I stand here ironing poem

Comparison & Contrast Essay

Compare and contrast how TWO works of this unit address the issue of “ coming of age” and/ or parent-child relationships. You may choose from

“Fiesta 1980” by Junot Diaz

“Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden

“Daddy” by Sylvia Plath

“My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke

“I Stand Here Ironing” by Tillie Olsen

“The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara

In your thesis, mention each of the works you are contrasting (title in quotes and author), as well as ONE main similarity and ONE main difference you find between them in relation to how the works address coming of age or parent-child relationships.

Complete the following outline:

THESIS: titles and authors/ one area of similarity/ one area of difference

"Fiesta 1980" by Junot Diaz and "Daddy" by Sylvia Plath depict children's emotional struggles with their father figures; however, in "Fiesta 1980," the narrator Yunior hopes for a father-son relationship, whereas in the poem "Daddy," the speaker shows resentment and a desire to be rid of her father and his memory.

2nd paragraph: Plot summary of 1st work (USE PRESENT TENSE)

3rd paragraph: Plot summary of 2nd work (USE PRESENT TENSE)

Analysis of 1st work

4th paragraph: Topic sentence: Both works address emotional difficulties that arise in parent-children relationships.

Quote 1: (Diaz 66)

Quote 2: (Plath, lines 14-15).

5th paragraph: Topic Sentence: In "Fiesta 1980," Yunior still has some hope of closure while in the poem "Daddy," the speaker wants to completely obliterate the dead father from her memory.

Quote 1: (Diaz 67)

Quote 2: (Plath, lines 16-17).

6th paragraph: Which of the two works seems to deal with the theme in a more constructive, realistic, or positive way? quote

7th paragraph: Conclusion