The White Umbrella
This object symbolizes the narrator's desire to fit in.
What is the white umbrella?
Rosaura attends the birthday party of this friend.
Who is Luciana?
The narrator's name is this.
Who is Eriko?
This theme appears in all three texts.
What is belonging/community?
Rosaura disagrees with this person about attending the party.
Who is her mother?
The Narrator is embarrassed of her mother for this reason.
What is her mother is working?
Rosaura's mother works as this in Luciana's home.
What is a maid/house cleaner/employee?
Miho is originally from this country.
What is Japan?
Rosaura wants this feeling from Luciana's family.
What is acceptance?
The narrator of The White Umbrella is embarrassed by this family member.
Who is her mother?
The narrator lies about having this kind of car.
What is a convertible?
Rosaura helps serve this food at the party.
What are hot dogs?
Eriko attends this university as a freshman.
What is Duke University?
The narrator of The White Umbrella wants to do this with the American kids in town.
What is fitting in/conforming?
Eriko fears being associated with this new student.
Who is Miho?
This piano student is everything the narrator wants to be.
Who is Eugenie Roberts?
The magician calls Rosaura this title.
What is a countess?
Eriko feels caught between these two cultures.
What are American and Japanese cultures?
Eriko struggles with this aspect of herself throughout the story.
What is cultural identity?
Rosaura's biggest conflict is between friendship and this social barrier.
What is social class/class differences?
At the end of the story, the narrator gets rid of the umbrella by throwing it here.
What is a sewer/storm drain?
Instead of a party favor, Señora Ines gives Rosaura this.
What is money (two bills)?
By the end, Eriko realizes she belongs to both of these places.
What are the United States and Japan?
This common idea connects all three protagonists.
What is the desire to belong while staying true to oneself?
Eriko admits that this emotion kept her from being kind to Miho.
What is fear?