Question Answers Only Daughter
A. Comprehension
Q.1. What does Cisneros mean when she writes that being an only daughter in a family of six sons "explains everything"?
Answer: Cisneros means that her upbringing was significantly shaped by being the only daughter among six sons. This dynamic influenced her personality, experiences, and the way she developed as a person.
Q.2. What distinction does Cisneros make in paragraphs two and three between being "the only daughter" and being "only a daughter"?
Answer: "The only daughter" emphasizes her unique position as the only female child in the family, while "only a daughter" reflects a sense of being undervalued, as if being a daughter is less important than being a son.
Q.3. What advantages does Cisneros see in being "the only daughter"? "In being "only a daughter"?
Answer: Being "the only daughter" allowed Cisneros the solitude needed to develop her imagination and writing skills. Being "only a daughter" meant that her father did not scrutinize her educational choices, as he prioritized her attending college to find a husband rather than focusing on her academic pursuits.
Q.4. Why does her father think she has wasted her education? What is her reaction to his opinion?
Answer: Her father believes she wasted her education because she did not find a husband during her time in college. Cisneros, however, desires her father’s recognition of her accomplishments as a writer, longing for him to proudly acknowledge her as "his only daughter, the writer" rather than simply "a daughter who teaches."
Q.5. Why is her father's reaction to her story the "most wonderful" thing that happened to Cisneros that year?
Answer: Her father's reaction is the most wonderful thing for Cisneros that year because it signifies his pride in her work, which she had always sought. Throughout her life, she had written to gain his approval, so his recognition was deeply meaningful to her.
B. Purpose and Audience
Q.6. Although Cisneros uses many Spanish words in her essay, in most cases she defines or explains these words. What does this decision tell you about her purpose and her audience?
Answer: By using and explaining Spanish words, Cisneros aims to connect with both Mexican-American readers and a broader American audience. This approach allows her to share her cultural background while ensuring that all readers can understand her experience.
Q.7. What is Cisneros' thesis? What incidents and details support this thesis?
Answer: Cisneros' thesis is that being the only girl in a family of six boys meant facing unique challenges. Incidents supporting this thesis include her brothers’ refusal to play with her, which led to her spending time alone, cultivating her imagination, and developing her love for reading and writing.
Q.8. Do you think Cisneros intends to convey a sympathetic or an unsympathetic impression of her father? Explain.
Answer: Cisneros conveys a sympathetic impression of her father, showing that while he holds traditional views about gender roles and education, she respects and seeks his approval. Her essay reflects an understanding of his perspective while also highlighting how she challenges his expectations.
C. Style and Structure
Q.9. Where does Cisneros in "Only Daughter" interrupt a narrative passage to comment on or analyze events? What does this strategy accomplish?
Answer: Cisneros interrupts the narrative to comment on how her father would proudly state that he had seven sons, even though she was one of them. This strategy reveals her feelings of being overlooked or undervalued as a daughter. Despite this, she does not dwell on these feelings, showing her resilience.
Q.10. Are the episodes in this essay presented in chronological order? Explain.
Answer: The essay is not presented in chronological order. Cisneros shifts back and forth in time, sharing various episodes from her life that highlight her relationship with her father and her journey as a writer.
Q.11. What transitional expressions does Cisneros use to introduce new episodes?
Answer: Cisneros uses transitional expressions such as "well," "in a sense," "when," and "last year" to smoothly introduce new episodes and shifts in her narrative.
Q.12. Cisneros quotes her father several times. What do we learn about him from his words?
Answer: From her father’s words, we learn that he adheres to traditional views about gender roles, believing that a woman’s primary role is in the home and that college is mainly a place to find a husband. His comments reflect a generational mindset where women's education is not highly valued.
Q.13. Why does Cisneros devote so much space to describing her father in paragraphs 17-21?
Answer: Cisneros devotes significant space to describing her father in paragraphs 17-21 to convey the deep emotional impact of his eventual recognition of her work. This detailed portrayal helps the reader understand the importance of her father's approval and the significance of his reaction to her writing.
Question AnswersOnly Daughter
Question Answers Only Daughter
A. Comprehension
Q.1. What does Cisneros mean when she writes that being an only daughter in a family of six sons "explains everything"?
Answer: Cisneros means that her upbringing was significantly shaped by being the only daughter among six sons. This dynamic influenced her personality, experiences, and the way she developed as a person.
Q.2. What distinction does Cisneros make in paragraphs two and three between being "the only daughter" and being "only a daughter"?
Answer: "The only daughter" emphasizes her unique position as the only female child in the family, while "only a daughter" reflects a sense of being undervalued, as if being a daughter is less important than being a son.
Q.3. What advantages does Cisneros see in being "the only daughter"? "In being "only a daughter"?
Answer: Being "the only daughter" allowed Cisneros the solitude needed to develop her imagination and writing skills. Being "only a daughter" meant that her father did not scrutinize her educational choices, as he prioritized her attending college to find a husband rather than focusing on her academic pursuits.
Q.4. Why does her father think she has wasted her education? What is her reaction to his opinion?
Answer: Her father believes she wasted her education because she did not find a husband during her time in college. Cisneros, however, desires her father’s recognition of her accomplishments as a writer, longing for him to proudly acknowledge her as "his only daughter, the writer" rather than simply "a daughter who teaches."
Q.5. Why is her father's reaction to her story the "most wonderful" thing that happened to Cisneros that year?
Answer: Her father's reaction is the most wonderful thing for Cisneros that year because it signifies his pride in her work, which she had always sought. Throughout her life, she had written to gain his approval, so his recognition was deeply meaningful to her.
B. Purpose and Audience
Q.6. Although Cisneros uses many Spanish words in her essay, in most cases she defines or explains these words. What does this decision tell you about her purpose and her audience?
Answer: By using and explaining Spanish words, Cisneros aims to connect with both Mexican-American readers and a broader American audience. This approach allows her to share her cultural background while ensuring that all readers can understand her experience.
Q.7. What is Cisneros' thesis? What incidents and details support this thesis?
Answer: Cisneros' thesis is that being the only girl in a family of six boys meant facing unique challenges. Incidents supporting this thesis include her brothers’ refusal to play with her, which led to her spending time alone, cultivating her imagination, and developing her love for reading and writing.
Q.8. Do you think Cisneros intends to convey a sympathetic or an unsympathetic impression of her father? Explain.
Answer: Cisneros conveys a sympathetic impression of her father, showing that while he holds traditional views about gender roles and education, she respects and seeks his approval. Her essay reflects an understanding of his perspective while also highlighting how she challenges his expectations.
C. Style and Structure
Q.9. Where does Cisneros in "Only Daughter" interrupt a narrative passage to comment on or analyze events? What does this strategy accomplish?
Answer: Cisneros interrupts the narrative to comment on how her father would proudly state that he had seven sons, even though she was one of them. This strategy reveals her feelings of being overlooked or undervalued as a daughter. Despite this, she does not dwell on these feelings, showing her resilience.
Q.10. Are the episodes in this essay presented in chronological order? Explain.
Answer: The essay is not presented in chronological order. Cisneros shifts back and forth in time, sharing various episodes from her life that highlight her relationship with her father and her journey as a writer.
Q.11. What transitional expressions does Cisneros use to introduce new episodes?
Answer: Cisneros uses transitional expressions such as "well," "in a sense," "when," and "last year" to smoothly introduce new episodes and shifts in her narrative.
Q.12. Cisneros quotes her father several times. What do we learn about him from his words?
Answer: From her father’s words, we learn that he adheres to traditional views about gender roles, believing that a woman’s primary role is in the home and that college is mainly a place to find a husband. His comments reflect a generational mindset where women's education is not highly valued.
Q.13. Why does Cisneros devote so much space to describing her father in paragraphs 17-21?
Answer: Cisneros devotes significant space to describing her father in paragraphs 17-21 to convey the deep emotional impact of his eventual recognition of her work. This detailed portrayal helps the reader understand the importance of her father's approval and the significance of his reaction to her writing.
A. Comprehension
Q.1. What does Cisneros mean when she writes that being an only daughter in a family of six sons "explains everything" ?
ANSWER : She means that the way she was raised had to do with how many sons and daughters were in the family. This in turn affected the way she turned out as a person
ANSWER : The only daughter just means that she is the only female child, whereas "only a daughter" feels like she is less than she would be if she were a boy.
Q.3. What advantages does Cisneros see in being "the only daughter"? "In being "only a daughter"?
ANSWER : Being "the only daughter" allowed to time to be alone and allowed her time to develop her mind as a writer.
Being "only a daughter" meant that her father wouldn't question her choice of major in college as long as she went.
Q.4. Why does her father think she has wasted her education? What is her reaction to his opinion?
ANSWER : Her father states that she wasted her education because she did not find a husband while she was in college. As it states in the text, she wanted her father to understand what she was writing and for him to introduce her as "His only daughter, the writer." Not as "This is only my daughter, she teaches."
Q.5. Why is her father's reaction to her story the "most wonderful" thing that happened to Cisneros that year?
ANSWER : The reason her father's reaction was the most important thing that happened in her life that year is because all she wanted was for her father to be proud of her for her accomplishments. In the she states that everything she had ever written had been for him and to win his approval.
B.Purpose and Audience :
Q.6. Although Cisneros uses many Spanish words in her essay, in most cases she defines or explains these words. What does this decision tell you about her purpose and her audience?
ANSWER : By using Spanish words within Cisneros' essay. Her purpose is to show case not only to Mexican-American readers, but also by explaining these Spanish words, they also help American readers understand where she comes from.
Q.7. What is Cisneros' thesis? What incidents and details support this thesis?
ANSWER : Cisneros thesis states that being the only girl born in a family of six boys meant that she would have to over come hard obstacles in her life. Some incidents and details that support this thesis is the fact that her brothers would not play or spend time with her as they felt that she was beneath them. This opportunity gave her the time to think, imagine, and read to herself.
Q.8. Do you think Cisneros intends to convey a sympathetic or an unsympathetic Impression of her father? Explain.
ANSWER : Cisneros conveyed a sympathetic impression of her father due to the fact that her father does not believe that a female can be well educated. Her father's thought of college was meant for a girl to find a suitable husband. She proved her father wrong by showing him that the value of education in college is more than just a place to find a suitable husband.
C.Style and Structure :
Q.9. Where does Cisneros in only daughter interrupts a narrative passage to comment on or analyze events what does this strategy accomplish?
ANSWER : She interrupts the passage to comment on the event that her father always said he had 7 sons. She mentioned how proud he was of this statement, even though he had 6 sons and a daughter. She felt like that was a sign of her being erased or being replaced for a boy. She didn't seem to let it bother her too much. She also mentioned how he would say it to anyone, hoping to get at least a tad bit of praise. I think that when he said this, she felt like she was less significant than her brothers and that her dad always preferred them over her comment.
Q.10. Are the episodes in this essay presented in chronological order? Explain.
ANSWER : The essay was not presented in a chronological order. Cisneros would jump back and forth throughout the years to tell small parts of her life story.
Q.11. What transitional expressions does Cisneros use to introduce new episodes?
ANSWER :Cisneros would use words like "well", "in a sense", "when", and "last year" to introduce a new episodes as a way of transitional expressions
Q.12. Cisneros quotes her father several times. What do we learn about him from his words?
ANSWER : We can infer that her father was born in a time where females were only meant to stay home, cook, and clean while the males in the family would work and bring home the money. We can also infer that her father has not been to college or else his thoughts of college would not be to find a suitable husband.
Q.13. Why does Cisneros devote so much space to describing her father in paragraphs 17-21?
ANSWER :Cisneros devoted so much space in describing her father in paragraphs 17-21 to help the reader imagine and understand the emotion that would transpire when her father realize that.
