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Analysis Of The Flowers By Alice Walker

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Anybody can find inspiration from anything. For Alice Walker, the author of “The Flowers” and “Everyday Use”, her inspiration was in her upbringing. Both short stories have unique storylines, but one thing they have in common is the incorporation of Alice Walker’s underprivileged life growing up. For example, “The Flowers” is about a little innocent girl, who makes her fun running through the woods behind her family’s sharecropper cabin, who stumbles upon a horrible sight. This little girl, Myop, suddenly ‘loses her innocence’ when she sees a dead man in the woods. As well as in the story “Everyday Use” there is an underprivileged family with a mother and two daughters, where the lifestyle just isn't enough for the older daughter, Dee. Overall, the unique inspiration Alice Walker’s childhood had on her helps craft the particular storylines and themes of “The Flowers” and “Everyday Use”.

When reading the two short stories, the reader can really understand the protagonist and antagonist as well as what they feel, even if it's not stated. Alice Walker achieved this aspect in her writing by using specific diction to develop characterization for the characters. For example, in “The Flowers” Alice Walker, in the beginning, uses light and joyful diction such as “felt light and good in the sun” (Flowers 1). Also used is “she was ten” (Flowers 1), to develop a sense of innocence for this young protagonist, Myop. Similarly, in “Everyday Use” sharp diction such as “she had hated

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