Liberty
Synopsis:
"Liberty" is a short story by Julia Alvarez and was first published in 1996 in a collection titled Writers Harvest 2: A Collection of New Fiction. Alvarez is of Dominican origin and frequently represents the culture and political turmoil of the Dominican Republic in her writing. The story “Liberty” is set in the Dominican Republic sometime during the late 1950s or early 1960s. The unnamed narrator is a young girl, one of four sisters who live with their parents. One day, their father, Papi, brings home a black and white puppy. Although the girls are excited to have the dog, their mother, Mami, says that the dog will be nothing but trouble. The dog has been given to the family by the American consul, Mister Victor, who is helping them get visas to go to the United States, so Papi names the dog Liberty. Symbolically, the dog represents the hope for liberty that the family has as they try to move away from the Dominican Republic's political troubles.
"Liberty" is a short story by Julia Alvarez and was first published in 1996 in a collection titled Writers Harvest 2: A Collection of New Fiction. Alvarez is of Dominican origin and frequently represents the culture and political turmoil of the Dominican Republic in her writing. The story “Liberty” is set in the Dominican Republic sometime during the late 1950s or early 1960s. The unnamed narrator is a young girl, one of four sisters who live with their parents. One day, their father, Papi, brings home a black and white puppy. Although the girls are excited to have the dog, their mother, Mami, says that the dog will be nothing but trouble. The dog has been given to the family by the American consul, Mister Victor, who is helping them get visas to go to the United States, so Papi names the dog Liberty. Symbolically, the dog represents the hope for liberty that the family has as they try to move away from the Dominican Republic's political troubles.
Online Full Text Version
Click here to access a digital copy of the text.
Click here to access a digital copy of the text.
Assignments:
Liberty - Characterization and Motivation | |
File Size: | 58 kb |
File Type: |
Book Work:
1. Responding to Literature Questions: After reading "Liberty", students must answer questions 1-8 in Responding to Literature on page 141. Also, the two questions under the section titled Literary Analysis must be completed.
2. Read "The Struggle to be An American Girl" on pages 142-143
3. Read "Grudnow" on pages 144-145
4. Write a journal entry using the prompt at the top of page 146. What do all three of these pieces have in common?
1. Responding to Literature Questions: After reading "Liberty", students must answer questions 1-8 in Responding to Literature on page 141. Also, the two questions under the section titled Literary Analysis must be completed.
2. Read "The Struggle to be An American Girl" on pages 142-143
3. Read "Grudnow" on pages 144-145
4. Write a journal entry using the prompt at the top of page 146. What do all three of these pieces have in common?