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Ultima
The blog posts listed below are related to Ultima.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Chapter 19/Diecineuve: 217-221
1. Is Tony’s first confession what he thought it would be? How does he feel?
Chapter 20/Veinte: 222-235
2. Why does Tellez come to Tony’s father? After visiting the Tellez family, how does Tony’s father change his mind?
3. How does Ultima take away the evil from the Tellez house? How is her method connected to the Native American world?
4. How is Tenorio connected to the Tellez family?
Chapter 21/Veintiuno: 236-242
5. Why does Cico call the god of the church a jealous god? Is he afraid for the safety of the golden carp?
6. Why do Tony and Cico decide to tell Florence about the golden carp?
7. What happens to Florence before they tell him about the golden carp? Do you think this is a happy outcome for Florence or not?
Chapters 19-21/Diecinueve-Veintiuno
You are Tony. Write a memorial to Florence—a memorial poem, a remembrance in your diary, a speech to give at his funeral, or an obituary for the newspaper. DON’T BE LAME. TONY WOULDN’T BE LAME
Chapter 22/Veintidos: 243-262
8. In his dream, why do you think Tony calls Lupito, Narciso, and Florence his brothers?
9. Where does Tony spend the summer? Do you think this was a good or bad change for him?
10. What do we finally learn about the first Luna priest? How do you think knowing this might help Tony?
11. Describe the final confrontation between Tenorio and Ultima in detail.
12. Do you think Ultima dies because her owl died or from some other cause? Explain your answer.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Chapter 15/Quince: 177-185
1. What was the final outcome of the investigation of Narciso’s murder? Do you think this is just?
2. What do you learn about why Narciso drank and why he felt so loyal to Ultima?
3. Why do the state policemen bring Tony’s brothers home? Are you surprised that they don’t get into trouble?
4. Why doesn’t Tony’s father wait until the wind dies down to fix the windmill? Why don’t his sons go and help him? Why doesn’t he ask for help?
Chapter 16/Dieciseis: 186-189
5. Why does Tenorio continue to threaten Ultima? Do you think that she is behind the illnesses of his daughters?
Chapter 17/Diecisiete: 190-202
6. What does Tony’s father say about the weather on the llano? How does he explain the bad weather?
7. How is Florence different from the other boys? Why doesn’t he believe in God? Does he cause Tony to have doubts?
8. How does Florence’s reasoning about Hell differ from that of the priest? Which do you think is more fair?
9. Describe in detail the fight between Roque and Willie.
10. The priest tells the children how long eternity is. What metaphor does he use to describe it?
Chapter 18/Dieciocho: 203-216
11. Why do Samuel and Tony decide that Florence should see the golden carp?
12. What happens when the boys make Tony pretend to be a priest? Why do the boys turn on Florence? Why are they so cruel to him?
13. Why does Florence go to catechism but not to confession?
Chapters 15-18/Quince-Dieciocho
Tony is hoping to understand some of the most important questions of life. He hopes that taking communion will lead him to a place where he can find them. List 4-5 questions that Tony wants answers to and that have developed during the novel.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Chapter 13/Trece: 136-142
1. Tony’s Uncle Pedro tells Tony that he feels like a coward for nor warning Ultima. Tony’s grandfather didn’t want to become involved in the affair of Ultima and the Trementina sisters. Do you think they were wise or cowardly? Why?
2. List a few of the people who are against the Trementinas after the death of the 1st daughter.
Chapter 14/Catorce: 143-176
3. Why is it that Ultima and Andrew but not Tony’s mother are worried about Tony going to school in the blizzard?
4. Why do the boys have to take the girls’ parts in the Christmas play? What is the result?
5. Give some examples of your favorite parts of the Christmas play.
6. Why do Narciso and Tenorio fight? Why doesn’t Tony help Narciso or run away?
7. What does Tony witness happen to Narciso?
8. Do you think Tony could have done something different to change the outcome?
9. What does Tony do for the dying Narciso?
Chapters 13-14/Trece-Catorce:
Tony experiences many things that are evil in these chapters. List five incidents that happen in these chapters that involve sins and evil.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Chapter 11/Once: 106-121
1. Who is Cico? What secret does Cico share with Tony?
2. What do the boys say about Ultima? What does Cico say about how people act in a group?
3. Why do you suppose no one has ever caught the golden carp?
4. What does Cico tell Tony about the mermaids? Are the mermaids good or evil?
5. What does Cico tell Tony will happen to sinners? What does Ultima tell Tony about what Cico tells him?
Chapter 12/Doce: 122-135
6. Why does Tony’s father drink? Do you feel sorry for him? Why/Why not?
7. How does the death of Tenorio’s daughter put Ultima in danger? Do you think Ultima caused it? Do you think it has anything to do with the dolls in Ultima’s room?
8. What test must Ultima pass? What does “Whether someone had broken the cross they made, or whether it had fallen, I would never know” mean?
Chapters 11-12/Once-Doce
Narciso is the hero in these chapters. In what ways is he a typical heroic figure? In what ways is he not a very heroic figure? (at least 3 examples for each)
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Narciso IS a hero
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Narciso is NOT a hero
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Monday, March 16, 2009
Chapter 9/Nueve: 70-82
1. What conflicting desires are revealed in Tony’s dream?
2. What does Andrew mean when he tells Tony that someday he will beat the Vitamin Kid and someday he will beat everyone?
3. What does Tony remember about 1st grade? Name 3-5 specific events.
4. What is the story of the golden carp? How does this story make Tony feel?
Chapter 10/Diez: 83-105
5. What happens to make Lucas ill?
6. How does Ultima cure him? Why does Tony have to go along to help with the cure?
7. Why is Ultima the only one who can cure Lucas? Why can’t the doctors and priests cure him?
8. Why does Ultima stick a pin into each of three dolls? Do you think Ultima is a witch?
Chapter 9-10/Nueve-Diez
So far Tony has been exposed to three sources of “higher power”—The Catholic Church, the golden carp, Ultima. What conflicts do these three have with one another?
Catholic Church/Golden Carp
Catholic Church/Ultima
Golden Carp/Ultima
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Chapter 4/Cuatro: 39-45
1. What does Antonio do with Ultima?
2. According to Ultima, how are the Luna and Maréz different (moon/ocean)?
3. What is the presence?
Chapter 5/Cinco: 46-50
4. Where does the family go and for what purpose? How does Antonio feel about this experience?
5. How does Tony feel about the Virgin?
Chapter 6/Seis: 51-59
6. How is Tony feeling at the beginning of this chapter? Why? What good and bad things happen to him on this day?
7. Why does Tony wonder “if the power of good and evil [are] the same”?
Chapter 7/Siete: 60-64
8. What conflicts arise when Tony’s brothers come home from the war?
Chapter 8/Ocho: 65-69
9. What do Tony’s brothers decide to do during this chapter?
10. What do Tony’s brothers do to him at the end of this chapter?
Chapters 4-8/Cuatro-Ocho:
“The river was silent and brooding . . .” What does this excerpt from the novel reveal about what Tony feels about the river?
This is an example of personification. Quote five other examples of personification from Chapters 4-8/Cuatro-Ocho.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Chapter 1/Uno: 1-13
1. What is the setting of the story—time and place (list all major towns and states).
2. Who comes to stay with the Maréz y Luna family? Why? Who (hoo) comes with her
3. What do you know about Jason?
4. In Antonio’s dream, the Maréz and Luna families wanted something different from him. What did they want?
Chapter 2/Dos: 14-26
5. What did Lupito do that got him in trouble?
6. What did Antonio witness?
7. Find a passage where Antonio says that he is happy/unhappy with the way things turned out on the bridge. Quote the book and give the page number of your quote.
8. Who tries to stop the men at the bridge?
9. What is Antonio’s dream in chapter 2 about?
Chapter 3/Tres: 27-38
10. Through pages 27-28, Antonio begins to ask a very deep question about life and religion. What does he wonder and what causes him to think about this?
11. What do people whisper about Ultima at church (2 things)?
12. How does Antonio get accepted into the group with the older boys—explain in detail?
Chapters 1-3/Uno-Tres:
Contrast is a striking difference between two things. An author may use contrasting images or ideas to clarify a situation or to emphasize an idea. What is the contrast between Rosie’s and the church on page 34? Why do you suppose Anaya juxtaposes these descriptions? What is he saying about good and evil?
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