Legal Alien/Extranjera legal by Pat Mora

1. Legal Alien/Extranjera legalby Pat Mora Feature Menu Introducing the Poem Literary Focus: Speaker

2. Legal Alien/Extranjera legalby Pat Mora

3. Legal Alien/Extranjera legalIntroducing the Poem Have there been times in your life when you have felt “alien”? What images and feelings come to mind when you hear that word?

4. Legal Alien/Extranjera legalIntroducing the Poem “Legal Alien” explores the feelings of discomfort that come with belonging to two different cultures. Although the speaker functions well in both cultures, she doesn’t really feel at home in either. • The two different versions of this poem—one in English and one in Spanish—emphasize the speaker’s bilingual background. [End of Section]

5. Legal Alien/Extranjera legalLiterary Focus: Speaker Speaker—voice talking to us in a poem. • The speaker is often the poet—but not always. • The poet might speak as someone else—a younger or older person, an animal, or even an inanimate object. • When the speaker is not the poet, the poet has created a persona, or mask.

6. style of speaking speaker’s tone Voice Legal Alien/Extranjera legalLiterary Focus: Speaker Tone—attitude expressed toward the subject or audience. • The speaker’s tone and speaking style combine to create the speaker’s voice. + =

7. Legal Alien/Extranjera legalLiterary Focus: Speaker Whenever you read a poem, listen carefully to the voice. You might hear the somber voice of a grandfather the excited chatter of a little child the serene musings of a redwood tree The speaker’s identity and voice can be important keys to the meaning of a poem.

8. Legal Alien/Extranjera legalLiterary Focus: Speaker As you read “Legal Alien,” ask yourself • Who’s talking to me? • What is his or her attitude toward the subject? • What do the speaker’s identity and voice tell me about the meaning of the poem? [End of Section]