Liberty by julia alvarez theme

E9 Study Guide

Literature Unit 4: Theme

“Liberty” (pp. 246-251)

Literary Terms

theme universal theme

conflict subject

generalization

BEFORE YOU READ: Consider the images and connotations connected with the word “liberty”.

Complete a concept map (like the example provide below) for the word “liberty” that includes ideas,

images, and feelings associated with the word..

Concept Map for the word liberty:

Sample concept map for the word “bed-sit” (which

is a one-room apartment

typically consisting of a

combined bedroom and sitting

room with cooking facilities.)

Summary Frame

In the (story/poem/novel, ______________ by __________, the author

explores/examines/ illustrates/demonstrates/conveys _______________

_______________________________________________(theme statement about

subject) Initially, the main character_____________________ As the story

progresses, the main character learns/realizes that ________________________.

Ultimately,____________________________________________________

Example: In the poem, “Facing It,” by Yusef Komunyakaa, the author examines the emotional effects of war. Throughout the poem, the main character stares at the

Vietnam War Memorial and observes the reflections of others around him. As the

poem progresses, the speaker realized that many people lost loved ones in the war.

Ultimately, images of the war cannot escape his mind and neither can his conflicting

emotions

ANSWER the following questions:

Summary of the story “Liberty”:

1. What are the main conflicts that are revealed at the opening of the story? (p.

246)

2. What larger conflict is hinted at?

Theme and title: So far the story has been

about the dog, Liberty, but now Papi is speaking

seriously about the concept of liberty when he

says, “All liberty involves sacrifice (248)”

 What is Papi sacrificing for liberty?

 What theme does Papi’s statement suggest?

3. Re-read the following passage from p. 248

of the text:

At the back of the property stood

Liberty’s pen – a chain-link fence

around a dirt square at the center of

which stood a doghouse. Papi had built

it when Liberty first came…It was

always a job to get Liberty into that

pen.”

What does this passage reveal about [the dog]

Liberty?

What theme about liberty might the author be

developing?

Based on the appearance and actions of the

men described in paragraphs 1-3 of page 249,

what can you infer about who these men are

and what they are doing?

(Last two paragraphs of p. 249) What is the

cause of the narrator’s “heyday of liberty”?

What are the effects of her liberty?

How do you think the narrator would define

liberty at this point in the story?

(Paragraphs 2-5 on left column of p. 250)

What is the major conflict in the story at this

point?

How do you think the conflict will be resolved?

Theme and title: Both meanings of the title

come together as Tia Mimi says, “You’re going

to find liberty when you get to the United

States.(251)

How does the narrator interpret her statement?

How does Tia Mimi’s statement contribute to

the story’s theme?

Evidence

Quote or Paraphrase

Page

number

Elaboration/explanation of how this evidence supports ideas of argument

Dialectical Journal: Cite and explain at least three examples of direct evidence from the story that support the essential question.

Essential Question: The author chooses to tell this story

from a child’s point of view. Why is the story more

effective from this point of view than that of the mother or

father?

Remember that the way in which a main character

changes is a good indicator of a story’s theme.

In the final two paragraphs of page 251, what

does the narrator learn about life?

What truth, or theme, do you think the author

wants to reveal to the reader?

“Exile” (pp. 256-258)

Complete the word map below for the term EXILE before you read the poem.

Exile

Synonyms Antonyms

Definition

(v) To force someone

to leave their native

land

(n) banishment from

one’s hoemeland

Connotations

(emotional associations)

Write a sentence about how it would feel to be exiled from a place or group that you love:

Find an image online or in a magazine/newspaper or

draw a picture that represents the term exile:

Summary of “Exile”:

Summary Frame

In the (story/poem/novel, ______________ by __________, the author

explores/examines/ illustrates/demonstrates/conveys _______________

_______________________________________________(theme statement about

subject) Initially, the main character_____________________ As the story progresses,

the main character learns/realizes that ________________________.

Ultimately,____________________________________________________

ANSWER the following questions:

“Exile” is a narrative poem. It uses many of the

same literary elements as fiction, including

setting, character, and plot.

By the end of the first stanza, what do you know

about the setting, the two main characters, and the

plot?

Figurative Language and Theme: In stanza 6,

the speaker uses two similes to describe herself.

 Identify the two similes

 Explain how these comparisons add to the poem’s theme.

In Stanza 12 of the poem “Exile”, the setting

changes.

 Where is the family now?

 What are some of the new things they see?

Using a metaphor, the speaker compares the

beach scene displayed in the store window to

America (line 57). Why does the scene represent

American for her?

Once in the United States, the speaker refers to

herself and her father as “visitors to this country”

(line 64). What details in the poem help convey

the sense that they don’t fit in?

In the last four lines of the poem, the speakers

says that she and Papi are like “two

swimmers…/eager, afraid, not yet sure of the

outcome.” What is she really saying through the

use of this simile? What feelings is she

expressing?

How would you state the theme of this poem –

that is, what point is the speaker making about her

experience of immigrating to the United States?

“Liberty” “Exile”

Both “Liberty” and “Exile” were written by Julia Alvarez. Compare and contrast the poems. Consider:

 character feelings

 Theme

 Setting

 mood

“An American Story”/ “Ex-Refugee…” (pp. 261-265)

Evidence

Quote or Paraphrase

Page

number Elaboration

explanation of how this evidence supports essential question

Dialectical Journal: Cite and explain at least three examples of direct evidence from the story that support the essential question.

Essential Question: Identify how the author creates the mood of the poem through

diction and imagery.

Create a concept map for the word “American” BEFORE YOU READ:

American

ANSWER the following questions:

This reading selection begins as a typical news

report. Identify the ______of the selection.

 Who

 What

 When

 Where

 Why

 How

Cause and Effect:

 Why did Viet Dinh write to Anthony Lewis at the New York Times?

 What effect did this letter have?

What is Lewis’s main idea as revealed in the

final paragraph of the selection (p. 264)

What example and facts does Lewis offer in his

final paragraph to support his opinions in the

preceding paragraphs?

How would you characterize the Dinh family?

Think in particular about Viet Dinh, Phong Dinh,

and Van Dinh. What qualities are revealed by

their actions and goals?

Lewis states that the history of the Dinh family is

“an American story.” What makes the story

typically American?

In your own words, state the theme, or main idea,

about immigrants that Lewis expresses in this

news feature.

Universal Theme: ___________________________________________________

Evidence

Quote or Paraphrase

Title &

Page

number

Elaboration

explanation of how this evidence supports essential question

Newspaper Article (265):

Senator Domenici uses the same words that Lewis

used in his article to describe the Dinh family’s

story. What do you think Senator Domenici meant

by an “American Story”?

Newspaper Article (265):

Identify at least 3 details in the news feature that

leave vivid impressions in the mind of the reader.

Newspaper Article (265):

In this article, Viet Dinh is presented as a role

model. Based on your reading of the article and

“An American story,”, what do you think makes

Viet Dinh a good example for other people?

Essential Question: All of the selections you read about in this unit deal with the subject of immigration. Determine what Universal

Theme about immigration and freedom is revealed by all three

selections and provide a quote from each that supports this theme.

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