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Prompt 01

Essay task

AP LiteratureCommon Core ElaIB Language & Literature

In Alice Walker's short story Everyday Use, the quilts symbolize cultural heritage and identity. Write a well-developed argumentative essay arguing that Walker uses the conflict over the quilts to critique the difference between performing one's cultural heritage and living it. In your essay, analyze how Walker portrays the characters of Dee (Wangero) and Maggie to highlight this distinction, and examine how specific literary devices — including symbolism, characterization, and point of view — bolster your argument. Use evidence from the text to support your claims.

Things to consider

  • How does Dee's choice to rename herself and her fascination with the quilts reveal her connection to her heritage?
  • How does Maggie's quiet demeanor and practical knowledge contrast with Dee's outward display of Black culture?
  • What does Mama's decision to give the quilts to Maggie imply about what it truly means to "use" one's heritage?
  • How does the first-person perspective influence the reader's sympathies and judgments?

Prompt 02

Essay task

AP LiteratureCommon Core ElaAQA

In Alice Walker's short story Everyday Use, the quilts symbolize cultural heritage and identity. Write a well-organized essay arguing that Walker uses the conflict over the quilts to critique the difference between performing one's cultural heritage and living it. In your essay, analyze how Walker develops the characters of Dee (Wangero) and Maggie to highlight this distinction, and discuss how the narrator's final decision reinforces the story's main theme. Support your argument with specific textual evidence and commentary.

Suggested Outline

Remember: A strong essay presents a clear, debatable claim and supports it through close reading of the text.

  • Introduction: Introduce the central conflict of the story and state your claim.
  • Body Paragraph 1: Analyze Dee's relationship with heritage — how does her "appreciation" of the quilts reflect a superficial or performative understanding of culture?
  • Body Paragraph 2: Analyze Maggie's relationship with heritage — how does her knowledge and daily practice represent a lived, embodied connection to the past?
  • Body Paragraph 3: Examine Mama's choice to give the quilts to Maggie. What does this action suggest about the true meaning of cultural preservation?
  • Conclusion: Reflect on the broader implications of Walker's message regarding how we understand and honor cultural identity in today's context.

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