ANGELA’S ASHESANGELA’S ASHESBYBY

FRANK MCCOURTFRANK MCCOURT

Angela’s AshesAngela’s Ashes Angela’s Ashes is a moving book full of Angela’s Ashes is a moving book full of

poverty, suffering, and death that shows that poverty, suffering, and death that shows that no matter how difficult things seem, the hard no matter how difficult things seem, the hard tines can always be overcome. tines can always be overcome.

Angela and Malachy McCourt, both Irish, Angela and Malachy McCourt, both Irish, were married in America after a passionate were married in America after a passionate night together that ended up producing their night together that ended up producing their first son, Francis(or Frank as introduced to the first son, Francis(or Frank as introduced to the reader). reader).

Later, the couple had another son, twins, and a Later, the couple had another son, twins, and a daughter while living in a small apartment in daughter while living in a small apartment in New York. Margaret soon died and the family New York. Margaret soon died and the family moved to Ireland where their lives were only moved to Ireland where their lives were only worsened. worsened.

Angela’s AshesAngela’s Ashes Angela had two more children that lived, but Angela had two more children that lived, but

the young twins died. Malachy was an the young twins died. Malachy was an alcoholic who rarely held a job and spent his alcoholic who rarely held a job and spent his wages at the pub instead of on his family.wages at the pub instead of on his family.

They were forced to beg for food and other They were forced to beg for food and other necessities because relatives were cruel and necessities because relatives were cruel and selfish. selfish.

This novel tells the tell of young Frank having This novel tells the tell of young Frank having to endure extreme poverty, starvation, and a to endure extreme poverty, starvation, and a broken family with strength and courage.broken family with strength and courage.

He eventually raises enough money to go to He eventually raises enough money to go to AmericaAmerica. .

CharactersCharactersAggieAggie:: Angela's angry sister who looks after the McCourt Angela's angry sister who looks after the McCourt children as a last resort.children as a last resort.Paddy ClohessyPaddy Clohessy:: A very poor friend of young Frank A very poor friend of young Frank Mccourt, his family is in dire need becase his father is dying Mccourt, his family is in dire need becase his father is dying from tuberculosis. from tuberculosis. Theresa CarmodyTheresa Carmody:: A seventeen-year-old girl with A seventeen-year-old girl with tuberculosis with whom the guilt-ridden Frank has his first tuberculosis with whom the guilt-ridden Frank has his first sexual relationship. sexual relationship. DeliaDelia:: Angela's cousin who with her sister Philomenia Angela's cousin who with her sister Philomenia forces Malachy into marrying Angela when she becomes forces Malachy into marrying Angela when she becomes pregnant and arranges for the McCourt's return to Ireland. pregnant and arranges for the McCourt's return to Ireland. Mrs. FinucaneMrs. Finucane:: Employs Frank to write threatening letters Employs Frank to write threatening letters to her creditors. to her creditors. Grandma:Grandma: Angela's angry mother pays for the McCourts to Angela's angry mother pays for the McCourts to return to Ireland and helps them numerous times despite return to Ireland and helps them numerous times despite her angry words. her angry words.

CharactersCharactersBridey HannonBridey Hannon:: The McCourt's Roden Lane neighbor and The McCourt's Roden Lane neighbor and Angela's friend. Angela's friend. Mr. HannonMr. Hannon:: A fatherly neighbor who gives Frank a job A fatherly neighbor who gives Frank a job delivering coal. delivering coal. Laman GriffinLaman Griffin:: Angela's cousin who is cruel to Frank Angela's cousin who is cruel to Frank forcing him to move in with his uncle Ab Sheehan. forcing him to move in with his uncle Ab Sheehan. Patricia MadiganPatricia Madigan:: A patient in the same hospital as Frank. A patient in the same hospital as Frank. She introduces him to Shakespeare before dying of She introduces him to Shakespeare before dying of diphtheria.diphtheria.Alfie McCourtAlfie McCourt:: The protagonist Frank's youngest brother. The protagonist Frank's youngest brother.Angela McCourtAngela McCourt:: The matriarch of the McCourt family, The matriarch of the McCourt family, Angela is a good mother attempting to raise four children in Angela is a good mother attempting to raise four children in spite of abject poverty, an oppressive society and an spite of abject poverty, an oppressive society and an alcoholic husband. alcoholic husband. Eugene McCourtEugene McCourt:: One of Frank's twin brothers who dies in One of Frank's twin brothers who dies in infancy.infancy.

CharactersCharactersFrank McCourt:Frank McCourt: The protagonist and narrator who The protagonist and narrator who after returning from New York to Ireland as a young after returning from New York to Ireland as a young child experiences a life of dire poverty and child experiences a life of dire poverty and ultimately returns to America. ultimately returns to America. Malachy McCourt SrMalachy McCourt Sr.:.: The patriarch of the The patriarch of the McCourt family, Malachy is an alcoholic who McCourt family, Malachy is an alcoholic who remains unemployed most of the time and spends remains unemployed most of the time and spends his salary at the pub when he does have a job to his salary at the pub when he does have a job to the despair of his wife and children. the despair of his wife and children. Malachy McCourt JrMalachy McCourt Jr.:.: Frank's charming younger Frank's charming younger brother. The brothers help each survive in brother. The brothers help each survive in Limerick.Limerick.Michael McCourtMichael McCourt:: Frank's younger brother whom, Frank's younger brother whom, according to Frank, was left by a Angel on the according to Frank, was left by a Angel on the Seventh Step. Seventh Step.

CharactersCharactersOliver McCourtOliver McCourt:: One of Frank's twin One of Frank's twin brothers who dies in infancy. brothers who dies in infancy. Mikey MolloyMikey Molloy:: Frank's older friend who Frank's older friend who suffers from fits and provides Frank with suffers from fits and provides Frank with information regarding sexual matters. information regarding sexual matters. Nora MolloyNora Molloy:: Neighbor and friend who Neighbor and friend who obsessively bakes bread before being obsessively bakes bread before being committed to the Insane Asylum for a rest committed to the Insane Asylum for a rest from her alcoholic husband. from her alcoholic husband. Pa KeatingPa Keating:: Aunt Aggie's gentle, kind and Aunt Aggie's gentle, kind and encouraging husband.encouraging husband.

CharactersCharactersPhilomenaPhilomena:: Angela's cousin who, with her sister Angela's cousin who, with her sister Delia, forces Malachy into marrying Angela when Delia, forces Malachy into marrying Angela when she becomes pregnant and arranges for the she becomes pregnant and arranges for the McCourt's return to Ireland. McCourt's return to Ireland. Seamus:Seamus: The kind-hearted hospital worker who The kind-hearted hospital worker who memorizes poetry for Frank and helps him memorizes poetry for Frank and helps him communicate with Patriciacommunicate with PatriciaAb SheehanAb Sheehan:: Angela's mentally deficient brother Angela's mentally deficient brother who is cruel to Frank when he helps him deliver his who is cruel to Frank when he helps him deliver his newspapers. Frank calls him Uncle Pat.newspapers. Frank calls him Uncle Pat.Mr. TimoneyMr. Timoney:: An old man to whom Frank reads An old man to whom Frank reads literature. He treats him as an adult and literature. He treats him as an adult and encourages him to pursue his studies. encourages him to pursue his studies.

ElementsElementsPremisePremise:: Based on Frank McCourt's best-selling Based on Frank McCourt's best-selling autobiography, autobiography, Angela's AshesAngela's Ashes presents the dismal presents the dismal and rain-drenched story of a poor Irish-Catholic and rain-drenched story of a poor Irish-Catholic family living in Limerick, Ireland, during the '30s and family living in Limerick, Ireland, during the '30s and '40s. Tragedy after tragedy haunts their every '40s. Tragedy after tragedy haunts their every waking moment as disease, death, alcoholism, waking moment as disease, death, alcoholism, prejudice and poverty wedge them into an prejudice and poverty wedge them into an outrageously cruel existence. A grown-up Frank outrageously cruel existence. A grown-up Frank narrates his childhood experiences and his narrates his childhood experiences and his desperate quest to leave Ireland for the golden desperate quest to leave Ireland for the golden shores of America.shores of America.

ElementsElementsPositive ElementsPositive Elements:: As a history lesson, As a history lesson, AshesAshes can can serve as a reminder to those prone to self-serve as a reminder to those prone to self-indulgence that life doesn't owe them anything. The indulgence that life doesn't owe them anything. The flip of a coin, the change of a decade, or a trip flip of a coin, the change of a decade, or a trip across the ocean and one might find everything across the ocean and one might find everything stripped away. The creature comforts, even the stripped away. The creature comforts, even the bare necessities of life. Despite being forced into a bare necessities of life. Despite being forced into a life of extreme poverty and desperation by her life of extreme poverty and desperation by her drunk and deadbeat husband, Angela devotes her drunk and deadbeat husband, Angela devotes her life to keeping her children fed and clothed. Her life to keeping her children fed and clothed. Her maternal love knows no bounds and no obstacle maternal love knows no bounds and no obstacle too big. too big.

ElementsElementsSpiritual ContentSpiritual Content:: Catholicism is frequently depicted through Catholicism is frequently depicted through the youthful and disillusioned eyes of Frank. He is rudely the youthful and disillusioned eyes of Frank. He is rudely denied the privilege of being an altar boy because he is poor denied the privilege of being an altar boy because he is poor and "from the North." When his teachers see that he is a and "from the North." When his teachers see that he is a bright boy and deserves the chance to go on to higher bright boy and deserves the chance to go on to higher education, the Christian brothers in charge flatly deny him that education, the Christian brothers in charge flatly deny him that chance, for the same reasons.chance, for the same reasons.

After his first communion and communion breakfast, Frank After his first communion and communion breakfast, Frank becomes sick and throws up. His horrified grandmother becomes sick and throws up. His horrified grandmother shrieks at him, appalled that he has "thrown up the body and shrieks at him, appalled that he has "thrown up the body and blood of Jesus." Convinced that "the body of God is in the blood of Jesus." Convinced that "the body of God is in the backyard" where Frank threw up, she sends him to confession backyard" where Frank threw up, she sends him to confession to ask the priest what to do. A school teacher uses Jesus' own to ask the priest what to do. A school teacher uses Jesus' own lack of material possessions to reprimand Frank's classmates lack of material possessions to reprimand Frank's classmates for laughing at his old and repaired shoes. for laughing at his old and repaired shoes.

ElementsElementsNudity and Sexual ContentNudity and Sexual Content:: Frank and his Frank and his young pals climb up a trellis to spy on naked young pals climb up a trellis to spy on naked girls (the women's breasts are shown). The girls (the women's breasts are shown). The boys talk about female body parts, and Frank boys talk about female body parts, and Frank briefly contemplates bestiality after a priest briefly contemplates bestiality after a priest asks him if he is committing that particular sin. asks him if he is committing that particular sin. Later, the boys are pictured standing together Later, the boys are pictured standing together in a field, masturbating (their bare backsides in a field, masturbating (their bare backsides are shown). When Frank is fifteen years old, are shown). When Frank is fifteen years old, he succumbs to a sexual relationship with a he succumbs to a sexual relationship with a girl. girl.

ElementsElementsDrug and Alcohol ContentDrug and Alcohol Content:: Frank's father, Malachy, Frank's father, Malachy, suffers from a severe case of pride mixed with suffers from a severe case of pride mixed with alcoholism. He is repeatedly shown falling-down alcoholism. He is repeatedly shown falling-down drunk. He drinks up every wage he ever earns, along drunk. He drinks up every wage he ever earns, along with gift money for a new baby. He can't keep a job with gift money for a new baby. He can't keep a job for longer than a few weeks because he becomes too for longer than a few weeks because he becomes too drunk to work once the paychecks arrive. Malachy drunk to work once the paychecks arrive. Malachy and Angela also smoke frequently. When Frank turns and Angela also smoke frequently. When Frank turns 16, his uncle takes him to a pub for his first "pint." 16, his uncle takes him to a pub for his first "pint." Frank stumbles home, just like his father, slaps his Frank stumbles home, just like his father, slaps his mother across the face and calls her a slut before mother across the face and calls her a slut before collapsing. Alcohol is never glorified here. Its evil collapsing. Alcohol is never glorified here. Its evil effects are felt too deeply for that. Yet, it is tolerated effects are felt too deeply for that. Yet, it is tolerated and even embraced from a cultural and social and even embraced from a cultural and social perspective despite its obvious dangers.perspective despite its obvious dangers.

ElementsElementsOther Negative ContentOther Negative Content:: Frank's obsessive Frank's obsessive quest to flee to America prompts him to steal quest to flee to America prompts him to steal money from a dead employer to finance his money from a dead employer to finance his journey. When he curses at, slaps and reviles journey. When he curses at, slaps and reviles his mother, he goes to confession, but never his mother, he goes to confession, but never apologizes to apologizes to herher. The concept of morality . The concept of morality seems to remain foreign to him, despite his seems to remain foreign to him, despite his immersion in the Catholic faith. immersion in the Catholic faith.

  

Frank McCourt BiographyPulitzer Prize for BiographyFrank McCourt Date of birth: August 19, 1931

Frank McCourt was born in 1930 in Brooklyn, New York, to Irish immigrant parents, grew up in Limerick, Ireland, and at the age of nineteen, returned to the United States. Surviving initially through a string of casual jobs, spending every spare minute reading books from the public library, Frank began a process of self-education and improvement that led, eventually, to a career as a high-school teacher.

For twenty-seven years he taught in various New York City public schools, the last seventeen of which were spent at Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan.

Frank McCourt

January 24, 2006

After retiring from teaching, Frank and his brother Malachy performed a two-man show titled "A Couple of Blackguards," a musical review about their Irish youth. Then, in his sixties, Frank McCourt sat down and began writing about his past. The tales of his childhood that he had told many times to his classes at school and in the bars of New York soon took shape as the highly acclaimed memoir that is Angelas Ashes(1999). Published initially in the United States, it went straight into the bestseller lists and then crossed the Atlantic to take the bookshops by storm in Ireland, in the rest of Europe, and around the world.

Angela's Ashes went on to win, in the US alone, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award and the LA Times Award His second book, about his life in the US after he moved from Ireland, is called "'Tis." Frank McCourt lives with his wife Ellen in New York City and Connecticut.

THE COLOR PURPLETHE COLOR PURPLEBYBY

ALICE WALKERALICE WALKER

The Color PurpleThe Color PurpleThe Color Purple is about the The Color Purple is about the life of Celie, a black woman life of Celie, a black woman

growing up in the South. She growing up in the South. She must overcome mysogyny, must overcome mysogyny,

racism and poverty to racism and poverty to establish herself as an establish herself as an

independent person. The independent person. The novel also follows the novel also follows the

maturation of her sister maturation of her sister Nettie and the lives of Shug, Nettie and the lives of Shug,

Albert, and much of his Albert, and much of his extended family. extended family.

The Color PurpleThe Color Purple

Celie is raped by the man she thinks is her Celie is raped by the man she thinks is her father when she is only fourteen years old. father when she is only fourteen years old. She bears two children as a result, both of She bears two children as a result, both of whom are taken by "Pa" and given to a whom are taken by "Pa" and given to a Reverend in the town. After Celie's mother Reverend in the town. After Celie's mother dies, Pa marries her off to a man she only dies, Pa marries her off to a man she only calls Mr. ______. calls Mr. ______.

The Color PurpleThe Color Purple

Celie's life with Mr. ______ is miserable Celie's life with Mr. ______ is miserable because she must raise his children from because she must raise his children from a previous marriage. At the same time he a previous marriage. At the same time he despises her and beats her for no reason. despises her and beats her for no reason. Celie's life improves after her sister Nettie Celie's life improves after her sister Nettie runs away from home and comes to live runs away from home and comes to live with her, but Mr. ______ makes Nettie with her, but Mr. ______ makes Nettie leave after a few weeks. leave after a few weeks.

The Color PurpleThe Color Purple

Nettie goes into the town and meets the Nettie goes into the town and meets the Reverend who is raising both of Celie's Reverend who is raising both of Celie's children. She gets a job as a maid with the children. She gets a job as a maid with the family. The Reverend, called Samuel, and family. The Reverend, called Samuel, and his wife Corrine are both missionaries his wife Corrine are both missionaries preparing to go to Africa. After one of their preparing to go to Africa. After one of their partner missionaries refuses to go, they partner missionaries refuses to go, they both offer Nettie the woman's position. both offer Nettie the woman's position. Nettie leaves for Africa with the family and Nettie leaves for Africa with the family and the children, Adam and Olivia. the children, Adam and Olivia.

The Color PurpleThe Color Purple

Celie watches as Harpo, Mr. ______'s Celie watches as Harpo, Mr. ______'s eldest son, gets a young girl named eldest son, gets a young girl named Sophia pregnant and then marries her. Sophia pregnant and then marries her. Harpo tries to dominate Sophia the way Harpo tries to dominate Sophia the way his father dominates Celie, but she is his father dominates Celie, but she is stronger and fights him back. Eventually stronger and fights him back. Eventually Sophia gets fed up with Harpo and leaves Sophia gets fed up with Harpo and leaves him to go live with her sister Odessa. him to go live with her sister Odessa.

The Color PurpleThe Color Purple

Mr. ______ finds out that his mistress of Mr. ______ finds out that his mistress of many years, Shug Avery, is ill. He drives many years, Shug Avery, is ill. He drives off and brings her home where he makes off and brings her home where he makes Celie take care of her. Celie is happy to do Celie take care of her. Celie is happy to do so, because she immediately falls in love so, because she immediately falls in love with Shug when she sees her. Shug is ill-with Shug when she sees her. Shug is ill-tempered and nasty to Celie at first, but tempered and nasty to Celie at first, but soon starts to like her. soon starts to like her.

The Color PurpleThe Color Purple

Harpo converts his house into a jukejoint Harpo converts his house into a jukejoint after Sophia leaves, but no one will come. after Sophia leaves, but no one will come. He finally asks Shug, who is a singer, if He finally asks Shug, who is a singer, if she would be willing to sing at his place. she would be willing to sing at his place. She agrees and the first night she draws a She agrees and the first night she draws a large crowd. Shug also insists that Celie large crowd. Shug also insists that Celie be allowed to come and sings a song be allowed to come and sings a song dedicated to Celie. dedicated to Celie.

The Color PurpleThe Color PurpleWhen Shug finds out that Mr. When Shug finds out that Mr. ______ is beating Celie, she ______ is beating Celie, she forces him to stop. At the same forces him to stop. At the same time, she learns that Celie does time, she learns that Celie does not enjoy sex with Mr. ______ at not enjoy sex with Mr. ______ at all. Shug tries to teach Celie all. Shug tries to teach Celie about the pleasures of sex, but about the pleasures of sex, but soon realizes that Celie is only soon realizes that Celie is only attracted to women. Shug then attracted to women. Shug then arranges things so that she is arranges things so that she is able to sleep with Celie one able to sleep with Celie one night. night.

The Color PurpleThe Color Purple Shug returns with a husband named Shug returns with a husband named

Grady and they stay for a while. Shug Grady and they stay for a while. Shug soon discovers that Mr. ______ has soon discovers that Mr. ______ has been taking letters from Celie's sister been taking letters from Celie's sister Nettie and hiding them from her. Nettie and hiding them from her. When Celie finds out she is mad When Celie finds out she is mad enough to try and kill Mr. ______, but enough to try and kill Mr. ______, but Shug prevents her. Together they find Shug prevents her. Together they find all of the letters and start to read all of the letters and start to read them. them.

The Color PurpleThe Color Purple Nettie goes to Africa with the family and Nettie goes to Africa with the family and

they set up their mission in a small village they set up their mission in a small village where the Olinka people live. The natives where the Olinka people live. The natives view Nettie as a second wife of Samuel, view Nettie as a second wife of Samuel, which makes Corrine very jealous. Soon which makes Corrine very jealous. Soon she stops Nettie from meeting with she stops Nettie from meeting with Samuel in private or from borrowing her Samuel in private or from borrowing her clothing. After a few years, Corrine comes clothing. After a few years, Corrine comes down with a fever and passes away after down with a fever and passes away after learning the truth about Nettie and her learning the truth about Nettie and her adopted children. adopted children.

The Color PurpleThe Color Purple Adam and Olivia have become very good friends Adam and Olivia have become very good friends

with a young Olinka girl named Tashi. Tashi with a young Olinka girl named Tashi. Tashi decides that she must undergo the ritual decides that she must undergo the ritual scarification ceremony on her face and also the scarification ceremony on her face and also the female circumcision in order to remember her female circumcision in order to remember her tribal roots. However, she is so ashamed of the tribal roots. However, she is so ashamed of the marks that she soon leaves to join the mbeles. marks that she soon leaves to join the mbeles. Adam goes after her and fetches her home Adam goes after her and fetches her home again, but she refuses to marry him because she again, but she refuses to marry him because she is afraid she will not be accepted in the United is afraid she will not be accepted in the United States. Adam then gets his face marked as well States. Adam then gets his face marked as well so that they look alike, at which point they get so that they look alike, at which point they get married. The whole family then makes plans to married. The whole family then makes plans to return home. return home.

The Color PurpleThe Color Purple After finding her sister's letters, Celie After finding her sister's letters, Celie

decides to leave home with Shug. She tells decides to leave home with Shug. She tells Mr. ______ she is leaving and jams his Mr. ______ she is leaving and jams his hand with a fork when he tries to hit her. hand with a fork when he tries to hit her. Before she leaves, she curses him for the Before she leaves, she curses him for the way he has treated her and tells him he is way he has treated her and tells him he is cursed until he does right by her. In cursed until he does right by her. In response he refuses to send her any of response he refuses to send her any of Nettie's letters as they keep arriving. Nettie's letters as they keep arriving.

The Color PurpleThe Color Purple Celie goes to Memphis with Shug where she Celie goes to Memphis with Shug where she

starts making lots of pants. Eventually she gets starts making lots of pants. Eventually she gets so good at designing pants that people from all so good at designing pants that people from all over start to order from her. Shug helps Celie over start to order from her. Shug helps Celie turn the work into a business. Soon thereafter turn the work into a business. Soon thereafter Celie learns that "Pa" is really not her father but Celie learns that "Pa" is really not her father but an imposter who married her mother after her an imposter who married her mother after her real father died. Pa's real name is Alphonso. After real father died. Pa's real name is Alphonso. After he dies Celie receives a phone call telling her he dies Celie receives a phone call telling her that the house actually belongs to her and Nettie. that the house actually belongs to her and Nettie. She immediately returns home. She immediately returns home.

The Color PurpleThe Color Purple Celie fixes up her new house while Shug Celie fixes up her new house while Shug

takes off with a nineteen year old flute takes off with a nineteen year old flute player for a tryst around the country. Celie player for a tryst around the country. Celie is heart-broken but she discovers that Mr. is heart-broken but she discovers that Mr. ______, now called Albert, has finally made ______, now called Albert, has finally made something of his life. After Celie left he something of his life. After Celie left he almost died of malnurishment and only almost died of malnurishment and only started to recover after Harpo made him started to recover after Harpo made him mail Celie the last of Nettie's letters. Albert mail Celie the last of Nettie's letters. Albert asks Celie for forgiveness and they soon asks Celie for forgiveness and they soon become good friends. become good friends.

The Color PurpleThe Color Purple

Shug returns and decides to retire. Shug returns and decides to retire. Her flute player ends up going to Her flute player ends up going to college and Shug has gotten old and college and Shug has gotten old and needs to relax. Celie is now quite needs to relax. Celie is now quite wealthy because she also inherited a wealthy because she also inherited a dry goods store. She gives Sophia a dry goods store. She gives Sophia a job there and keeps running her pant job there and keeps running her pant business as well. business as well.

The Color PurpleThe Color Purple Nettie finally returns home Nettie finally returns home

with Samuel, whom she with Samuel, whom she has married. Their children has married. Their children are with them, so Celie are with them, so Celie gets to see her real gets to see her real children now that they are children now that they are all grown up. She and all grown up. She and Nettie fall into each other's Nettie fall into each other's arms and lie on the ground arms and lie on the ground hugging. Celie comments hugging. Celie comments that she has never felt so that she has never felt so young before in her life. young before in her life.

Alice WalkerAlice Walker

·· 1952:  At the age of eight, Alice is accidentally blinded by one   At the age of eight, Alice is accidentally blinded by one of her brothers while playing a game of "Cowboys and Indians."of her brothers while playing a game of "Cowboys and Indians."

·· 1952-58:   Alice is ostracized as an outcast because of her   Alice is ostracized as an outcast because of her scar. To deal with her feelings of loneliness, Alice begins to scar. To deal with her feelings of loneliness, Alice begins to read and write poetry.read and write poetry.

·· 1958:   At the age of fourteen, while visiting her brother Bill in   At the age of fourteen, while visiting her brother Bill in Boston, Alice is taken to a hospital to have the cataract in her Boston, Alice is taken to a hospital to have the cataract in her eye removed. eye removed. She becomes confident and her life is She becomes confident and her life is transformed. transformed.

·· 1944:  February 9, Alice Malsenior Walker is born   February 9, Alice Malsenior Walker is born to sharecroppers, Willie Lee and Minnie Tallulah to sharecroppers, Willie Lee and Minnie Tallulah  (Lou)  Grant Walker in the farming community of  (Lou)  Grant Walker in the farming community of Eatonton, GA.Eatonton, GA.

Alice WalkerAlice Walker·· 1960:  Alice graduates as valedictorian from her high school class.   Alice graduates as valedictorian from her high school class. She is voted most popular student of her graduating class and is She is voted most popular student of her graduating class and is elected queen of the prom.elected queen of the prom.·· 1961:  Alice Walker is awarded a scholarship to attend the historical   Alice Walker is awarded a scholarship to attend the historical African-American woman's institution, Spelman College.African-American woman's institution, Spelman College.

·· 1965:  In the winter, during her last few months of school, Alice   In the winter, during her last few months of school, Alice learns that she is pregnant. For three days Alice sleeps with a razor learns that she is pregnant. For three days Alice sleeps with a razor blade underneath her pillow and contemplates suicide. A friend of hers blade underneath her pillow and contemplates suicide. A friend of hers locates a doctor to help Alice get an abortion.locates a doctor to help Alice get an abortion.

·· 1965:  After the abortion, Alice suffers from anxiety and depression.   After the abortion, Alice suffers from anxiety and depression. She writes poems based on her experiences which she submits to her She writes poems based on her experiences which she submits to her writing teacher and mentor Muriel Rukeyser. Her professor submits writing teacher and mentor Muriel Rukeyser. Her professor submits them to her agent for review. These poems will become the basis of them to her agent for review. These poems will become the basis of Alice's first book of poetry, Alice's first book of poetry, OnceOnce,, which will not be published until which will not be published until three years later.three years later.

Alice WalkerAlice Walker·· 1967:  Alice falls in love with Melvyn Rosenman Leventhal who she 1967:  Alice falls in love with Melvyn Rosenman Leventhal who she marries on March 17, 1967. He later becomes an attorney who marries on March 17, 1967. He later becomes an attorney who prosecutes civil rights cases in court. They move to Mississippi in prosecutes civil rights cases in court. They move to Mississippi in becoming the state's first legally married interracial couple in history.becoming the state's first legally married interracial couple in history.

·· 1967:  Alice Walker publishes her first short story, 1967:  Alice Walker publishes her first short story, "To Hell with "To Hell with Dying,"Dying," based in reaction to her depression. based in reaction to her depression.

·· 1969:  Alice's work in Georgia helps her to see the effect poverty on 1969:  Alice's work in Georgia helps her to see the effect poverty on relationships between black men and women.relationships between black men and women.

·· 1976:  She and her husband Mel Leventhal divorce amicably. 1976:  She and her husband Mel Leventhal divorce amicably.

Alice WalkerAlice Walker·· 1982: Alice Walker's third Novel 1982: Alice Walker's third Novel The Color The Color PurplePurple is published and is nominated for a is published and is nominated for a National Book Award.National Book Award.

·· 1982: Alice Walker becomes a professor at 1982: Alice Walker becomes a professor at University of California duirng the Spring and University of California duirng the Spring and Bradeis University during the Fall.Bradeis University during the Fall.

·· 1986: 1986:  The Color Purple  The Color Purple premieres on January premieres on January 18 in her hometown of Eatonton, GA18 in her hometown of Eatonton, GA