Friday, October 25, 2013

Eleven by Sandra Cisneros/Barbie-Q

AGENDA

1, For classwork credit:
Read the following two stories by Sandra Cisneros.
Then discuss the questions for Barbie-Q with a partner and post a comment on the blog answering the questions (you can cut and paste them).

2. Think about the "chapters of your life" by filling out high and low points, dreams, and things you do daily on the handout.
What people have been significant in your life?  Can you write vignettes about them?

3. Continue to work on your vignette.

4. HMWK: For Tuesday, read to page 48 in House



Eleven
By Sandra Cisneros


What they don’t understand about birthdays and what they never tell you is that when you’re eleven, you’re also ten, and nine, and eight, and seven, and six, and five, and four, and three, and two, and one. And when you wake up on your eleventh birthday you expect to feel eleven, but you don’t. You open your eyes and everything’s just like yesterday, only it’s today. And you don’t feel eleven at all. You feel like you’re still ten. And you are—underneath the year that makes you eleven.
Like some days you might say something stupid, and that’s the part of you that’s still ten. Or maybe some days you might need to sit on your mama’s lap because you’re scared, and that’s the part of you that’s five. And maybe one day when you’re all grown up maybe you will need to cry like if you’re three, and that’s okay. That’s what I tell Mama when she’s sad and needs to cry. Maybe she’s feeling three.
Because the way you grow old is kind of like an onion or like the rings inside a tree trunk or like my little wooden dolls that fit one inside the other, each year inside the next one. That’s how being eleven years old is.
You don’t feel eleven. Not right away. It takes a few days, weeks even, sometimes even months before you say Eleven when they ask you. And you don’t feel smart eleven, not until you’re almost twelve. That’s the way it is.
Only today I wish I didn’t have only eleven years rattling inside me like pennies in a tin Band-Aid box. Today I wish I was one hundred and two instead of eleven because if I was one hundred and two I’d have known what to say when Mrs. Price put the red sweater on my desk. I would’ve known how to tell her it wasn’t mine instead of just sitting there with that look on my face and nothing coming out of my mouth.
“Whose is this?” Mrs. Price says, and she holds the red sweater up in the air for all the class to see. “Whose? It’s been sitting in the coatroom for a month.”
“Not mine,” says everybody. “Not me.”
“It has to belong to somebody,” Mrs. Price keeps saying, but nobody can remember. It’s an ugly sweater with red plastic buttons and a collar and sleeves all stretched out like you could use it for a jump rope. It’s maybe a thousand years old and even if it belonged to me I wouldn’t say so.
Maybe because I’m skinny, maybe because she doesn’t like me, that stupid Sylvia Saldivar says, “I think it belongs to Rachel.” An ugly sweater like that, all raggedy and old, but Mrs. Price believes her. Mrs. Price takes the sweater and puts it right on my desk, but when I open my mouth nothing comes out.
“That’s not, I don’t, you’re not . . . Not mine,” I finally say in a little voice that was maybe me when I was four.
“Of course it’s yours,” Mrs. Price says, “I remember you wearing it once.” Because she’s older and the teacher, she’s right and I’m not.
Not mine, not mine, not mine, but Mrs. Price is already turning to page thirty-two, and math problem number four. I don’t know why but all of a sudden I’m feeling sick inside, like the part of me that’s three wants to come out of my eyes, only I squeeze them shut tight and bite down on my teeth real hard and try to remember today I am eleven, eleven. Mama is making a cake for me for tonight, and when Papa comes home everybody will sing Happy birthday, happy birthday to you.
But when the sick feeling goes away and I open my eyes, the red sweater’s still sitting there like a big red mountain. I move the red sweater to the corner of my desk with my ruler. I move my pencil and books and eraser as far from it as possible. I even move my chair a little to the right. Not mine, not mine, not mine.
In my head I’m thinking how long till lunchtime, how long till I can take the red sweater and throw it over the schoolyard fence, or leave it hanging on a parking meter, or bunch it up into a little ball and toss it in the alley. Except when math period ends Mrs. Price says loud and in front of everybody, “Now, Rachel, that’s enough,” because she sees I’ve shoved the red sweater to the tippy-tip corner of my desk and it’s hanging all over the edge like a waterfall, but I don’t care.
“Rachel,” Mrs. Price says. She says it like she’s getting mad. “You put that sweater on right now and no more nonsense.”
“But it’s not—“
“Now!” Mrs. Price says.
This is when I wish I wasn’t eleven, because all the years inside of me—ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, and one—are pushing at the back of my eyes when I put one arm through one sleeve of the sweater that smells like cottage cheese, and then the other arm through the other and stand there with my arms apart like if the sweater hurts me and it does, all itchy and full of germs that aren’t mine.
That’s when everything I’ve been holding in since this morning, since when Mrs. Price put the sweater on my desk, finally lets go, and all of a sudden I’m crying in front of everybody. I wish I was invisible but I’m not. I’m eleven and it’s my birthday today and I’m crying like I’m three in front of everybody. I put my head down on the desk and bury my face in my stupid clown-sweater arms. My face all hot and spit coming out of my mouth because I can’t stop the little animal noises from coming out of me, until there aren’t any more tears left in my eyes, and it’s just my body shaking like when you have the hiccups, and my whole head hurts like when you drink milk too fast.
But the worst part is right before the bell rings for lunch. That stupid Phyllis Lopez, who is even dumber than Sylvia Saldivar, says she remembers the red sweater is hers! I take it off right away and give it to her, only Mrs. Price pretends like everything’s okay.
Today I’m eleven. There’s a cake Mama’s making for tonight, and when Papa comes home from work we’ll eat it. There’ll be candles and presents and everybody will sing Happy birthday, happy birthday to you, Rachel, only it’s too late.
I’m eleven today. I’m eleven, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, and one, but I wish I was one hundred and two. I wish I was anything but eleven, because I want today to be far away already, far away like a runaway balloon, like a tiny o in the sky, so tiny-tiny you have to close your eyes to see it.

From Woman Hollering Creek Copyright © 1991 by Sandra Cisneros. Reprinted by permission of Susan Bergholtz Literary Services, New York. All rights reserved.



Barbie-Q
By Sandra Cisneros

Yours is the one with mean eyes and a ponytail.  Striped swimsuit, stilettos, sunglasses, and gold hoop earrings.  Mine is the one with bubble hair.  Red swimsuit, stilettos, pearl earrings, and a wire stand.  But that’s all we can afford, besides one extra outfit apiece.  Yours, “Red Flair,” sophisticated A-line coatdress with a Jackie Kennedy pillbox hat, white gloves, handbag, and heels included.  Mine, “solo in the Spotlight,” evening elegance in black glitter strapless gown with a puffy skirt at the bottom like a mermaid tail, formal-length gloves, pink chiffon scarf, and mike included.  From so much dressing and undressing, the black glitter wears off where her titties stick out.  This and a dress invented from an old sock when we cut holes here and here and here, the cuff rolled over for the glamorous, fancy-free, off-the-shoulder look.

Every time the same story.  Your Barbie is roommates with my Barbie, and my Barbie’s boyfriend comes over and your Barbie steals him, okay?  Kiss kiss kiss.  Then the two Barbies fight. You dumbbell!  He’s mine.  Oh no he’s not, you stinky!  Only Ken’s invisible, right?  Because we don’t have money for a stupid-looking boy doll when we’d both rather ask for a new Barbie outfit next Christmas.  We have to make do with your mean-eyed Barbie and my bubblehead Barbie and our one outfit apiece not including the sock dress.

Until next Sunday when we are walking through the flea market on Maxwell Street and there!  Lying on the street next to some tool bits, and platform shoes with the heels all squashed, and a fluorescent green wicker wastebasket, and aluminum foil, and hubcaps, and a pink shag rug, and windshield wiper blades, and dusty mason jars, and a coffee can full of rusty nails.  There!  Where?  Two Mattel boxes.  One with the “Career Gal” ensemble, snappy black-and-white business suit, three-quarter-length sleeve jacket with kick-pleated skirt, red sleeveless shell, gloves, pumps, and matching hat included.  The other, “Sweet Dreams,” dreamy pink-and-white plaid nightgown and matching robe, lace-trimmed slippers, hair-brush and hand mirror included.  How much?  Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, until they say okay.

On the outside you and me skipping and humming but inside we are doing loopity-loops and pirouetting.  Until at the next vendor’s stand, next to boxed pies, and bright orange toilet brushes, and rubber gloves, and wrench sets, and bouquests of feather flowers, and glass towel racks, and steel wool, and Alvin and the Chipmunks records, there!  And there!  And there!  And there!  and there!  and there!  and there!  Bendable Legs Barbie with her new page-boy hairdo, Midge, Barbie’s best friend.  Ken, Barbie’s boyfriend.  Skipper, Barbie’s little sister.  Tutti and Todd, Barbie and Skipper’s tiny twin sister and brother.  Skipper’s friends, Scooter and Ricky.  Alan, Ken’s buddy.  And Francie, Barbie’ MOD’ern cousin.

Everybody today selling toys, all of them damaged with water and smelling of smoke.  Because a big toy warehouse on Halsted Street burned down yesterday—see there?—the smoke still rising and drifting across the Dan Ryan expressway.  And now there is a big fire sale at Maxwell Street, today only.

So what if we didn’t get our new Bendable Legs Barbie and Midge and Ken and Skipper and Tutti and Todd and Scooter and Ricky and Alan and Francie in nice clean boxes and had to buy them on Maxwell Street, all water-soaked and sooty.  So what if our Barbies smell like smoke when you hold them up to your nose even after you wash and wash and wash them.  And if the prettiest doll, Barbie’s MOD’ern cousin Francie with real eyelashes, eyelash brush included, has a left foot that’s melted a little—so?  If you dress her in her new “Prom Pinks” outfit, satin splendor with matching coat, gold belt, clutch, and hair bow included, so long as you don’t lift her dress, right?—who’s to know.


Discussion questions for Sandra Cisneros‘s “Barbie-Q”sc.jpg
  1. What could Barbie’s wardrobe, e.g. Red Flair, Career Gal, Jackie Kennedy pillbox hat, Prom Pinks, suggest about a woman’s status in society?
  2. What values and ideals does Barbie represent/symbolize in the story? What does she offer the two girls in the story?
  3. Do you believe that Cisneros has some feminist concerns in Barbie-Q? If yes, explain what these concerns could be.
  4. What could the image of flawed/damaged dolls signify?
  5. Do you believe that Cisneros voices some racial concerns in Barbie-Q? If yes, explain what these concerns could be. Comment on the origin of the protagonists.
  6. What could the story tell us about the influence of hegemonic culture over the dominated?
  7. Discuss whether Barbie is the embodiment of women’s oppression or liberation.
  8. Why does Cisneros associate the title of the story with a cooking technique?


 

9 comments:

  1. Kami King-Smith

    What could Barbie’s wardrobe, e.g. Red Flair, Career Gal, Jackie Kennedy pillbox hat, Prom Pinks, suggest about a woman’s status in society?
    1. It explains that a womens cloths determines her status.

    What values and ideals does Barbie represent/symbolize in the story? What does she offer the two girls in the story?
    2.She shows the two girls that they dont need new and all fancy stuff in order to be important. she offer them the figure of a role model.

    Do you believe that Cisneros has some feminist concerns in Barbie-Q? If yes, explain what these concerns could be.

    3.Yeah i think she does have some because how she starts the story off with the two dolls arguing over the "ken".

    What could the image of flawed/damaged dolls signify?
    4. it could signify the women who don't have it all compared to the rich.

    Do you believe that Cisneros voices some racial concerns in Barbie-Q? If yes, explain what these concerns could be. Comment on the origin of the protagonists.
    5. No.

    What could the story tell us about the influence of hegemonic culture over the dominated?
    6.it tells you that it is a major influence over it because it tells how they had wore down parts.

    Discuss whether Barbie is the embodiment of women’s oppression or liberation.
    7.She is a embodiment of a a women's oppression.


    Why does Cisneros associate the title of the story with a cooking technique?


    8. she names it that because in the story it tells you how the dolls were smokey and all wet and some caught on fire so it made it ironic that she named it Barbie-Q

    ReplyDelete
  2. 1)Women defined by what they ware and how that pertains to their job.
    2)Barbie represents what they want to be when they grow up, and even though the Barbie isn't perfect it's still good enough for them because life isn't perfect.
    3)Yes, we think that Cisneros has some feminist concerns about Barbie, and how she represents the stereotypical women, something Cisneros disagrees with.
    4)Even something that is meant to be perfect has flaws just like people.
    5)Yes, all of the Barbies are white but that isn't the case with everyone.
    6)The dominated are being told that they are a step down from the higher up. This is represented by them buying the almost perfect Barbies.
    7)It gives an unrealistic standard for what a women should be.
    8)The Barbies are burned in the factory fire like BBQ food.
    -Olivia and Cameron
    7)
    5
    3)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Avana Davis

    1.the clothing suggest that woman had to be pretty at all times
    2. she offer them new barbie parts
    3.yes if they were easy to catch fire will the fire go crazy and the smell
    4.that the girls are arsonist
    5. no
    6.the influence was bad
    7.she is the liberation
    8.cause woman should be able to cook

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jasmina Rizvanovic & Janelys Saez


    Discussion Questions

    1. Barbie’s wardrobe suggests that woman should have a specific very feminine look in society.

    2. Barbie dolls in the story represent what the girls want to be. Its something they don’t have that they wish they did (fancy clothes, earrings etc.). She offers them things they don’t have.

    3. I believe Cisneros does have feminist concerns in Barbie-Q because Barbie is considered perfect and most girls struggle for perfection due to playing with dolls and the image given about woman.

    4. The image of flawed dolls signifies that no one is perfect and it makes them seem more real.

    5. Ciseneros does not specifically voice any racial concerns she mostly voices concerns about how girls are pressured by society to be a certain way.

    6. The story tells us that young girls are pressured to be a certain type of woman to be accepted.

    7. Barbie is the embodiment of a woman’s oppression because even today people still struggle with perfection and want to be perfect and that was influenced from their childhood and playing with dolls.

    8. Ciseneros associates the title of the story with a cooking technique because the Barbie’s were burned in the fire.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jahde’ Brown

    1. It shows that women are viewed as only a pretty face. They are supposed to just be there for people to look at.
    2. The Barbies symbolize the ideal image that a girl wants to look like. Barbie gives girls a sense of completeness that they are looking for in life.
    3. Yes. She shows how men are so hard for woman to get and the life is full of single woman imagining the men they wish they had.
    4. That even if your flawed like everyone is, you are still beautiful.
    5. No.
    6. The dominant culture in the US is Caucasian male. The every girl is given is that they have to be white to be beautiful.
    7. Yes. Barbie is the image given of Caucasian women and Bratz dolls are the image of black woman. Way more people prefer the Barbie doll to the Bratz doll, and this is significant.
    8. This way, the title is funny and witty this draws the reader in.

    ReplyDelete
  6. 1. Barbie's wardrobe suggests that she is ranked high up in society. she has nice clothes and looks she is successful
    2. It represents what the two girls want to be like when they get older. they want to look and dress like the barbie dolls.
    3. yes i think she does because at the beginning of the story the two dolls start to argue.
    4.the girls are arsnoist
    5.no
    6.the dominated were higher up.
    7.she is the embodiment of a woman's liberation.
    8.it because the barbies are burned in the factory like bbq
    nandi and kadeja

    ReplyDelete
  7. Reyenne Stevens


    1. It shows that women are viewed as only a pretty face. They are supposed to just be there for people to look at.
    2. The Barbies symbolize the ideal image that a girl wants to look like. Barbie gives girls a sense of completeness that they are looking for in life.
    3. Yes. She shows how men are so hard for woman to get and the life is full of single woman imagining the men they wish they had.
    4. That even if your flawed like everyone is, you are still beautiful.
    5. No.
    6. The dominant culture in the US is Caucasian male. The every girl is given is that they have to be white to be beautiful.
    7. Yes. Barbie is the image given of Caucasian women and Bratz dolls are the image of black woman. Way more people prefer the Barbie doll to the Bratz doll, and this is significant.
    8. This way, the title is funny and witty this draws the reader in.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Rashi'd Pendleton

    1) It suggest that women are looked at by the way they dress and present themselves.
    2) The Barbie symbolize how the little girls should be when they grow up.
    3) Yes , Cisneros does have some feminist concerns about Barbie and how they try to but girls in this perfect Barbie world.
    4) IT signify that everything has flaws nothing is completely perfect
    5) Yes , because all the barbies are white and not everyone in the world is white.
    6) Its tells you that it is a major influence
    7) The barbie gives girls a standard that they can not achieve because no one can be perfect
    8) The barbies are burnt from a warehouse fire.

    ReplyDelete

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