Comparing Two Works in Literature

Can you imagine being black and poor in the early 1970's? The stories, "Everyday Use," written by Alice Walker and "Graduation in Stamps," written by Maya Angelou are both centered on this setting. Walker's work, "Everyday Use," is an emotive story that tells of a mother with two daughters, who had lived a very arduous life. Her older daughter, Dee, resented her upbringing and couldn't wait to get away and live a more refined lifestyle. The younger daughter, Maggie, severely scarred in a house fire, was content to continue to live the way she had been raised...simple and plain. Angelou's work, "Graduation in Stamps," is a poignant story that tells of a young girl's maturing experience at her eighth grade graduation. A speaker diminished her accomplishments and made her feel humble. Alice Walker and Maya Angelou both used the devices: imagery, satire, and theme to create their stories.…