Question

You just finished a lesson about the short story “Everyday Use." It was written in the first-person

point of view, told by the character Mama. Summarize the events of the story from the first-person
point of view either told by Dee or her sister, Maggie.

Answer 1

EVERYDAY USE SUMMARY

From Dee's perspective

I have always hated the house we lived in while I was growing up. One day, the house was burnt to the ground and my sister Maggie was badly scarred. We also lost a lot of things to that fire.

Perhaps the fire or Maggie's limited formal education or a combination of both made her become a recluse and anti-social. I miss her and mother.

It's been over a decade since then; I moved into the city and now I'm back home to visit my family along with my Muslim boyfriend Hakim.

Mama has barely changed, still the conservative person who would not look a white man in the face, and Maggie still anti-social and scarred. I see the butter churn and ask Mama if I can have the top and she agrees. I am impressed by the fact that they still use the bench my father made.

The big issue was when I saw some quilts and requested I take it but Mama refused because she has already promised it to Maggie who I don't think will appreciate their value.