Response to "American History" The story "American History" by Judith Ortiz-Cofer is one that many people can relate to. It is not merely a Latina girl ’s experiences with prejudice and growing up in New Jersey. The story rings true for many. In "American History‚" Elena is a ninth grader at a large public school in Paterson‚ New Jersey. On this day‚ a cold gray November day‚ President Kennedy has been shot. The reader can see how all the adults in the story are immensely affected by this
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number one is ‘don’t get too attached to a character.’” He was talking about fictional characters‚ but the same can be said for real life. In the short story “American History‚” by Judith Ortiz Cofer‚ a girl named Elena becomes friends with a boy named Eugene‚ but she is devastated when she finds out that he will be moving soon. The moral of this story is not to get so emotionally attached to someone. Elena got so attached to Eugene because of how similar they are. She says that she likes him “right
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one’s former glory. Nonetheless‚ death is nothing without life‚ as life is meaningless without death. From mourning to peace‚ death instills a sense of appreciation for life because it reminds people to live life to the fullest. “American History” by Judith Ortiz Cofer portrays how death is mourned by those who care enough to keep a name alive even after life; legacy is all one leaves behind. When President John F. Kennedy is pronounced dead‚ the protagonist‚ Elena‚ experiences how death quite frankly
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How do the details Judith Ortiz Cofer includes support her THESIS that latinas are poorly understood and grossly stereotyped? When she goes to her first formal dance‚ she gets kissed by a guy who just overeager kisses her painfully but Judith didn’t respond. Which made the guy think " i thought you Latin girls were suppose to mature". meaning he thought she was going to attack him with kisses. Another example is‚ when Judith is about to perform her first poem. But a lady mistakens her for a waittress
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In the essay‚ “American History” by Judith Ortiz Cofer‚ the author talks about her experiences leading up to and during the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated‚ with this event the country plunged into grief and distress‚ narrating her rebuffed heartbreak through the injustice of racial inequality. The book states how people of color are excited about this new chapter of the presidency. He was a figure who assured the creation of racial equality and a finer opportunity for all; furthermore‚ this
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narrative written by Judith Ortiz Cofer discusses some of the many experiences she has encountered throughout her life dealing with stereotypes and common misconceptions of Latin American women. To further engage her audience in the story‚ she provides detailed past experiences that have stood out to her the most. In order for the readers to fully understand those past encounters‚ some of which are cultural and common among Latinos‚ Cofer explains them in careful detail. For example‚ Cofer explains the concept
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What can we learn when we journey through life? Journeys and experiences can help us evolve to overcome fears‚ losses‚ and help gain wisdom. Experiences that were gained through life and journeys were written in the story "Volar" by Judith Ortiz Cofer‚ Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail‚ and the poem “12 (From ‘Gitanjali)”. In “Valor” the narrator dreams of herself being a superhero in the world she wishes to break free from her real-life limitations. The narrator learned and went
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Judith Ortiz Cofer: Understanding a Writer Judith Ortíz Cofer was born in Hormigueros‚ Puerto Rico in 1952. She was raised on the island and in Paterson‚ New Jersey‚ before her family finally settled in Augusta‚ Georgia. She received her B.A. in English from Augusta College in 1974‚ and her M.A. in English from Florida Atlantic University‚ and did graduate school at Oxford University in 1977 (Judith). Her collections of poetry include The Year of Our Revolution: New and Selected Stories and
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In Judith Ortiz Cofer’s short story “Volar‚” a girl who is a huge fan of comic books dreams of being a Superhero but realizes her reality. Whether a child or an adult‚ most of us have our dreams; however‚ not all wishes become true. The narrator‚ the girl‚ begins her story describing how much she loves comic books such as Legion of SuperHeroes and Supergirl so much that a pile of her books is high as she is. She smoothly continues with her repeated dream in which Cofer vividly conveys the image that
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Desperation‚ Love‚ and Torment… The short story "Lessons of Love" by Judith Ortiz Cofer is a perfect example of faulty love‚ people who abuse love‚ and people who feel so deep about their love they will do anything for their "partner". The girl in the story is a trust worthy‚ honest‚ and an innocent girl before she meets the guy of her dreams which changes her in many ways. The guy changes her personality traits by making her disloyal to her family and indirectly teaching her lie to them. For example
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