Short-Answer Item:

Analyze two ways the symbolism is similar and one way it is different in “Everyday Use” and “My Mother Pieced Quilts.” Use examples from the story or poem to support your answer.

Short-Answer Key:

Examples of similarities:

• The quilts in both the poem and the story symbolize comfort. (For Maggie in “Everyday Use,” the quilts will be used for warmth; the speaker in “My Mother Pieced Quilts” says the quilts fight the cold of winter, and her mother tucks her in under them at night.)
• The quilts symbolize family history and heritage. (In “Everyday Use,” the quilts were pieced by the grandmother and finished by Big Dee and the narrator; the quilts have pieces from family members, such as clothing worn by the grandparents and Great Grandpa Ezra’s Civil War uniform. In “My Mother Pieced Quilts,” the speaker mentions her mother’s curtain pieces, her father’s work shirt, and her mother’s mourning dress. The speaker also mentions past events in the family history, such as “The river crossing,” working in farm fields, and “tuberculosis wards.”)

Examples of differences:

• The quilts in “My Mother Pieced Quilts” symbolize the single, positive point of view of the speaker and her understanding of her mother’s love and celebration of the family. The quilts in “Everyday Use” symbolize two vastly different points of view: that of Maggie, who will use the quilts as they were meant to be used, and that of Dee, who believes the quilts are valuable and should be hung as if museum pieces.
• In “My Mother Pieced Quilts,” the quilts symbolize strength, with words such as “weapons,” “cemented,” “caravan master,” “thread needle artillery,” and “hard and taut to withstand the thrashings of twenty-five years.” In “Everyday Use,” the quilts symbolize utility, with the mother pleased and thankful that Maggie will finally put the quilts to good use. 

Short-Answer Scoring Rubric:

Performance Assessment:

Have students choose a short story or poem they have previously read. Ask them to analyze character/conflict, symbolism, or imagery in relation to theme. Explain that the first part should analyze the individual element and that the second part should explain how the element relates to the work’s theme. Remind students to use information from the text to support their response. Suggest that students use any of the graphic organizers in the unit to complete their analysis.

Performance Assessment Scoring Rubric: