...2013B Carefully read the following excerpt from the short story “Mammita’s Garden Cove” by Cyril Dabydeen. Then write a well-organized essay in which you analyze how Dabydeen uses literary techniques to convey Max’s complex attitudes toward place. ‘Where d’you come from?’ Max was used to the question; used to being told no as well. He walked away, feet kicking hard ground, telling himself that Line he must persevere. More than anything else he knew 5 he must find a job before long. In a way being unemployed made him feel prepared for hell itself even though he knew too that somewhere there was a sweet heaven waiting for him. How couldn’t it be? After all he was in Canada. He wanted to laugh all of 10 He continued walking along, thoughts drifting back to the far-gone past. Was it that far-gone? He wasn’t sure . . . yet his thoughts kept going back, to the time he was on the island and how he used to dream about 15 being in Canada, of starting an entirely new life. He remembered those dreams clearly now; remembered too thinking of marrying some sweet island-woman with whom he’d share his life, of having children and later buying a house. Maybe someday he’d even own 20 a cottage on the edge of the city. He wasn’t too sure where one built a cottage, but there had to be a cottage. He’d then be in the middle class; life would be different from the hand-to-mouth existence he was used to. 25 His heels pressed into the asphalt, walking on. And slowly he...
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...Mammita’s Garden Cove In Mammita’s Garden Cove by Cyril Dabydeen, the author uses the literary techniques questions, tone, and flashbacks to convey the main characters view on place. Max believes that he will have better opportunities in Canada rather than in his home country. This short story details his views on his life at this point, and how he is doing in Canada. The prompt immediately begins with the question, “Where d’you come from?”. This tells the reader that Max is not from the current country or setting in which the story takes place. Throughout the passage, there is only three questions, the aforementioned one, another in the first paragraph, “How couldn’t it be?”, and another in the second paragraph, “Was it that far-gone?”. These are significant because they are both followed by Max is responding to the questions in his head. He does not clearly answer the first question, instead stating he is used to being asked of his origin. So used to it, in fact, that he ignores it and keeps going on his search for a job. In this same paragraph the question “How couldn’t it be?”, in which he responds with a bit of dry humor; “After all he was in Canada.” This question and response means that, when he first came to Canada, he compared it to a safe haven to his native country, in his words “a sweet heaven”. He entered Canada with hope. This eventually leads to the final question, “Was it that far-gone?”. The question indicates his past, in which he states he’s not sure if...
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...American dream inspired thousands of immigrants to seek a better life. The 2nd wave of immigrants brought poor and hungry souls wanting to make it big in a new country. During this time, some found success, while others struggled. In “Mammita’s Garden Cove” by Cyril Dabydeen, Max’s attitudes toward the concept of place as he immigrates to Canada are artfully revealed in an excerpt from the short story. Throughout the excerpt, Dabydeen emphasizes Max’s unstable sense of place through repetition. Dabydeen ties Max’s reality to the ground through “walking”. Dabydeen begins with Max “walking” around in Toronto, Canada . The reiteration of “walking” exposes Max’s situation. Dabydeen makes it clear that Max...
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...‘Where d’you come from?’ Max was used to the question; used to being told no as well. He walked away, feet kicking hard ground, telling himself that Line he must persevere. More than anything else he knew 5 he must find a job before long. In a way being unemployed made him feel prepared for hell itself even though he knew too that somewhere there was a sweet heaven waiting for him. How couldn’t it be? After all he was in Canada. He wanted to laugh all of 10 He continued walking along, thoughts drifting back to the far-gone past. Was it that far-gone? He wasn’t sure . . . yet his thoughts kept going back, to the time he was on the island and how he used to dream about 15 being in Canada, of starting an entirely new life. He remembered those dreams clearly now; remembered too thinking of marrying some sweet island-woman with whom he’d share his life, of having children and later buying a house. Maybe someday he’d even own 20 a cottage on the edge of the city. He wasn’t too sure where one built a cottage, but there had to be a cottage. He’d then be in the middle class; life would be different from the hand-to-mouth existence he was used to. 25 His heels pressed into the asphalt, walking on. And slowly he began to sense a revulsion for everything around him. Maybe he was really happy on the island —more than he realised. Once more he thought about a job; if he didn’t find one soon he might starve. But 30 as the reality of this dawned on him he began laughing...
Words: 658 - Pages: 3
