Characters
Who is the narrator of the story?
Mama (Mrs. Johnson)
Where does the story take place?
Rural Southern yard/home
Who is the author of Everyday Use?
Alice Walker
What object in the story represents family heritage passed down through generations?
Quilts
What is the main theme of the story?
Heritage is lived, not displayed
Which daughter is shy and scarred from a fire?
Maggie
What major event shaped Maggie’s appearance?
House fire
What U.S. state is Alice Walker from?
Georgia
What does the old butter churn with the dasher represent?
The family’s history and hard work
How do Maggie and Dee differ in their views of heritage?
Maggie lives it; Dee displays it
Which daughter changes her name to reflect her heritage?
Dee
Why does Dee come back home?
To visit and reconnect with her “heritage”
What is another famous novel by Alice Walker
The Color Purple
Why does Dee’s desire to hang the quilts instead of using them and what does that suggest about her view of heritage?
That sees heritage as something to display rather than live.
Why is Mama’s final decision important?
Shows growth and recognition of true heritage
What is Hakim-a-barber’s role in the story?
Answer: Dee’s boyfriend / represents cultural identity shift
What item does Dee specifically want that causes conflict?
The quilts
In what year was Alice Walker born?
1944
What does Dee symbolize?
Superficial or performative heritage
How does Alice Walker use contrast in the story?
Through Maggie vs. Dee
How does Mama describe herself physically?
Large, strong, working woman (man-like hands, hardworking)
What surprising decision does Mama make at the end?
Gives the quilts to Maggie instead of Dee
What major prize did Alice Walker win for her writing?
The Pulitzer Prize
What does Maggie’s physical scars from the fire symbolize in the story?
The lasting effects of the family’s past and hardship.
What message is Walker sending about identity?
Identity comes from experience, not appearance