Conflict. A conflict is a struggle between two forces in a literary work. A struggle that takes place between a character and some outside force is called an external conflict. A struggle that takes place within a character is called an internal conflict. As you read, identify the external and internal conflicts that Laura, Yoyo, and Carlos experience.
Cliché. A cliché is an overused or unoriginal expression such as old as the hills or slow as molasses.
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“Daughter of Invention” is one of fifteen interconnected stories that form the novel How the García Girls Lost Their Accents (1991), which relates the experiences of four sisters who move to New York City from the Dominican Republic to escape the repressive regime of General Rafael Trujillo, who was dictator from 1930 until his assasination in 1961. “Daughter of Invention” focuses on how the mother, Laura, and her daughter, Yoyo, find their place in the new world of American culture, asserting their independence from the old world of Dominican tradition.
As you read, make a chart. On the left, list the clichés used mistakenly by Laura. On the right, correct them. One example has been done for you.
If you came from another culture, would you try to retain your traditions or assimilate completely into the new culture?
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