I.    CRITICAL READING                                                                             20%

     

      A.   Purpose and Main Idea

     

      B.   Structure

     

      C.   Restatement of Information

     

      D.   Genres and their Characteristics

     

      E.   Language and Tone

     

      F.   Grammar and Syntax

     

      G.   Vocabulary in Context

     

      H.   Diction

 

 

II.   Novel: Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya (b. 1937)                 50%

 

      A.   Background of the Author

1.   Biography

2.   Other writing

3.   Contemporary reception

 

      B.   Background of the Novel

1.   New Mexico history and culture

2.   Background of war

3.   Setting

      a)    Eastern plains of New Mexico

      b)   1945–47

 

      C.   Characters

1.   The protagonist, Antonio Márez, six years old

2.   Ultima ("La Grande"), a curandera, lives with the family

3.   Gabriel Márez, Antonio's father

4.   María Luna y Márez, Antonio's mother

5.   León, Andrew, and Eugene Márez, Antonio's brothers

6.   Deborah and Theresa Márez, Antonio's sisters

7.   Tenorio Trementina, accuser of Ultima

8.   Narciso, the town drunk and ally of Antonio and Ultima

9.   Lupito, deranged war veteran

10.  Various school friends of Antonio

11.  Father Byrne, priest who instructs Antonio in the catechism

12.  Luna relatives in El Puerto

 

      D.   Themes

1.   Bildungsroman, development of youthful character

2.   Influence of myth

3.   Conflict of values

4.   Effects of war

5.   Influence of the natural world

6.   Spiritual quest

 

      E.   Style

1.   Magical Realism

2.   Symbolism

3.   Prevalence of dreams

 

 

III.  Shorter Selections                                                                       30%

     

      A.   Sonnets 27 and 28 by Juana Inés de la Cruz (Sor Juana) (1648?–95)

1.   Sor Juana's life and work

2.   Structure of Sonnets 27 and 28

3.   Themes of Sonnets 27 and 28

4.   Literary devices in Sonnets 27 and 28

 

      B.   "The Ruby" by Rubén Darío (1865–1916)

1.   Darío's life and work

2.   Subject matter of "The Ruby"

3.   Contrasts in "The Ruby"—Real vs. artificial rubies, gnomes vs. Puck

4.   Use of figurative language in "The Ruby"

 

      C.   "The Stranger" ("La Extranjera") by Gabriela Mistral (1881–1957)

1.   Mistral's life and work

2.   Themes of Mistral's works

3.   Subject matter and themes of "The Stranger"

 

      D.   "United Fruit Co." by Pablo Neruda (1904–73)

1.   Neruda's life and work

2.   Canto General

3.   Subject matter and themes of "United Fruit Co."

4.   Poetic devices in "United Fruit Co."

 

      E.   "The Switchman" by Juan José Arreola (1918–2001)

1.   Arreola's life and work

2.   Critical reception of Arreola's work

3.   Subject matter of "The Switchman"

4.   Interpretations of "The Switchman"

      a)    Satire

      b)   Theater of the absurd

      c)    Social criticism

     

      F.   "Painting to Survive" by Mario Vargas Llosa (b. 1936)

1.   Vargas Llosa's life and work

2.   Subject matter of "Painting to Survive"

      a)   Frida Kahlo

      b)   Impact of Hayden Herrera?s biography of Kahlo