"Everyday Use"

1) Q: What does the term “everyday use” mean in this story? Why did Walker choose this as the title?

A: Everyday use in the story is used as a way to describe something you dont cherish properly, e.g. "Maggie can't appriciate these quilts! she'd probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use." (Walker,7)

I beleive that Everyday Use was chosen to be the title because the conflict over the quilts is what brings the whole story together. It becomes apparent that the reason dee has returned home is to retrieve the quilts as well as other items which were her mothers inheritance, as well as her future gift to maggie.

2) Q: How do Dee, Maggie, and Mama define heritage? Which view does Walker want us to agree with?

A: Mama defines heritage as the respect and caring you share with the people you care the most about, family.

Dee defines heritage as where you come from and how you were brought up.

Maggie defines heritage as being the things in your family that make you hurt the most when you lose them.

3) Q: Describe the setting – how does it affect the characters and story?

A: The setting is a daughter returning home to the countryside for the first time since she left for college, to visit her sister and her neice.

4) Q: What is ironic about Dee’s name change to Wangero?

A: She changed her name to get closer to her heritage, but in reality she offended her family because her name was passed down for many generations.

5) Q: What is the significance of certain items in the story – the butter churn, dasher, bench and quilt?

A: butter churn has dents in the bottom because it was always being used, signifying hard work.

the dasher was crafted by maggies father and symbolizes love for family.

the quilt was made by "big dee" and is very important to mama. dee feels she deserves these but big dee taught maggie how to quilt and mama plans on giving them to her one day.

6) Q: How would the story have changed if Mama was not the narrator?

A: If the story was told by dee I beleive she would be discussing her plans for coming to retrieve the items and not as set on seeing her family.

if the story was told by maggie I beleive that it would start off as a very sad tale and then in the end she would go through a big change after receiving the quilts.

7) Q: Explore the final scenes in the story and discuss how the narrator changes at the end.

A: Mama has a new view on family and heritage at the end of the story after seeing how her sister reacted to not receiving the quilts. She sees her daughter happy for the first time since the fire and it makes her very happy as well.