my first free summer exile all-american girl

BY JULIA ALVAREZPAGES 260-275

My First Free SummerExile

All-American Girl

Author

Alvarez was born in New York CityHer parents returned to the Dominican Republic when she

was 3 months old*Rafael Trujillo was dictator*Alvarez’s father was involved in the rebel underground*Family returned to New York when she was 10

She spent most of her childhood being obsessed with American ways

*She studied at an American school in the DR but struggled with English

*Taught and wrote as an adult, but today runs a literacy center and sustainable farm with her husband in the DR

Biographical Approach

Using the writer’s life to analyze and respond to the text

This story IS based on the author’s life.

Author Study

Reading more than one work from a particular author can give greater insight into that author’s style and themes

What is Alvarez focusing on in these works?

Imagery

Using words to create pictures in the reader’s mind

Carefully observe Alvarez’s use of imagery throughout all three pieces. What is she trying to show you, the reader?

The Works

My First Free Summer- This is an essay about the first summer that Alvarez and her family are free from the dictatorship of the Dominican Republic.

Exile- This is a poem about the Alvarez family move back to the United States.

All-American Girl- This is a poem about Alvarez’s desire to fit in after moving back to the United States.

The Works in common

All three are told in first person point of view.

The poems share the theme of not belonging.

All three center around the results of emigration from the Dominican Republi.