Bless Me, Ultima

1. Bless Me, Ultima By Rudolfo Anaya

2. Notes You will need to take notes on the NOTES page in your Study Packet from the PowerPoint Presentation.

3. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: RUDOLFO ANAYA • Born October 30, 1937-Pastura, New Mexico • Taught public school Albuquerque-7 years • Became director of counseling at the University of Mexico-wrote his first, best-known novel-Bless Me, Ultima.

4. RUDOLFO ANAYA • Has taught English and Writing at Yale, University of Michigan, and UCLA • Called the “father of Chicano literature” and “poet of the *barrio” • *(in Spain and countries colonized by Spain) one of the divisions into which a town or city, together with the contiguous rural territory, is divided. • *a part of a large U.S. city, esp. a crowded inner-city area, inhabited chiefly by a Spanish speaking population.

5. RUDOLFO ANAYA • He has written novels, one-act plays, short stories, an epic poem and a children’s story. • Most of his stories center on the lives of Hispanics in the American southwest • Themes focus on growing up and loss of faith.

6. RUDOLFO ANAYA • Intrigued by the oral tradition of Spanish folktales. • He uses the literary approach called “mystical realism”-integration or combination of the mythical and the realistic; placement of naturalistic and supernatural details side by side in a story.

7. LITERARY GENRES • FOLKTALE- • a narrative form, like an epic, legend, myth, fable, etc., that is or had been retold within a culture for generations and is well known through repeated storytelling. • a simple, timeless story that deals with the customs, traditions, and beliefs of ordinary people.

8. PLOT SUMMARY • Set in New Mexico during World War II, this is the story of Antonio Marez’s coming of age. When Antonio is six, Ultima, an old woman who cures with herbs, comes to live with the family. There are those like the murderous Tenorio who consider this old woman and her magic to be evil, but it is Ultima’s love that helps young Tony face his confusion about God, his family, and his future.

9. Mexico’s Catholics • 8.5 million Roman Catholics make up 90% of the country’s population. Of these 85 million Catholics, about 78% have an image of the the Virgin of Guadalupe in their homes, denoting the high esteem they have for the dark-skinned Virgin. • It is said she appeared to Indian peasant Juan Diego almost 500 years ago as the humble woodcutter was walking on a hillside near Mexico City. She told him she wanted a church built there to honor her, but when Diego told the bishop, he was not believed.

10. continued • The Virgin appeared to Juan again and told him to gather roses in his cloak and take them to the bishop. When Diego opened his cloak to give them to the bishop, the cloak had been imprinted with a picture of the Virgin. The bishop recognized the miracle and ordered the first basilica to be built. • Today the cloak can be seen in an elaborately secured, climate controlled display case with 4 moving sidewalks that circulate people by. Millions of the faithful visit the shrine in Mexico City each year to seek favors from the “mother of all Mexicans.” Many crawl the final 100 yards on their knees. The church’s recognition of the brown-skinned Virgin was important in getting Mexican Indians to convert to Christianity.

11. LITERARY GENRE • BILDUNGSROMANS • A novel that deals with the development of a young person from adolescence to maturity; • More often called a “coming-of-age” story.

12. Cultural Heritage of Mexico What do you think you know about Mexican culture? (View video of Mexican culture from United Streaming.) http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=7e2141e0-8f14-4bdf-97a4-4afd12973190&productcode=US&CFID=1127048&CFTOKEN=2ee68b5e6185d42d-0CDA353A-17A4-A9FE-3AB91A6D058370D3

13. Pre-reading Discussion Questions • HOMEWORK: due tomorrow • Answer the questions- pg. 2-4. Pre-reading and Discussion: About Superstition, Dreams, Our Melting Pot, About Elderly Relatives, and About Culture Shock – write some thoughts about the ideas so you can participate in Group Discussion Presentations

14. DISCUSSION GROUPS • Superstition- pink • Dreams- green • Culture Shock- blue • Our Melting Pot- orange • Elderly Relatives- yellow

15. SUPERSTITION 1. What is superstition? 2. What are some common examples? 3. How and why do superstitions arise? 4. Do you believe in any superstitions? 5. Are superstitions part of organized religion (Catholicism, Judaism, etc.)? Explain.

16. DREAMS 1. What are the definitions for "dream"? 2. Do you believe in the power of dreams? Explain for each definition. 3. Do you remember the dreams you had when you wakeup? Why do you think you dreamt what you did? 4. Can "dreams" be a sign? Explain.

17. CULTURE SHOCK 1. What is culture shock? 2. Have you ever experienced or witnessed being "torn between two cultures'? 3. Are any young people in your community confronted by two cultures-the "American" culture at school, and another one at home? 4. What conflicts does this create?

18. OUR MELTING POT 1. Do you think that the U.S. is more of a "melting pot" or a "salad" with respect to its varied ethnic groups? Explain. 2. How are bilingual students treated at this school? 3. Should they be taught in their own language as well as English? 4. Is there a respect for other cultures or is there more often prejudice (our school, our community)? Explain.

19. ELDERLY RELATIVES 1. With which of your elderly relatives do you have the closest relationship? Explain. 2. What have you learned from that person? 3. What sorts of times/experiences do you share? 4. Do you have any elderly relatives living with you? If so, what is that like? If not, do you think your family would invite an elderly relative to live with you if the need arose? How would this change the family dynamics?

20. FOLKTALES • Can you name any folktales you have read or heard? • What elements do many folktales have in common? • What is the language like? • What sorts of dreams do you find in folktales? • What sorts of magic do you find in folktales?

21. Homework • Define Vocabulary #1-20 for Chapters 1-3

22. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE • The author uses numerous types of figurative language throughout the novel. • Keep your eyes and mind alert for • Personification-attributing or giving a “personal” nature or character to inanimate objects or abstract notions • Hyperbole-obvious and intentional exaggeration • Simile- a figure of speech in which two unlike things are explicitly compared, as in “she is like a rose” • Metaphor-something used, or regarded as being used, to represent something else; emblem; symbol, as in“A mighty fortress is our God.”

23. Group discussion • In your groups, go over the 17 Questions and answers for Chapters 1-3. • Any questions needing clarification? Discuss as whole class. • Read Chaps. 4-5 and answer those questions you can on pg. 18. • Make sure you are describing the characters as you meet them (page 9 of the packet). • Complete Vocab. 4-8 for tomorrow.

24. Quick Write- 1- Chap1-3 • The style of writing was described as “mystical realism.” Identify an example that you think illustrates this in Chapters 1-5 (Page #) and tell how it represents this term. • It is said that Lupito had “the war-sickness”. What do you think the people meant by this? Why would he specifically shoot the sheriff? • *Keep w/ packet

25. LITERARY TECHNIQUES • The author makes use of a number of literary techniques in his writing. • Be on the look out for his use of • Contrast-to compare in order to show unlikeness or differences; note the opposite natures, purposes • Allusion- indirect reference • Suspense-a state or condition of mental uncertainty or excitement, as in awaiting a decision or outcome, usually accompanied by a degree of apprehension or anxiety • Foreshadowing-the organization and presentation of events and scenes in a work of fiction or drama so that the reader or observer is prepared to some degree for what occurs later in the work

26. THEMES so far • “People seem to want to hurt each other when they are in a group” was mentioned as a theme in the book. Do you find support for this idea in the first three chapters? Explain. (Page #s) • “Growing up is painful” is another idea presented in this book. Explain how we see this already being addressed. (page #s)

27. LITERARY TECHNIQUES • Chapter 2 is full of similes. Find and directly quote two of them. Explain why each simile is effective. • What does the owl seem to symbolize? How is this different than the version of owls presented in the cuentos (old stories)?

28. LITERARY TECHNIQUES • CONTRAST: striking difference between two things. • An author may use contrasting images or ideas to clarify a situation or to emphasize an idea.

29. CONTRAST • What is the contrast between Rosie’s and the church? (page 34) • Why do you suppose Anaya juxtaposes (puts them next to one another) these descriptions? What is he saying about “good” and “evil”? • What is the contrast between the way he describes Florence (36) and the other boys? Why do you suppose he includes that contrast?

30. CULTURAL DIVERSITY • What are some aspects of the Hispanic culture that you have picked up on in these early chapters? Name and explain two aspects of their culture that have been presented.

31. Quick Write 2- Chap 4-8 A. According to Ultima, how are the Lunas and Marez families different? Be specific in your answer. B. How is Tony feeling as he heads off to school? Details please! *Keep w/ packet

32. CHAPTERS 4-8 • PERSONIFICATION: places, things, animals or ideas are endowed with human qualities. • Page 41 “The river was silent and brooding.” • What is Tony saying about the way he perceives the river? What feeling does this figure of speech create?

33. Quick Write 3 -Mystical Realism • What event in chapter 10 utilizes this Literary Technique? (using the realistic along with the seemingly mystical ideas and beliefs of various faiths) • Be detailed in your explanation.

34. HISPANIC FOLK MEDICINE http://www.elena-curandera.com/Elena-LaCurandera.htm

35. CHAPTERS 9-10 • ALLUSION: a figure of speech that makes a brief reference to a historical or literary figure, event or object. • To what is Tony’s uncle alluding when he says that the Trementina sisters screamed ‘like furies’ when he caught them performing their devilish mass?

36. Furies- from Discovery Education/United Streaming • In Greek mythology, the three avenging deities Tisiphone (the avenger of murder), Megaera (the jealous one), and Alecto (unceasing in anger). In most accounts the Furies are the daughters of Gaea and Uranus; sometimes they are called the daughters of Night. They lived in the world below, from which they ascended to earth to pursue the wicked. These goddesses were hideous to behold; they had writhing snakes for hair, and blood dripped from their eyes. They tormented wrongdoers, pursuing them relentlessly and driving them mad. They were just but merciless and without regard for mitigating circumstances. They punished all offenses against human society such as perjury, violation of the rites of hospitality, and, above all, the murder of blood relatives.

37. CHAPTERS 11-12-Quick Write 4 • FORESHADOWING: a hint or suggestion of something that will happen later in the story. • 1. What do you think is foreshadowed by the statement “there were gay times….before the awful storm that broke our house” (124). 2. How does the context in which this line appears (the paragraph/paragraphs around it) suggest a foreshadowing of some sort? *Keep with Packet

38. CHAPTER 13-14 • HYPERBOLE: exaggeration not intended to be taken literally. Example: I had to wait for an eternity in line at the grocery store! • Hyperbole fun!

39. HYPERBOLE-QW #5Write these “starters” down and complete the sentences! EX: 1. My sister uses so much makeup, she has to use a trowel and sandpaper to remove it each night before bed.  • 2. My teacher is so old...  • 3. My dog is so dumb...  • 4. My parents are so old-fashioned…  • 5. His parents are so strict…  • 6. That car is so beat up…  • 7. The test was so hard… • 8. Winter was so long… • 9. It was so hot… • 10. I have so many clothes…  • 11. My cat is so fat…  • 12. Find one in the book and copy it here with page number. *Keep with packet

40. Group Discussion • Discuss Chapters 13-15 Questions 1-14 • Complete the Hyperbole activity and attach to packet. • When finished read Chapter 16-18 starting on pg. 177 • Vocab. Chp. 19-22 due tomorrow

41. Simile Work- QW #6 • A Simile is a figure of speech in which a similarity between two essentially unlike objects is directly expressed, using words “like” or “as.” • You’re to Create your own similes for the following: • 1. I will never forget those wild eyes • 2. The boy jumped • 3. The volley of shots sounded • 4. When Ultima’s owl took his eye, Tenorio screamed • 5. Narciso and Tenorio fought

42. CHAPTERS 15-18 • Discuss SIMILE- a similarity between two essentially unlike objects is made using like or as. • On page 187 Tony “jumped like a wounded rabbit.” How is Tony like a rabbit? Why is this an appropriate comparison in this section? • Find 3 other similes used in the Chapters. Write them on your Simile QW 6 page and put the page #s next to them. Then, explain why the comparison is made and how/why it is effective.

43. CHAPTERS 19-21 • SUSPENSE: writing that produces tension in the reader. The reader grows curious about what will happen next. • Give examples of how suspense was developed in chapter 20. • Trinity • http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Trinity.html

44. New Mexico • The Jornada del Muerto (Spanish for "single day's journey of the dead man” hence "route of the dead man“) in the New Mexico was the name given by the Spanish conquistadors to a desert basin and the particularly dry 100-mile (160 km) stretch of the route through it leading northward from central New Spain (modern-day Mexico) to the furthest reaches of the colony in northern Nuevo México. This route became El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro. The Jornada del Muerto runs between the San Andres Mountains on the east, with the Caballo Mountains and the Fra Cristóbal Range on the west. The name Jornada del Muerto Volcano refers to a shield volcano and lava field, about 10 by 15 miles (16 by 24 km) in size and reaching an elevation of 5,136 ft (1,565 m), located at the northern end of the desert basin. (Wikipedia- 10 Feb 2010)

46. CHAPTER 22-Quick Write 7 • THEME: the most important idea in a story-the “message.” What characters learn is often a clue to the theme. • The title of the book appears in a line from this chapter (260). • 1. What is the significance of the title and how does it relate to what Tony has learned about life? How would you state the theme as a result of your analysis? • 2. What are your thoughts/reactions about the ending? • 3. What do you think Tony goes on to believe and why? (Justify from information in the book).

47. CHAPTER 22 • Epiphany: a sudden insight about the essential nature of something-a person, a situation, an object; a flash of recognition. • What epiphany does Tony have with respect to the owl? • Do you recall an epiphany in your own life or in another piece of literature you have read?

48. Metaphor Review • A figure of speech in which something is used, or regarded as being used, to represent something else; emblem; symbol, as in “A mighty fortress is our God.” • Create metaphors using the following: • The path was … • Tenorio was … • The owl is … • The river … • The end of the school year …

49. PERSONIFICATION Review • You and a partner are to find 3 examples of personification used in the book. Then, • Writing activity: use each of the following and write a sentence using personification: The river was.. The sky…. The woods.. The wind… The flower… The mirror.. The soccer ball.. The locker… The computer…

50. Literary Terms • Bildungsroman-A novel that deals with the development of a young person from adolescence to maturity; more often called a “coming-of-age” story. • Metaphor- A figure of speech in which something is used, or regarded as being used, to represent something else; emblem; symbol, as in “A mighty fortress is our God.” • Mystical realism-integration or combination of the mythical and the realistic; placement of naturalistic and supernatural details side by side in a story. • Foreshadowing- a hint or suggestion of something that will happen later in the story • Personification- places, things, animals or ideas are endowed with human qualities • Simile- a similarity between two essentially unlike objects is made using like or as. • Imagery-set of mental pictures or images. The use of vivid or figurative language to represent objects, actions, or ideas.