English 101

write a detailed analysis of the work using the text and one of the schools of literary criticism

1) Reflect on Volar by Judith Ortiz Cofer and discuss the effect of the way Spanish is used both in the title and throughout the story? What might these uses of Spanish add to our understanding of the setting, the characters, and their conflicts?

Submit a written response of at least 250-words in MLA format

This is a link to schools of literary criticism we must use:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/literary_theory_and_schools_of_criticism/index.html

JUDITH ORTIZ COFER “Volar”
(1952–2016)

ANSWER

Volar by Judith Ortiz

Volar by Judith is a story about a girl who tries to fit in a society that her parents believe will influence them. The girl tries hard to fit with people around her despite the challenges she faces. The story shows a girl with a dream that is attached to everything around her life. The girl has a typical American dream which is impossible for her to achieve due to her situation. The girl depicts both Abstract and concrete dreams that are physically seen. The little girl likes reading a book called Super girl which gives her a dream that she would have long blond hair.

In her dream she would see herself transforms into a girl with long breasts, dark skin and hair, hard arms and long legs. However, she cannot be able to change her physical appearance to have the image that she thinks and dreams about. Ideally, the girl is finding herself through the comic books that depicts the type of life she would want and her longing to fit in. The book clearly shows the struggle of immigrants in America to fit in the American style and dream which is only achieved by few. Ideally, the story reveals how people long to escape reality and would like to leave their current place since they are unhappy and encounter insecurities.

Using Spanish has enabled the characters to share common desperation and emotion. Ideally, in Spanish, the term Volar is used to imply to a desire or wish to fly or get away from problems as well as get away from certain individuals. The story has used the Spanish word “Vola” to indicate different yet various ways in which the characters’ want be freed from their desires and inner conflicts. The girl believes she is not beautiful and wishes to transform to what she strongly believes is beauty. Relatively, her father is working extra hard to be financially stable while the mother is home sick. The characters have different desires which are being impacted by external and internal conflicts. Using the Spanish language has enabled the author to keep connection between the characters.