ENG2614
Assignment 3
Due 26 August 2025
, ENG2614
Assignment 3
Due 26 August 2025
Stereotypes
I’m tired of the typical questions.
No my dad doesn't mow lawns and yes I have papers.
Nothing I do seems to change the fact
that I’m bound to my skin color because of stereotypes.
“Mexicans are only good for mowing lawns”
Therefore, I am worthless.
I am a forest and stereotypes are the fire;
they burn me away until there is nothing left.
Two responses addressing the themes and literary elements of the poem
Reflection on “Stereotypes” by Paulette Martinez
In “Stereotypes,” Paulette Martinez examines the destructive impact of reductive
labeling on personal identity, particularly for members of marginalized communities. The
poem delivers a compelling message about how stereotypes, often disguised as casual
questions or assumptions, can erode a person’s dignity and sense of self over time.
Theme and Its Development
The central theme of the poem is the gradual erosion of selfhood through the
cumulative effects of stereotypes. Martinez develops this idea through a first-person
narrative in which the speaker recounts intrusive questions such as “What does your
father do?” and “Are you legal?” These inquiries reflect a societal impulse to define
individuals based on ethnicity, class, or immigration status. The tone intensifies as the
Assignment 3
Due 26 August 2025
, ENG2614
Assignment 3
Due 26 August 2025
Stereotypes
I’m tired of the typical questions.
No my dad doesn't mow lawns and yes I have papers.
Nothing I do seems to change the fact
that I’m bound to my skin color because of stereotypes.
“Mexicans are only good for mowing lawns”
Therefore, I am worthless.
I am a forest and stereotypes are the fire;
they burn me away until there is nothing left.
Two responses addressing the themes and literary elements of the poem
Reflection on “Stereotypes” by Paulette Martinez
In “Stereotypes,” Paulette Martinez examines the destructive impact of reductive
labeling on personal identity, particularly for members of marginalized communities. The
poem delivers a compelling message about how stereotypes, often disguised as casual
questions or assumptions, can erode a person’s dignity and sense of self over time.
Theme and Its Development
The central theme of the poem is the gradual erosion of selfhood through the
cumulative effects of stereotypes. Martinez develops this idea through a first-person
narrative in which the speaker recounts intrusive questions such as “What does your
father do?” and “Are you legal?” These inquiries reflect a societal impulse to define
individuals based on ethnicity, class, or immigration status. The tone intensifies as the
