Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Esquivel's "Like Water for Chocolate" / "Como agua para chocolate" - DAY ONE

Please answer at least three questions:

JANUARY - APRIL

1. Esquivel presents the text both as a novel and a cook book. Why do you think this is the case? How do the recipes add to the novel? How does the novel add to the recipes? (Or, some related questions – how do food and the story intertwine? Why and how is food so important here?)

2. Do an analysis of Tita (the main character of the novel) – what does she represent within the framework of the novel?

3. Do an analysis of one (or more) of the other characters in the novel: Mama Elena, Rosaura, Gertrudis, Pedro. What do these characters represent? What “archetypes” do you think they fulfill?

4. There is a healthy amount of “magic realism” in this novel. How do these fantastical elements add to some of the main themes, plot points, etc. of the narrative? Why do you think Esquivel adds these elements to the novel?

5. Write about a specific scene in the novel that struck you – analyze this scene (do a “close reading” of it). How do you read this scene? Why do you feel it to be important? What issues / conflicts / themes / etc. does it raise that can help to an overall understanding of the novel?

No comments:

Post a Comment