“Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid

Fun Facts About Jamaica Kincaid Born Elaine Potter Richardson in St. Johns, Antigua in 1949 As the eldest of four, and the only girl, she was apprenticed to a seamstress, then she was plucked from school, where she was excelling, and sent to the U.S. as an au pair at 17 Changed her name to Jamaica Kincaid because her family disapproved of her writing. “Girl” was the first piece of writing she published in the New Yorker in 1978.

“Girl” What is the relationship between the mother and daughter in the story? Look at what they say, how they say it, and why they say it. What contrasts are there between men and women in the story? Why does Kincaid use a lot of repetition in the story? Why does Kincaid leaves the characters nameless? Why do you think the final line is a question? What do you think of the story’s final line?

With your table partners: Look at the rules the mother gives her daughter. Then, determine which rules go together and put them into categories on your own piece of paper. For example, rules on cleanliness, rules regarding social behavior, rules regarding matters of the heart, etc.

Using the categories you came up with your group, brainstorm a list of rules and expectations for a girl or boy in today’s society. Then, write your own version of “Girl” (or “Boy”). Remember , you are giving advice to someone younger than you (or you can take on the perspective of an elder (mother, father, etc.) if you’d like), it should be school appropriate, and that is should structurally mimic Kincaid’s story. *You need five categories and four rules for each of the categories!  Be sure you title the piece Boy or Girl