Text Analysis: Everyday Use By Alicia Walker
Text A is a story called “Everyday Use”, written by Alicia Walker, where she examines the theme of heritage, through three main characters, which are a mother and her two daughters, Dee and Maggie. The author achieves this by contrasting each character’s interpretation of heritage and culture. Text B is an extract of the last scene from a movie that adopts the story of “Everyday Use”. Both Text A and B share the same theme and storyline, but deliver it in different ways.
Text A and B are similar in terms of the content and the intended message. Both texts aim to establish the theme of identity conflict and heritage. Moreover, both texts present the identical story, which is a comparison between Dee and Maggie’s outlook on the true meaning
of heritage and culture. Also, the characters in both texts say the same lines. Text A and B share the same intended message, which is that heritage must be embraced by implementation.
However, and while the texts explore the same theme and story, this is accomplished in distinct ways. Text A depends on linguistic techniques and story elements, such as setting and characters, as well as language. The main characters in the story are Dee, Maggie and the narrator/mother. The story takes place in the US at present time, despite there being some flashbacks to the past. Also, the author makes extensive use of linguistic techniques, such as narration, which facilitates the reader’s interpretation of the text. For instance, the author uses narration when she says, “”. () Also, the author uses figurative language, which helps ease the reader’s understanding of the story and sustain his/her attention. For example, Walker uses figurative language when she says, “”. () On the other hand, Text B exploits voice, facial expressions, and body language to convey the story. An example of this is Dee’s rude and pitiful tone of voice, which was absent in the story. As well, Dee’s facial expressions and body language, which manifested in her confident posture, emphasized her feelings of disappointment towards her mother and sister.
In conclusion, both text A and B encompass the identical theme and the same lines and deliver it to a similar degree of efficiency. This is reached in text A through story elements and language, whereas text B attains this through facial expressions, voice and body language.
Text A and B are similar in terms of the content and the intended message. Both texts aim to establish the theme of identity conflict and heritage. Moreover, both texts present the identical story, which is a comparison between Dee and Maggie’s outlook on the true meaning
of heritage and culture. Also, the characters in both texts say the same lines. Text A and B share the same intended message, which is that heritage must be embraced by implementation.
However, and while the texts explore the same theme and story, this is accomplished in distinct ways. Text A depends on linguistic techniques and story elements, such as setting and characters, as well as language. The main characters in the story are Dee, Maggie and the narrator/mother. The story takes place in the US at present time, despite there being some flashbacks to the past. Also, the author makes extensive use of linguistic techniques, such as narration, which facilitates the reader’s interpretation of the text. For instance, the author uses narration when she says, “”. () Also, the author uses figurative language, which helps ease the reader’s understanding of the story and sustain his/her attention. For example, Walker uses figurative language when she says, “”. () On the other hand, Text B exploits voice, facial expressions, and body language to convey the story. An example of this is Dee’s rude and pitiful tone of voice, which was absent in the story. As well, Dee’s facial expressions and body language, which manifested in her confident posture, emphasized her feelings of disappointment towards her mother and sister.
In conclusion, both text A and B encompass the identical theme and the same lines and deliver it to a similar degree of efficiency. This is reached in text A through story elements and language, whereas text B attains this through facial expressions, voice and body language.