive their African heritages, and shed as well as rebuff the American culture, resulting in considerable injustice and agony. Walker, however, basically aims at challenging the overall black society to recognize and have regard for their American culture (Obaid, 2013).

What is your working thesis? Keep in mind that "working thesis" means you can slightly modify your thesis for the draft and/or final essay.

(Use the space below to complete this section. Your thesis statement must be ONLY one to two sentences long.)

Walker proves that racial identity, culture, education and their association with everyday life forms the key question in the story "Everyday Use."

What are the three key ideas that you will discuss in support of your thesis? (Write one -- and only one -- sentence for each point.

a. Heritage - In "Everyday Use", the author depicts the conflicting opinions of members of the same family (two sisters) regarding heritage.

b. Education -- The short story examines the impact of education on illiterate communities' lives, in addition to the tradeoffs and advantages of education.

c. Identity/Race -- Walker structures characters' routine socio-economic circumstances by race.

What questions/concerns do you have at this point about your project?

(Use the space below to complete this section. Your response must be 75 to 150 words long.)

Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" is a remarkable tale capable of resonating with readers who have fought and ultimately reconciled themselves to their personal heritage and identity. It helps readers understand African-Americans' sufferings in those days. But, prior to dwelling on the tale's dominant themes and issues impacting its characters, I feel that summarizing the tale and further expounding the author's life will help one understand why she expressly chose particular themes for her tale. Hence, my concern deals with whether or not I will have a chance to provide a short description of Alice Walker's background and that of the tale, prior to commencing my literary analysis.

REFERENCES

Harrisson, J. L. (2006). On "Everyday Use." Retrieved February 7, 2017, from UMBC: http://userpages.umbc.edu/~jamie/html/

Morris, W. M., &Fu, H-Y. (2001). How Does Culture Influence Conflict Resolution? A Dynamic Constructivist Analysis. Social Cognition, Vol 19, No. 3, 324-349. Retrieved from https://www0.gsb.columbia.edu/mygsb/faculty/research/pubfiles/1297/1297.pdf

Obaid, N. A. (2013, December 27). Literary Analysis of Everyday Use by Alice Walker. Retrieved February 7, 2017, from Academia: https://www.academia.edu/6063238/Literary_Analysis_of_Everyday_Use_by_Alice_Walker

Walker, A. (1973). "Everyday Use" In Love and Trouble: Stories of a Black Woman. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovic. Retrieved from https://www.deanza.edu/faculty/leonardamy/Everyday%20Use.pdf