Perspectives

To engage in a broader conversation about Alice Walker’s short story “Everyday Use”, we encourage you also to consider the literary period in which it was written, as well as similar works.

Literary period

Published in 1973, the short story is part of the literary movement we call Modernism.  

Modernist works are recognized through themes, context, and narrative techniques. In “Everyday Use”, we notice that Alice Walker explores themes like race and the meaning of heritage. These themes are frequently encountered in modernist works.

In terms of modernist narrative techniques, “Everyday Use” uses the first-person point of view which focuses on the internal experience of the main character, giving readers the impression that they are reading her intimate thoughts. We also notice the use of symbols which suggest an...