Structure Analysis
Part 1 (1-2) General introduction Preparation made to receive Dee hinting the relationship between Mother and Dee is alienated; the relationship between the two sisters is unfriendly and tense. Part 2 (3-12) Description of Mother and two sisters (3 - 4) what Mother expected to be (5 - 6) what Mother actually was (7-12) Description of the two sisters Part 3 (13-16) More about Mother and Dee Part 4 (17-the last but one para) Dee’s visit (17-23) Dee and her boyfriend’s arrival (24-25) Dee’s new name (26-28) about Dee’s boyfriend (29- ) Dee wanted the everyday use Part 5 (the last para) Mother and Maggie felt relieved to see Dee leave
Detailed study of the text:
• 1. wavy: having regular curves –The wavy lines are meant to represent water.
• Here in the text the word describes the marks in wavy patterns on the clay ground left by the broom.
• If someone is homely, they are not very attractive to look at; used in Am.E.
Detailed study of the text • 4. To make it: if you make it, you are successful in achieving sth. Difficult, or in surviving through a very difficult period. • E.g. • You are brave and courageous. You can make it.
Walker's works
• The Third Life of Grange Copeland (1970) • Meridian (子午线) (1976) • The Color Purple (1982) • The Temple of My Familiar (1989) • Possessing the Secret of Joy (1992) • By the Light of My Father's Smile (1998)
About the author
• Her writing career began with the publication of a volume of poetry in 1968, which was followed by a number of novels, short stories, critical essays and more poetry. NOW she is regarded as one of the most prominent writers in American literature and a most forceful representative of women’s literature and black literature.
Detailed study of the text:
• 2. extended: an enlarged living room by a new addition to the original space
Detailed study of the text:
• 3. homely: plain, not goodlooking, ugly
Theme
• The story addresses itself to the dilemma of African Americans who, in striving to escape prejudice and poverty, risk a terrible sundering （分裂） from all that has sustained and defined them.
II. Detailed study of the text:
• 6. totter: to be unsteady on one’s feet; stagger
• E.g. The old lady tottered down the stairs.
简介：
• 故事发生在1909年美国南部，未受教育的黑 人女孩西莉被继父强奸后，又被迫嫁给了粗鲁 凶狠的男子，西莉称他为“先生”，在惊恐和 胆怯中她开始了奴隶一样的痛苦生活，幸而有 亲姐妹南蒂与她一起，泪水中才多了一些欢乐。 不久，这短暂的幸福也从西莉身边消失了，因 为“先生”强奸南蒂不成，恼羞成怒将南蒂赶 走，姐妹二人被残酷的分开，年复一年，西莉 在门口的邮箱中寻找南蒂的音讯，她始终企盼 有一天能与南蒂再次重逢……
• The comprehension of the whole story • The understanding of certain expressions • The appreciation of the writing technique • Colloquial, slangy or black English • Cultural difference between nationalities in the US
Lesson 4
Everyday Use
By For Your Grandmamma
Alice Walker
About the author
• Walker, Alice (1944- ), American author and poet, most of whose writing portrays the lives of poor, oppressed African American women in the the author
• Born in Georgia, she was educated at Spelman and Sarah Lawrence colleges. Walker's experiences during her senior year at Sarah Lawrence, including undergoing an abortion and making a trip to Africa, provided many of the book's themes, such as love, suicide, civil rights, and Africa. Walker received many additional honors and awards. She was also active in the movements for civil and women's rights.
• As one of the best-written short stories
Main idea
by Alice Walker, It describes three women. The mother is a workingwoman without much education, but not without intelligence or perception. The two daughters form a sharp contrast in every conceivable way: appearance, character, personal experience, etc. The author tells of the story to portray the three characters to reveal their difficult attitudes towards their heritage as blacks.
Theme
• Alice Walker is using the quilts, and the fate of those quilts, to make the point that art can only have meaning if it remains connected to the culture it sprang from.
Theme
• Walker is saying that true art not only represents its culture, but is an inseparable part of that culture. The manner in which the quilts are treated shows Walker's view of how art should be treated
• 这部“紫色姊妹花”以同名原著小 说改编成电影，在1986年时获得奥 斯卡11项的提名，包括最佳女主角、 最佳女配角、最佳艺术指导、最佳 服装设计、最佳化妆、最佳原创音 乐、最佳原创歌曲、最佳改编剧本、 最佳摄影、以及最佳影片，提名11 项