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by Yvonne Sapia |
by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Cocina
Criolla: Puerto Rican Cuisine
The
speaker’s mother in "Defining the Grateful
Gesture" tries to teach her children to be
thankful for the delicious food she serves, such
as arroz con pollo and frijoles negros
con platanos. Visit this site for recipes
for a wide variety of Puerto Rican dishes. Try
a dish—your stomach will be grateful for days!
What
Women Share
In
this essay, author Divakaruni explores women’s
relationships, both in literature and in life.
She says, "I find myself focusing my writing
on friendships with women, and trying to balance
them with the conflicting passions and demands
that come to us as daughters and wives, lovers
and mothers." How does she accomplish this
in "My Mother Combs My Hair"? Write
a short essay relating Divakaruni’s essay with
her poem.
"Arranging
One's Life" by Julie Mehta
Read
this article to learn more about author Chitra
Banerjee Divakaruni. In response to those who
have criticized her portrayal of Indian characters,
she remarks, "I hope people who read my [work]
will not think of the characters as Indians, but
feel for them as people." What themes in the poem
"My Mother Combs My Hair" do you consider
universal? What connections do you have with the
characters in the poem? Discuss your thoughts
with a small group of classmates.
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