Do you ever feel insecure and want more attention? In both “Eleven”, by Sandra Cisneros, and “The Somebody” by Danny Santiago, the thematic concepts are similar in that they are both about growing up, insecurity, and lack of power. Through the rhetoric, a reader can tell that the narrator of the both stories is a child feeling insecure while growing up and hoping someone would understand them. While growing up, one might feel insecure.
In “Eleven”, although the narrator specifically states that she is eleven years old, through the tone and the rhetoric, a reader can tell that the story is told by an eleven year old. The narrator repeatedly says “Mama” and “Papa”, which clearly shows a childish, immature, and naive tone. Children like to call their parents “Mama” and “Papa”, but adults would most likely refer to them as “Mom” and “Dad”. The narrator also uses words that children like to use, such as stupid, dumb, and idiot. The narrator says, “That stupid Phyllis Lopez, who is dumber than Sylvia Saldivar, says she remembers the red sweater is hers!” this is usually said by little kids who is complaining to their friends or parents about someone they hate. They tend to call everyone they hate stupid or dumb. This again shows that the author gives us a childish tone by speaking as if she is an eleven year old. The themes of “Eleven” are insecurity, growing up, and lack of power. When Mrs. Price, the teacher, put the red sweater on Rachel’s desk, she wishes she were three so she could cry. She does not let her teacher know that the sweater does not belong to her; instead, she obeys her teacher just like what a child would do. The speaker says, “Because she’s older and the teacher, she’s right and I’m not,” which shows that she lacks ...
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...ad to holler at his father. But in “Eleven”, Rachel does not holler at her teacher, because she is younger and is afraid to holler at someone who has power over her.
The themes insecurity and growing up are shown in similar ways in the two stories, whereas the theme power is shown differently.
Even though one grows older every single day, but one will never lose those insecure feelings. The author Cisneros is saying that we get a birthday every year, but that does not necessary mean we completely change; at times, we might want to act younger, while in other times we might want to act older. Santiago is saying similar things, even though older children sometimes want to seek attention from their parents too, just like when they were young. There are always times that you want to be three and times that you want to be a hundred and two, this is just how life goes.
Though the two stories are very different in how they deal with the issues of society, the symbols of houses present a very similar meaning to both stories. Both relate to a flawed society, however one acts as a barrier and another as an agent for change.
Everyone has insecurities and sometimes it makes them hate themselves. When you are insecure and your soul is dying, you shouldn’t hide it to yourself. Seek help, ask for help, turn to get help and find someone who will always be there to help you. Don’t let your insecurities control you and make you forget who you really are and what you can accomplish. In 145th Street Short Stories , the author Walter Dean Myers explores the theme of insecurity using literary techniques such as conflict and flashbacks in the short stories, “Fighter” and “Kitty and Mack: A Love Story.”
Of course, Rachel being 11 years old, she does not have a broad mindset which is the cause of her simplistic phrases that include repetition that help reflect her true age. “Not mine, not mine, not mine” repeating that the “ugly sweater” was not hers but clearly not being understood, Rachel must repeat this phrase -only in her head- just like any child would when not being listened to. Not only does this phrase inform the reader of Rachel’s weakness to stand up for herself but also of how she is accustomed to not being listened which has her thinking that she must repeat herself. Finding comfort in not only burying her face but in the thought of “mama's cake” and “everybody singing happy birthday”, she demonstrates that she feels smaller physically and emotionally so she continues this saying in her head to get her through her moment of the “sick feeling”. After constant wishing of being “102”, or “invisible” Rachel finally decides that it is too late for “mamas cake, “candles, presents and everybody will sing happy birthday” because she no longer feels “ten, and nine, and eight, and seven, and six, and five, and four, and three, and two, one” she no longer needs closure of her
The underlying themes of the stories are l valid contrasts between the works. In some portions the themes are of the same facets, such as how in both books two men have a direct conflict between
The short story Eleven by Sandra Cisneros, focuses around the main character Rachel as an insecure developing girl who lacks the experience to handle everyday encounters. Rachel, an eleven year old girl truly encapsulates the thoughts that are present within an adolescent. The lack of confidence in herself, excessive fear of being judged, and ideas of growing up are ideals that are relevant within each and every one of us. The reader is able to relate to Rachel because her feelings and experiences that are described by the author are similar to what most people have been through and are currently experiencing. The characterization of Rachel is expressed through the author’s usage of point of view, imagery, and repetition.
To begin with, despite the foundation of the two narratives being the same, there are still withstanding variations in the complete story. Predominantly,
Everyone has specific characteristics and qualities that make them the way they present themselves. Young, middle-aged, and old people are constantly forming the essentials that affect their self-awareness through their daily activities. Forming one’s identity is an ongoing process, because every person in the world can change people one way or another. In The House on Mango Street, the experiences young Esperanza faced day to day develop her true individuality.
Children have often been viewed as innocent and innocent may be a nicer way to call children naive. Since children’s lives are so worry free they lack the knowledge of how to transition from being a child to becoming an adolescent. Their lack of knowledge may be a large part of their difficulties growing up, which could be a few rough years for many. In books like the boy in the striped pajamas the story is told from the point of view of a little boy, this way we get a full view of how innocent he is. In this book the writer shows the reader first hand how a child viewed the holocaust and how his innocence cost him his life. Then in books like the perks of being a wallflower Charlie is a teen whom is struggling with the transition from being a child to becoming an adolescent. In this book the writer gives a first hand look at how difficult it can be to transition into an adolescent. Charlie has many difficulties in this book; he is in search of his identity and how to fit in.
ThThe notion of getting older, one day has too frightened me. I wonder what could I have done in the past to change the future. I reminisce of all the things I have done with the people that I love. But, at the end the day, I look forward to getting older. I look forward to the memories that I will make, which one day will be stories told between two friends or family members about their crazy grandmother Gabriella. E.B. White 's essay represents the fears that adults, but mostly parents, face when seeing children grow up and experience life the same way they once did. These nostalgic moments turn to fear of losing their youth. I believe that White 's essay is a manifestation of a mid-life crisis that fails to show what life has to offer after
Both stories, Response to Executive Order 9066 and "Mericans", establish a common American Identity theme. The main idea of these two stories is how people may or may not relate to their cultures. Both are narrated by teenage girls, and both establish a common theme that your appearance does not define you.
Sandra Cisneros writes a memoir through the eyes of an eleven year old. Turning eleven happens to be a tragic day for the main character, Rachel. Through various literary techniques such as hyperbole, simile, and syntax, Rachel is characterized. Rachel is a fresh turning eleven year old who finds herself in an awful situation on her birthday. Forced to wear a raggedy old sweater that doesn’t belong to her, she makes it defiantly clear her feelings towards the clothing item, and we see this through use of hyperboles. Rachel describes the sweater as ugly and too “stretched out like you could use it for a jump rope.” This extreme exaggeration demonstrates the fire within Rachel. She is a defiant and pouty little girl who out of stubbornness has to defy the sweater in her mind. “It’s maybe a thousand years old”, she says to herself in act to degrade the filthy red sweater even more. The sweater to Rachel has become an eternal battle of ages. She is torn on whether or not to stand up and act bigger th...
Perspective is an important part of literature, enabling readers to peer through the eyes of different characters, and understand their viewpoints on different situations. When looking at contrasting points of view in two pieces of literature centered on a similar plot, we can see how this helps the conflict of the story. For instance, “Confetti Girl” by Diana López and “Tortilla Sun” by Jennifer Cervantes both show two different narrators’ perspectives on their parents, and represents how these clashing views can add tension to a conflict. “Confetti Girl” is about a girl who hates her father’s passion for books and vocabulary, and strongly believes that he cares more about literature than her. Meanwhile, “Tortilla
In both narratives, the characters are forced by an external event to seek out their pasts. In ...
The struggles both characters face demonstrate character development and contribute to the themes of the stories. Both short stories prove to be literally effective in that they disclose the main themes at the outset of each story. Although the themes may alter over the course of the stories, they are clearly defined in their respective introductions.
For several years of my life, I dreaded the idea of growing up although this may sound a bit ironic because kids nowadays are always trying to age so quickly. It is me still to this day who doesn’t own a pair of high heels or even has any interest in wearing them whatsoever. It is me who has no clue about half of things that are ‘hot topics’ at this age. It is always me who's the most innocent, childish baby of every group I am in.