Reflection: Growing Up Grown And The Storyteller By David Jacobsen

“Strength comes from struggle. When you learn to see your struggles as opportunities to become stronger, better, wiser, then your thinking shifts from ‘I can’t do this’ to ‘I must do this’ was said by Toni Sorenson. Through hardships comes growth, through growth comes opportunities. This is a popular theme explored throughout the short stories “Reflection: Growing Up Grown” by David Jacobsen and “The Storyteller” by Sandra Cisneros. Each has written about their experiences during trials and how their Latin roots influence their decisions in reaching their pinnacle. Both autobiographies reveal the journey they face in finding the voice within themselves and the strength to carry on. Coming from their strong heritage, Jacobsen and Cisneros are

Jacobsen references to his heritage, Latin, more often than Cisneros. He uses the terms “‘real’ world” and “Americanism” as if he does not feel fully integrated and engrossed into the culture. Although he never mentions not being happy with the “American dream” he is living, his reference to these general terms suggest a contradicting spirit, along with, a sarcastic tone. For example, he says, “The obsession at arriving at Americanism whatever that means--...” (45). Cisneros, however, causally references her Latin heritage by referencing Mexico and using direct quotes used by her father in spanish. “ She wants to write stories that ignore borders between genres, between written and spoken, between highbrow literature and children’s nursery rhymes, between New York and the imaginary village of Macondo, between the United States and Mexico” (49). Instead of approaching this lifestyle change as Jacobsen did, she accepts her past and embraces her future in America. In fact, she uses her Latin roots to inspire her style and shape her as a writer, molding Latin and American culture as one, a beautiful unity not as prevalent a theme in “Reflection:Growing Up

In “ Reflection:Growing Up Grown”, Jacobsen sticks strictly with the 1st person point of view. Following a simple chronological order, he tells his story and inputs bits and pieces of personal emotions felt on account of his journey. His style is “The Storyteller” tells the growth of Cisneros in both 1st and 3rd person. “I feel like a bad daughter ignoring my father, but I feel worse when I don’t write. Either way I never feel completely happy” (50). By transitioning through these point of views, it is easier to gain a broader spectrum of emotions felt by the author. From the initial point of discovering her place as a writer, to establishing a home in San Antonio, all her emotions are put into focus and applied into her writing. Not only is Cisneros frustrated and confused, she is confident and bold and imaginative, seeing the beauty in a “herd of clouds grazing overhead” (49). She delves deep into her emotions, which can not be said of Jacobsen. Cisneros subtly applies her poetic influence into her writing, and both employ straightforward language to highlight their main points. While both accomplish their intentions of retelling their story, the technique used by Cisneros, point of view transitioning, makes her story more personable, which adds to the readability of her