What is the climax of American history by Judith Ortiz Cofer?

The climax of the story comes when Elena goes to Eugene's house to study. Elena's developed a crush on Eugene, and she sees this as a great opportunity to spend more time with him. Unfortunately, when Eugene's mom answers the door, she makes it clear that Elena will not be let inside the house.

Besides, what is the main conflict in American history by Judith Ortiz Cofer?

The main conflict in the story is that Elena wants to fit in and not she just not able to. The reasons being are that even at home she not able to feel accepted because her parents are barely at home. The girls that her school makes her feel unwanted.

Secondly, what is Elena's greatest personal concern on this day? President Kennedy is assassinated. What is Elena's greatest personal concern on this day? She is concerned about her study date with Eugene at his house.

Similarly one may ask, what is the plot of American history by Judith Ortiz Cofer?

Judith Ortiz Cofer's short story "American History" is a coming-of-age tale set in the early 1960s, when racism and segregation were still in full bloom. The story's fourteen-year-old protagonist, Elena, is a Puerto Rican immigrant living with her family in Paterson, New Jersey, when President John F.

What does Eugene's mom tell Elena at the end of the story?

Toward the end of “American History,” Eugene's mother tells Elena, “I am truly sorry if he told you you could come over. He cannot study with you.

21 Related Question Answers Found

What is the theme of the story American history?

The themes of American History by Judith Ortiz Cofer are cultural isolation and the effects of racism and xenophobia, signified in Elena's difficulty living in Patterson, New Jersey and how the attitudes of people around her affect her feelings about herself and the world.

What is the conflict between Elenita and her mother?

Explanation: Elenita's mother does not care that Elenita is interested in the boy next door, and she is more concerned with protecting her daughter and urging her to protect her "morality" and "virtue". The conflict is caused by Elenita dressing in a way that goes against her mother's values.

How does Elena encounter prejudice in the story?

The ultimate portrayal of prejudice is exactly at the moment she meets Eugene's mother and is turned away for being living in El Building and not being white. When Eugene's mother says to herself "I don't know how you people do it," she seems to be referring to how they live in that building the way they do.

Which two Details from Judith Ortiz Cofer's gravity symbolize the tension between Puerto Rican and American culture?

The two details from Judith Ortiz Cofer's “Gravity” that symbolizes the tension between Puerto Rican and American culture are the Green taffeta dress and the tie-dyed T-shirts and bell-bottoms. Judith Ortiz Cofer was a Puerto Rican writer that moved to New Jersey when his father was in the military.

How do Elena and Eugene know each other?

How do Elena and Eugene know each other? Elena knows Eugene from watching him while sitting on her fire escape. She then meets up with him on the way home from school one day.

Why does Elena say that her tears are just for herself?

In the last scene of the story, why does Elena say that her tears are just for herself? She feels the personal pain much more than the pain of the assassination of JFK. There are inferences that can be made from this story.

What do Elena and Eugene have in common?

Expert Answers info

Elena and Eugene share a love for books, but they also share the same feelings of alienation from society, their families, and their peers. In truth, both are lonely individuals. At school, Elena finds that she doesn't fit in among her school peers.

What does Elena learn in American history?

The personal lesson that Elena learned is that there are different levels of outsiders, and she would be considered beneath Eugene by his own family. For Elena, a personal heartbreak converges with a national crisis. She feels like an outsider, not an American. When she meets Eugene, she sees her chance at happiness.

What is the plot of American history?

"American History" is a short story set in New Jersey in the 1960s. The story's protagonist, Elena, is a Puerto Rican girl who is largely an outcast in her school and has difficulty connecting with others. Other students call her "Skinny Bones" and ridicule her on a daily basis. The story ends with Elena in bed.

How does Eugene's mother react to Elena's visit?

How does Eugene's mother react to Elena's visit? She is cruel and disrespectful. She thinks Elena is nothing but trouble for Eugene. She tells Elena to go away.

What does the Hick and Skinny Bones have in common?

Elena and Eugene are both minorities at Public School No. Another similarity is the kids at school have nicknames for them. Eugene is called a "hick" and Elena is called "Skinny Bones." When they are seen together at school the kids put the two nicknames together and saying "Skinny Bones" and the "Hick" (Line 135).

Who wrote the short story American history?

Judith Ortiz Cofer

How does the narrator first become aware of Eugene?

The narrator first become aware of Eugene when his family sat on the kitchen table and read books for hours. Because he always sat at the kitchen table and read books for hours. Why does the narrator first like Eugene even before she meets him? According to Elena's mother, Elena seems to like starring at Eugene.

What theme best defines the first half of American history?

Answer

Answer.
mbm1000.
The theme that best describes the first half of American History is: "Race, racial ideologies, and race relations",
answers left.
Click to let others know, how helpful is it.

What does Elena enjoy looking at from her window?

Elena likes looking at the yard and the kitchen because they represent peace, family, and having one's own space to call home--unlike an apartment. She would like to have a kitchen table or yard so she can sit and read in a comfortable place rather than the fire escape of a big, ugly building.

What reason does Eugene's mother give Elena for sending her away?

These are the reasons that Eugene's mom gives for not allowing Elena into the house. However, the real reason is likely that she is prejudiced against Elena for being Puerto Rican. She also appears to harbor some social snobbery against Elena and her family for living in the "ugly gray prison" of El Building.

Why does the narrator like Eugene before she meets?

The narrator likes him fit away because he sat down in the kitchen table and read for hours. Why does the narrator like Eugene even before she meets him? Her mother feels that Elena is acting moody and that she is infatuated with him. She meets a boy named Eugene, who she really likes, but his mother does not approve.