Have writers block. Need help with Julia Alvarez poem!?
I have to write a 1000 word analysis of the Julia Alvarez poem "Ironing Their Clothes". I need help with a thesis. I have no idea what to write about!
1 year ago
Additional Details
With a hot glide up, then down, his shirts,
I ironed out my father's back, cramped
and worried with work. I stroked the yoke,
and breast pocket, collar and cuffs,
until the rumpled heap relaxed into the shape
of my father's broad chest, the shoulders shrugged off
the world, the collapsed arms spread for a hug.
And if there'd been a face above the buttondown neck,
I would have pressed the forehead out, I would
have made a boy again out of that tired man!
If I clung to her skirt as she sorted the wash
or put out a line, my mother frowned,
a crease down each side of her mouth.
This is no time for love! But here
I could linger over her wrinkled bedjacket,
kiss at the damp puckers of her wrists
with the hot tip. Here I caressed complications
of darts, scallops, ties, pleats which made
her outfits test of the patience of my passion.
Here I could lay my dreaming iron on her lap
The smell of baked cotton rose from the board
and blew with a breeze o
Look first at this section. What does it say about "father". Write down the clues as to what is remembered most about him. How does the author feel about his father. Make some notes.
With a hot glide up, then down, his shirts,
I ironed out my father's back, cramped
and worried with work. I stroked the yoke,
and breast pocket, collar and cuffs,
until the rumpled heap relaxed into the shape
of my father's broad chest, the shoulders shrugged off
the world, the collapsed arms spread for a hug.
And if there'd been a face above the buttondown neck,
I would have pressed the forehead out, I would
have made a boy again out of that tired man!
Then take the rest of the poem and do the same thing about the mother. Repost when you need further help with this.
the father is strtessed out and very tired
One possible thesis for analyzing Julia Alvarez's poem "Ironing Their Clothes" could be focused on the theme of love and connection between family members.
To develop this thesis, you can start by examining the speaker's actions and descriptions related to ironing her father's clothes and her mother's bedjacket. Pay attention to the specific details and imagery that Alvarez uses to convey the speaker's affection and longing for her parents. For example, the speaker's desire to "make a boy again out of that tired man" and her willingness to "linger over her wrinkled bedjacket" suggest a deep emotional connection and love.
You can also analyze the contrasting attitudes of the parents towards love. While the speaker finds solace and affection in the act of ironing, her mother seems more practical and dismissive, claiming "This is no time for love!" This contrast can further support the theme of love and family dynamics.
Furthermore, you can explore the significance of ironing as a metaphor in the poem. Ironing can be seen as a symbol of the speaker's attempt to smooth out the complexities and hardships of life for her family. The act of ironing becomes a way for the speaker to express her love, to provide comfort, and to create emotional intimacy.
By analyzing these elements and discussing the theme of love and connection, you can develop a thoughtful and insightful analysis of "Ironing Their Clothes" by Julia Alvarez. Remember to support your points with evidence from the poem and provide detailed analysis of the poetic devices used by Alvarez.