5
Culminating Task
Prompt: How does Julia Alvarez use at least two literary devices (allusion, juxtaposition, metaphor, symbolism, or irony) to convey her central message about immigration and identity?
□ Clear claim identifying 2 devices
□ Textual evidence cited
□ Explanation of craft/function
□ Connection to theme of identity
Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1, RL.9-10.4 Page 2 of 2 • End of Worksheet
Teacher Guide • Julia Alvarez "Names/Nombres" Page 1 of 2 • Turn Over for Complete Answer Key
Scoring & Model Guide
Part 1: Allusion (The Shakespearean Rose)
A. Mother's Intent: Her mother quotes Shakespeare to comfort Julia, arguing that an external label does not alter one's intrinsic worth or character.
B. Why It's Inadequate/Ironic: While Juliet argued that names are meaningless compared to love, in an immigrant context, names represent ancestral lineage, culture, and dignity. Stripping a name strips away one's cultural home.
Part 2: Juxtaposition (Mauricia vs. Ana)
Mauricia's Experience: Suffers constant mispronunciation and parental embarrassment; her traditional name acts as a social friction point.
Ana's Experience: Smoothly adapts because her name easily Anglicizes to "Anne" and her physical traits align with Eurocentric American beauty standards.
Author's Purpose: Alvarez exposes the arbitrary, unfair nature of assimilation: acceptance in America is granted more easily to those who physically and phonetically mirror the dominant culture.
Part 3: Metaphor ("Difficult to Carry")
Analysis: Alvarez compares a name to heavy luggage transported across borders. This implies that immigrant heritage is not weightless; individuals carry the psychological and social burden of defending, explaining, and preserving their identity in a society that demands conformity.
Part 4: Symbolism & Situational Irony
Symbolism (Typewriter): Represents authorial agency, voice, and self-definition. With the typewriter, Julia transitions from someone who passively receives nicknames to an author who writes her own identity.
Situational Irony (Closing Question): Her parents envision her future fame, but Julia has had so many identities imposed upon her (Judy, Judith, Jules, Alcatraz, Hoo-lee-tah) that she ironically does not know which name represents her true self.
Part 5: Exemplar Student Analytical Paragraph (Score: 4/4) High Mastery
"In 'Names/Nombres,' Julia Alvarez utilizes metaphor and situational irony to convey that assimilation forces immigrants to fracture their sense of self. Alvarez employs a physical metaphor when describing her sister Mauricia's name as 'so difficult to carry from one country to another,' illustrating that an ethnic name becomes burdensome cargo in an unaccommodating culture. Alvarez deepens this conflict through situational irony in the essay's final line. When her parents gift her a typewriter and predict she will be famous, she writes, 'I laughed to myself, wondering which name I would use.' While her parents anticipate effortless triumph, Alvarez's humorous doubt reveals the lingering sorrow of a fractured identity. Together, these devices demonstrate that while adopting American aliases may ease social acceptance, it ultimately threatens the author's authentic cultural core."
Differentiation Supports:
Synthesis Rubric (4-Point Scale):
Grade 9 ELA Assessment • CCSS RL.9-10.1 & RL.9-10.4 Page 2 of 2 • Teacher Guide Complete
3
Implied Comparison
"I felt sorry for her because her name seemed so difficult to carry from one country to another."
Exemplar Analysis: Alvarez figures a name as physical baggage or cargo. This metaphor underscores that immigration is not merely geographic; it carries an emotional and mental weight. In an environment that rejects foreign names, maintaining one's heritage becomes an exhausting, burdensome task that immigrants must physically and emotionally endure.
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Objects & Reversals
Symbolism: The Typewriter (2 Pts)
Key Takeaway: The typewriter symbolizes authorial voice, self-determination, and empowerment. Rather than allowing immigration officers, teachers, or peers to mislabel her, Julia gains the mechanical tool to craft her own stories and write her true identity into reality.
Situational Irony: The Closing Line (2 Pts)
Key Takeaway: Her family confidently predicts her future fame as a writer, but the ultimate irony is that Alvarez has collected so many fragmented identities (Judy, Jules, Judith, Alcatraz, Hoo-lee-tah) that she doesn't know which name is truly hers to make famous.
5
Model Response
[Claim] In "Names/Nombres," Julia Alvarez utilizes metaphor and situational irony to convey that assimilation pressures immigrants to compromise their authentic sense of self.
[Evidence & Analysis: Device 1] Alvarez uses a physical metaphor when observing that her sister's Spanish name was "so difficult to carry from one country to another," implying that non-Western heritage is treated as an unwieldy burden in American society rather than a celebrated identity.
[Evidence & Analysis: Device 2] This conflict culminates in situational irony when her parents predict her name will become famous, and she reflects, "I laughed to myself, wondering which name I would use." By questioning which alias belongs to her, Alvarez underscores the tragic cost of belonging: in gaining acceptance as "Judy," she risks erasing the Dominican girl who holds the pen.
4 Points: Strong claim naming 2 devices, accurate quotes, insightful analysis of craft, links to identity theme.
3 Points: Identifies 2 devices with evidence; analysis is somewhat general or plot-focused.
2 Points: Identifies only 1 device or lacks textual quotes to support analysis.
1 Point: Plot summary only; does not analyze literary devices or craft.
Grade 9 English Language Arts • Standards RL.9-10.1 & RL.9-10.4 Page 2 of 2 • Answer Key Complete
