(Bloom1 199) Although Maya's autobiographies did describe her great struggle from rags to riches, they were not as in depth and good at reflecting her motivation and determination to overcome them like her poetry does. Maya's first collection of poetry, Just Give Me A Cool Drink Of Water Fore' I Diiie, was published in 1971. ... The first section is about a wide variety of love including its joys and pains. ... "Times Square- tells the story of a shoeshine man who cleans shoes at such a remarkable rhythm that it in fact keeps his spirit alive. ... She was determined...

• Word Count: 1347
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Nel Wright represents the archetypal mother and wife, a conformer who never leaves her hometown. ... Toni Morrison first published Sula in 1973, and would have been aware of all the events just mentioned. ... She does this by refusing to conform to the expectations of others ("When you gone to get married? ... They imply, with the first two "girls," self-reflection coupled with hesitation. ... She realizes that there exists no man who will enable her to be a complete person. ...

• Word Count: 2386
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School