Cruz 1 Angeles Cruz Ms. Gardner Honors English 0* 20 Nov 2013 A Blessing Friendship Cone, Temple. ""A Blessing".

" Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 13 Nov. 2013.

In his criticizing article, Cone declares that the poem A Blessing is one of Wrights best known and most moving pieces of poetry. Within his article, Cone discusses the types of literary devices Wright uses after giving a brief summary about the poem. The first type of literary device Wright uses in his poetry piece is epiphany; with this epiphany, Wright ties in a metaphor-- if I stepped out of my body I would break / Into blossom. Cone declares that Wright has creative ways to show loneliness. A Blessing also includes situational irony that demonstrates that A Blessing is not only about love, beauty, and reincarnation, but that it is also about will power, which can hide all the repulsiveness in the world and embrace the beauty all life contains.

Cruz 2 Cone uses specificity to describe the topics and themes of the poem. Seeing literature from a different angle, he sees original ways to demonstrate feelings and emotions that tie into the theme. Wrights poem is related to Bless Me, Ultima because it is based on the themes of loneliness, friendship, and spiritual fulfillment, such as the novel Bless Me, Ultima touches on those themes. _____________________________________________________________________________ Two Sides of the Same Coin Martn-Junquera, Imelda. "Bless Me, ltima." Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.

Martin views the trilogy Anaya has built on Bless Me, Ultima-- each book in the trilogy dealing with the lifestyle Chicanos live growing up after the World War I era. Martin discusses the expectations Antonios parents have for him. In his article, Martin also reviews the change Antonio goes through when Ultima moves into the Marez Luna household- as well as how Ultima impacts his life, in the end, for the best of his future, which he had previously found himself lost in, trying to find what he would become. In the end of

Cruz 3 her analyzing article, Martin discusses the how Antonio finally discovers that he has a head and a tail that make up the same coin-- Antonio does not have to choose whether to live the life of a Marez or a Luna-- he can finally be both.

In his analytical article, Martin uses such language that opens a deeper meaning to the novel itself. Martin is very concise when describing the basic information on the novel that the readers can refer to or overview once again. Using great comparisons, Martin sums up his article comparing Antonio to a coin-- he does not have to chose between his father or mother, he decides to combine both and become a brand new coin. ____________________________________________________________________________ New Thoughts McNeil, Elizabeth. "Bless Me, Ultima." Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.

Within her criticism article, McNeil discusses the extreme popularity Bless Me, Ultima has had, becoming an all time classic. However, McNeil also reviews the controversy there has

Cruz 4 been since the novel came out at the commencement of the Chicano arts movement. McNeil celebrates Anayas way of demonstrating a new side of Chicano heritage throughout his literature pieces. She compares Anaya to Antonio himself-- they both had pressure put upon them to become either a farmer or cowboy; Antonios story is a reflection of Anayas childhood. McNeil also declares that Anayas book has been censored for the certain language that is used in parts of the novel. Although that topic is quite controversial, McNeil claims that Anaya truly masters demonstrating new ways of thinking to all the readers of his novels.

With use of great diction and phrasing, McNeil makes clear, strong points on her thoughts of the novel. McNeil is very profound in her writing and causes the readers to fully understand the topics in the novel. Overall, her criticizing article is very brief, but has enough evaluation on the novel that creates a very clear sense of the novel and gives descriptive details on Anayas writing style and technique. ____________________________________________________________________________ La Familia McNeil, Elizabeth. "family in Bless Me, Ultima." Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 18

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Within her article, McNeil includes the importance of family unity, which is quite difficult to maintain in Antonios family. In the article, McNeil describes the differences between Antonios mother and father and how they both wish for their youngest son to live two completely different lifestyles when he gets older. Antonios mother, Maria Luna, wants her youngest son to become a priest, while Gabriel Marez, Antonios dad, wants his last son to become a vaquero,a cowboy, and live his life on the llano,the plain. McNeil also introduces the search for identity-- Antonio, with his parents different wishes, is found to be lost within himself. Antonio has to find his own identity and become what he truly believes he should be. Lastly, McNeil introduces the internal costs of war, Antonios three older brothers left to fight in the Vietnamese War, but on their arrival, Antonio notices something different and odd about them. They seem to be up in the clouds, they do not seem to know what is going around them, they seem-- lost.

McNeils article on theme provides an insightful analysis on family. Throughout the process

Cruz 6 of her article, McNeil introduces a spin on Anayas themes that overall centralize the importance of la familia. McNeil thoroughly describes the main themes of the novel with insightfulness and ingenuity. With the use of background information, the readers get a clear sense of the novel and they see the deep appreciation Antonio and his family feel towards mother Earth, both the Marez and Luna. At the end of the article, McNeil profoundly explains the coming together of the two family sides, Marez and Luna, and how Antonio finally finds himself and decides to make a change for the good of his valley. ______________________________________________________________________________ The Mysteries of Life Werlock, Abby H. P., ed. "Anaya, Rudolfo." Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.

Werlocks article on Rudolfo Anaya introduces information on Anayas family and his background. In her article, Werlock develops information on Anayas education and career. Werlock also describes all the books Anaya has written since his first novel, Bless Me, Ultima, which ended up an award winning classic.

Werlock uses precise diction when discussing Anayas way of illuminating Chicano heritage

Cruz 7 throughout his literary pieces. Within her article, she writes a brief paragraph about Anaya himself, but with complete thoughts, ultimately gives a significant amount of information on Anayas life. With well established ideas of Anayas books, Werlock tells of his astonishing series of books that do not have much in common, but in a way they are interconnected with one another. With the comparison to other literary pieces, Werlock amplifies Anayas writing and how he seeks for innovative ways to tell his Chicano story, to tell the story of all the others who find themselves voiceless. ______________________________________________________________________________ Finding The Meaning in Mundane Wood, Jamie Martinez. "Anaya, Rudolfo." Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.

Jamie Woods article on Rudolfo Anayas life describes Anayas experiences as he grew into the man he is presently. Woods article discusses how Anaya dispersed the Latino way of life, traditions, and values to others throughout his literature. The article incorporates details about Anayas classic novel, Bless Me, Ultima and includes all the other literary pieces Anaya has written with a brief description of each-- as well as many of the awards Anaya has received for his literature. The article gives information about

Cruz 8 Anayas travels around the world and Anayas belief that, as a storyteller, he must restore harmony and order to his readers with the help of other literature and the his ancestors who define him.

Wood uses descriptive detail to give the readers information on Anayas life experiences. With these details, Wood permits the readers to see the connection between Antonio, the protagonist in Bless Me, Ultima, and Rudolfo Anaya, the author, who had the same family pressure as Antonio to become a vaquero and farmer. Wood, within her article, expresses the inspiration Anaya gives other Latinos to spread Latino culture worldwide. Wood also gives thorough details about Anayas classic novel, Bless Me, Ultima and gives brief, but profound descriptions of all the other pieces of literature Anaya has written. At the end of the article, Wood honestly compares Anaya to his mother, they both have strong roots to their land. Wood also describes Anayas belief for the writing of literature in such a manner that the readers desire to read all of Anayas literature.

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