Literature & Writing for Professionals Discussion 3

“A Pair of Tickets,” by Amy Tan

“The Gift of the Magi,” by O. Henry

“A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings,” by Gabriel Garca Mrquez

“Everyday Use,” by Alice Walker

Answer the following questions in one well-organized paragraph for each, using specific evidence from the work itself.

1) In “A Pair of Tickets,” how is Jing-mei (June May)’s attitude about her Chinese heritage different at the end of the story than it was in the beginning?

2) How would our reading experience of “The Gift of the Magi” be different if the story were told entirely from Della’s point of view instead of from the third-person point of view?

3) At the end of “A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings,” why does Elisenda feel relieved for both the “angel” and herself?

4) Why does the mother in “Everyday Use” finally choose to side with Maggie instead of Dee in terms of which sister gets the quilts?