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Explaining the Bilingual and Bicultural Poetry and Narratives of Julia Alvarez

Author: 
Year:
Pages:256
ISBN:0-7734-2552-7
978-0-7734-2552-1
Price:$199.95
This comprehensive study examines the full body of works by Dominican-American author Julia Alvarez, whose literary corpus includes poetry, historical-fiction novels, essays, short stories, young adult books, and folkloric-based children’s texts.

This research examines the duality of present in the recurrent and intertwined topics of language, identity, and homeland. Particular attention is focused on the manner in which Alvarez stretches the linguistic boundaries of her two languages, as well as the importance this author places on education in her writing, particularly for women and the poor.

Reviews

“By studying diverse genres in Alvarez’s works, the author allows for a deeper understanding of the literary universe of this writer.”— Prof. Elena M. Martínez, Baruch College and CUNY, Graduate Center “[The author]’s innovative study of Julia Alvarez’s poetic and narrative corpus studies the contemporary female author’s cross-over success in English text, both in prose and verse, which inexorably ties the writer through thematics, language choice and transnational concerns to both the United States and the Dominican Republic.” -- Jaclyn Brilliant, English Chairperson, Notre Dame High School

“[The author]’s legal knowledge beautifully blends with her academic literary background which allows her to enter into the lives of Alvarez’s characters from both a juridical perspective as well as from a literary perspective.” -- Prof. Teonilda Madera, DeWitt Clinton High School

Table of Contents

ABSTRACT

FOREWORD BY ELENA M. MARTINEZ

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONE: LANGUAGE NEGOTIATION AND IDENTITY IN THE POETRY OF JULIA ALVAREZ

CHAPTER TWO:POETIC TRANSGRESSION:SAYING IT PUBLICLY AND SPELLING IT OUT

CHAPTER THREE: TREE POEMS AND NARRATIVE: SETTING DOWN REAL AND FIGURATIVE ROOTS

CHAPTER FOUR: SELF-REFERENTIALITY IN THE POETIC AND NARRATIVE WORKS OF JULIA ALVAREZ

CHAPTER FIVE: ‘THE ANXIETY OF STRUCTURE’ IN ALVAREZ’S TEXTS

CHAPTER SIX: ORAL CULTURE: FOLKLORE AND TALES IN FOUR OF JULIA ALVAREZ’S CHILDREN’S BOOKS AND YOUNG ADULT NOVELS

CHAPTER SEVEN: ALVAREZ’S NARRATIVE AS AUTO-FICTION,TESTIMONIO, AND MINOR LITERATURE

CONCLUSIONS

WORKS CITED