Explaining the Bilingual and Bicultural Poetry and Narratives of Julia Alvarez
Author: | Blauman, Wendy S. |
Year: | 2012 |
Pages: | 256 |
ISBN: | 0-7734-2552-7 978-0-7734-2552-1 |
Price: | $199.95 |
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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