Homeless

1
Homeless

• SWIFTTed by Cooper

2
Symbolism

• Picture of a house The photograph that Ana
  carried with her was symbolic of a past life and
  future dream a home. It shows that many
  homeless people simply carry the desire of
  stability and a place to stay and arent all
  mentally ill people who choose to live on the
  streets.
• Ana The homeless woman and her story are
  symbolic of a change in American culture.
  Families used to stay together and grow together
  and now people are more on their own. The author
  uses Ana to illustrate the change in America. She
  writes about the loss of importance of the
  individual, and how we look at problems instead
  of looking at people.

3
Word Choice/Diction

• Reality Inside were curtains, a couch, a
  stove, potholders. You are where you live. She
  was somebody These simple, short sentences, give
  realistic, specific evidence that Ana had had
  some kind of normal existence and was just a
  person down on her luck, instead of some weird
  street person to be ignored. The author creates
  pity for Ana by saying that she was human and
  important.
• Identity - They are not the homeless. They are
  people who have no homes. This choice in
  wording implies that the author thinks that each
  person is worthy of individualism and has a story
  to tell and deserves help, instead of lumping all
  people with a common problem together. The author
  wants each homeless person to have the dignity of
  identity so that problems are personalized and
  have more meaning.

4
Imagery

• Home With aluminum siding and a chain link
  fence, a narrow driveway running up to a once-car
  garage and a patch of backyard. Sight imagery
  showing the specific details of this womans old
  life. The author used images that the reader
  could connect with.
• Home I love dumb things about it the
  hot-water heater, the plastic rack you drain
  dishes in, the roof over my head, which
  occasionally leaks. The author describes her own
  home, which isnt perfect, but has meaning and
  which she is proud of. She shows us how precious
  our homes are and how bad these homeless people
  have it.

5
Figurative Language

• Alliteration adrift, alone, anonymous,
  although p.40, 1st paragraph
• Very little figurative language perhaps because
  this is nonfiction and an essay

6
Tone

• Beginning Sad tone, Anas story
• Middle neutral discussing the issues
• End pedantic (preachy), use powerful language
  to drive home the issue of individuality

7
Theme

• Every person has worth
• Stereotyping is wrong
• Everyone has a goal and a dream
• All people have a story behind their lives