Making the Ordinary Extraordinary: Magical Realism in Latin American Literature

Lesson 3
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ELA

Unit 4

10th Grade

Lesson 3 of 22

Objective


Analyze how García Márquez uses characterization to convey a theme.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Collected Stories by Gabriel Garcia Marquez  — "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings"

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Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

How do people's attitude towards the old man change over the course of the story, and how does that develop a theme?

Sample Response

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Key Thinking


Close Read Questions

How does the short story exemplify qualities of the magical realism genre?

What is Pelayo and Elisenda's first impression of the old man with wings, and why?

What does the angel's presence reveal about the townspeople? 

What is Elisenda's attitude towards the old man's departure in the final paragraph of the story? How does that contribute to the meaning of the text?

Vocabulary


Text-based

magnanimous

adj.

(p. 218)

very generous or forgiving

reverence

n.

(pp. 218 - 219)

deep respect for someone or something

impertinence

n.

(p. 219)

lack of respect, rudeness

ingenuous

adj.

(pp. 219 - 220)

innocent and unsuspecting

Homework


  • Book: The Stories of Eva Luna by Isabel Allende 

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • Where did Belisa Crepusculario get her name? What does it mean?

  • What does Belisa do for a living?

  • Describe Belisa's upbringing.

  • How did Belisa discover words? 

  • Why does the Colonel seek out Belisa's services?

  • How does Belisa's speech for the Colonel impact his campaign?

  • Why does El Mulato set off to find Belisa again at the end of the story?

  • Describe the final interaction between Belisa and the Colonel. 

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Standards


  • RL.9-10.2 — Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
  • RL.9-10.3 — Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

Supporting Standards

L.9-10.1
L.9-10.6
RL.9-10.1
RL.9-10.6
SL.9-10.1
SL.9-10.6
W.9-10.9.a
W.9-10.10

Next

Analyze how characters and events develop Allende's theme about words/language.

Lesson 4
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