Final answer:
Teresa Acosta uses literary devices such as metaphor, symbolism, and imagery in 'My Mother Pieced Quilts' to highlight the deep cultural and emotional significance of quilting in her heritage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Teresa Acosta utilizes various literary devices in her poem "My Mother Pieced Quilts" to depict the significance of quilting in her cultural heritage. She often employs metaphor, symbolism, and vivid imagery to paint a picture of quilts as more than functional items; they are repositories of family history, memories, and cultural identity.
For example, quilts are symbolically connected to the family’s lineage, each patch and pattern narrating personal and communal stories. Such devices also emphasize the labor of love involved in quilting, making it a metaphor for the care and continuity of relationships within the family. Through these artistic choices, Acosta demonstrates how these crafted artifacts retain emotional weight and serve as tangible connections to one's ancestry and heritage.