Question

1. Write a four paragraph literary essay in response to the following question. Be sure to include a thesis statement in your introduction, provide textual evidence in the body paragraphs, and end the essay with a strong conclusion. You may use your books and other notes you have during the course for reference. This semester you read several memoirs, including pieces by Ernesto Galarza and Russell Baker. Return to “Barrio Boy” and “No Gumption” now. How are these two memoirs similar? How are they different? In what ways are the authors’ choices and depictions related to the subject matter of their stories?

Answer 1

We can determinate in both stories that definitely the outside conditions can determinate and influenciate the protagonists decisions and the ways they finally choose for the rest of their lives.

Barrio boy and No gumption have a common point: the external conditions are  extremely unfavorable for life development of the main characters: in Galarza´s tale, the family had to emigrate to another country due to violence generated for revolution, and in the case of Baker´s autobiobraphy is the big depression the main reason which his mother searched a job as a newspapers seller.

Even we can find a very clear difference between stories: In Galarza´s story, the main character found a real interest and genuine curiosity about his fate, the fact to constantly traveling and face another cultures; while in Baker´s tale, show us a kid totally unhappy with his job that confirm us an evident lack of interest for the one.

Finally we can highlight that, in barrio boy, constantly travelling and the workers world contact and their daily live give to the author the opportunity to become in an union worker and in that way fell himself identified with their cause; In No gumption the author when he finally found out he is not a good newspapers salesman, not even care to try it to be a good one, find the way to begin to write and finally realized he is a good writer.