49 pages 1 hour read

Dorothy Allison

Two or Three Things I Know for Sure

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1995

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Essay Topics

1.

What are some of the myths about white, working-class identity that Allison describes in the memoir? How does she counter these myths?

2.

Allison’s understanding of bodies evolves from seeing the body (especially a woman’s body) as something to be despised or ignored to seeing it as a source of power and love. What accounts for the shift in her understanding of the body?

3.

Most of the memoir explores how Allison’s relationships with women, especially those in her family, shaped her identity. What does Allison learn about her identity from each of the significant female figures in her life?