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Analysis of Literary Language, The Poet X - Elizabeth Acevedo - Coggle…
Analysis of Literary Language
The main theme of these works revolve around their cultural identity, and the conflict or struggles they may face due to this identity/identities.
Cultural Identity
Family Relationships
"The First Real San Giving Day" - Richard Blanco
Like other stories relating to childhood and cultural identity, this work by Blanco recalls childhood memories of the Thanksgiving Holiday, and how his Cuban relatives and Cuban American identity shaped his experience of an American tradition.
"Mnemonic" is about Lee's relationship with his father, as he remembers him as both a loving and strict parent.
"Mnemonic" Li Young Lee
In recalling the memory of his father, Lee also reflects on the treatment he received from his father during his childhood.
"Magical Dinners" heavily focuses on the relationship between Lee and his mother, and the struggles or differences that they have.
"Magical Dinners" - Chang-rae Lee
"Magical Dinners" is a short story that exclusively recalls the author's childhood memories as a Korean American immigrant.
Additionally, the language barrier Lee's mother faces is one of the ways that causes conflict for Lee, as she becomes frustrated with her poor English as it gets in the way of her being able to read the instructions on American foods.
Braiding Sweetgrass - Robin Wall Kimmerer
Significance of Language
Conflict Between Multiple Identities
"Choi Jeong Min" discusses the author's personal conflict and struggle between her identity as a Korean American. Choi also discusses the way that her immigrant parents have also struggled with their identity as immigrants, having to simplify or create English names to avoid bias or hearing their name be mispronounced.
"Choi Jeong Min" Franny Choi
"America" Richard Blanco
These works all focus around various aspects of social identity and their importance in the author's lives.
Social Identity
Feminism
In "Bad Feminist," Roxane Gay confesses and discusses how her own behavior or thoughts do not reflect what the typical perception of typical feminism is.
"Bad Feminist" - Roxane Gay
"The Uses of Anger" is directly a feminist piece, as Lorde discusses the ways she utilizes her anger stemming from oppression and discrimination to motivate her activism.
"The Uses of Anger" - Audre Lorde
Anzaldua's "Speaking in Tongues" and "La Prieta" confronts the ways that her identification as a gay woman, along with others' own experiences as women of color and/or being LGBTQ+, have created oppressive, discriminatory experiences for them.
"Speaking in Tongues" - Gloria E. Anzaldua
"La Prieta" - Gloria E. Anzaldua
While also discussing her identity as a gay woman of color, Anzaldua also reflects upon her identification as a writer as well. Furthermore, Anzaldua explores her reason for writing, or why she may not be able to write at times.
Gender
Machado's "The Husband Stitch" draws heavily on the narrator's own experiences surrounding being a woman. The title itself is an act that refers to the unconsented modification of women's bodies after birth for their husband's own pleasure.
"The Husband Stitch" - Carmen Maria Machado
"The Husband Stitch" relates to feminism as it discusses various aspects of the main character's personality and behavior that is often controversial, especially when carried out by women.
"The Husband Stitch" contains the narrator's own reflections about her life and choices, including her happiness with her husband, or even her own sexuality.
Motherhood
Motherhood is a topic featured within "Joy," as Smith discusses her child being a source of joy.
Lucille Clifton's "god's mood" focuses on the differences in gender that God notes in his creation of man and woman.
"god's mood" Lucille Clifton
Race
Racism
Though about a general idea of dismantling systems of oppression, this piece by Lorde includes the institution of racism. Her identity as a black woman is also included in why this is an important move for all oppressed groups, as multiple parts of her identity interact and affect one another.
"The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House" - Audre Lorde
"Refugees: Overcoming Our Fear" Mohsin Hamid
"In a Strange Country" - Ralph Ellison
Blackness is another subcategory, as some works discuss the experiences of black people that are unique only to black people.
Blackness
Audre Lorde's "A Litany for Survival" is about the experiences of marginalized groups trying to find their place in the world.
"A Litany for Survival" Audre Lorde
This group of works features history and their authors' relation to or viewpoint on past events as a main point of focus.
History
Memories are an important theme in many of these works. It serves as a way to discuss various subjects of the past, and make connections between authors or characters' culture and family members.
Memories
Memories and childhood often go hand in hand within the works we read.
Childhood
"Persimmons" directly discusses and recalls Lee's memories and childhood as a way to further understand his relationship with his parents.
"Persimmons" Li-Young Lee
Lahiri writes this story from the perspective of Lilia recalling her childhood with her parents and Mr. Pirzada. From this perspective of reflecting on memories, she is able to further understand a unique relationship that she and her family had with an old friend, once just a stranger.
"When Mr. Pirzada Came To Dine" - Jhumpa Lahiri
The war between India and Pakistan are a large aspect of this work, as it directly affects Mr. Pirzada, his family, and Lilia's parents. By extension, the war also affects Lilia, as she sees the way that Mr. Pirzada is affected by the news he hears about the war on the telvision.
"A Map of Lost Things: On Family, Grief, and the Meaning of Home" Jamila Osman
Osman's piece heavily focuses on her own confusion and conflict of her own cultural identity, as she is unsure as to what constitutes her home, or "where she is from."
In Osman's discussion of finding "home" and discussing her younger sister's passing, she reflects on her place in the world, and what home means to her.
"Joy" - Zadie Smith
"Joy" features Smith's own reflection upon her life, as she recalls the times she has experienced joy.
American history is a topic that comes up in a few of these works. In some, American history serves as part of a character's identity. In other works, an event in American history is the main focus.
American History
"Ballad of Birmingham" directly addresses and discusses the events of the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing in 1963.
"Ballad of Birmingham" - Dudley Randall
This poem by Randall relates to racism and blackness, as the bombing and terrorism that occurred was a result of anti-black racism.
Authors mention or discuss war in these works. It is usually represented factually, and as an experience that the author uses to explain why they or a character and their family have immigrated to America.
War
"The Americans" Viet Thanh Nguyen
Nguyen's "The Americans" features the character Carver, a Vietnam veteran.This short story reveals the ways that war, and this war in particular, has affected those involved within the war.
In "The Americans," Claire finds her connection and "home" in Vietnam through speaking the language. In doing so, she finds a place of belonging in the country, as her multiple identities have always made this dificult for her.
This group of works feature or focus on subjects surrounding human experiences or human thought.
Human Experiences
Observation of Life
"Harlem Hopscotch" - Maya Angelou
Angelou's "Harlem Hopscotch" directly recalls to a game played during childhood.
Cullen's "Yet Do I Marvel" is a poem that reflects upon the meaning of life, as he questions why we are born only to suffer. At the same time, it relates to blackness as it addresses the interesting nature of becoming a Black poet.
"Yet Do I Marvel" Countee Cullen
This poem by Gwendolyn Brooks is written in an observational, matter-of-fact way that discloses the habits of a man called Satin-legs Smith. Furthermore, this examination of his habits calls attention to the double standards that men and women have.
"The Sundays of Satin-Legs Smith" Gwendolyn Brooks
Self-reflection
"On Virtue" features a tone of self-reflection, as it features the author's own wish to be lead on a greater moral path.
"On Virtue" Phillis Wheatley
These poems by Lucille Clifton display a sort of self-reflection within each work, as "untitled" refers to the way that she had an epiphany about her life purpose.
"untitled [the light that came to lucille clifton" Lucille Clifton
"testament"
Death, Mortality
As the title suggests, this poem discusses the subject of death. McKay talks about if one were to die, it would be best to do so bravely and with courage.
"If We Must Die" Claude McKay
The Poet X - Elizabeth Acevedo
Language is an extremely important part of The Poet X, as it connects her to her mother and father. Furthermore, the use of English and Spanish within Xiomara's work when reflecting upon her relationship with her parents. Spanish terms also shape her identity or how others perceive her, as her mother calls her affectionate names in Spanish, or sometimes even degrading Spanish terms.
Much of
The Poet X
reflects Xiomara's own issues about her social identity, and how others and her mother perceive it. Some examples are that of gender expectations and the perception of her sexuality.
In The Poet X, Xiomara is caught between wanting to be a good daughter to her mother and being who she wants to be. The strictness of her Hispanic mother often clashes with American ideals about individuality and freedom.
