Bailey, author of From Front Porch to Back Seat, writes: At first her mother or guardian invited young men to call; in subsequent seasons the young lady had more autonomy and could bestow an invitation to call upon any unmarried man to whom she had been properly introduced at a private dance, dinner, pr otherentertainment?. ... For example, courting or marriage rituals occurred differently in a variety of cultures and class levels; the reason is that whether viewed historically or in contemporary terms, each culture and class has its unique courting rituals and wedding rites. ... Harr...

• Word Count: 2701
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

According to the Structuralist, Roland Barthes, there should be the death of the author in the text before any meaning can be constructed at all. If there is no total effacement of the author, the levels of meanings are limited and too much equated with the author. In short, what Barthes implies is that if the author is not killed off, readers are tempted to link the text with the author, his life and background. With the putting aside of the author, emerges a web of multiple interpretations which all form part of one superstructure. ...

• Word Count: 2783
• Approx Pages: 11

Background of Study Contemporary English literature has produced a plethora of novels dealing with the everyday lives of people within the context of their place of origin and their unique culture. ... A closer look at how Honrby accomplishes this will give readers a better grasp of the writing style of a contemporary author whose works may be considered classics in due time. ... Sylvia Estrada-Claudio, M.D., PhD of the Department of Women and Development Studies of the University of the Philippines College of Social Work and Community Development, and author of the book Love, Rape, and...

• Word Count: 2791
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

This parallel between the author and the protagonist's childhood is an indicator that Esperanza is a surrogate for Cisneros because she is a manifestation of Cisneros' previous adolescent experiences and desires. ... Cisneros had a different account of what barrio life was for women then her contemporaries when she says, "To me barrio life was a repressive community. ... As the author, Cisneros, "sits inside the mind of the hero[ine] . . . and looks at the other characters from the outside," while the heroine, Esperanza "plays a very small active part; [s]he sees the actions a...

• Word Count: 2834
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate