Dreaming in Cuban

Lesson 15
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ELA

Unit 5

11th Grade

Lesson 15 of 31

Objective


Explain how the Cuban revolution impacts the relationship of Felicia and Celia. 

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Dreaming in Cuban by Christina Garcia  pp. 105 – 111 — "The Meaning of Shells (1974)"

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Target Task


Question 1

As presented in the first two pages, being a guerilla soldier is best described as:

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Sample Response

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Question 2

On pp. 106–107, the narrator indicates that Felicia and some of the other guerilla soldiers are:

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Sample Response

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Question 3

How has the Cuban revolution impacted the relationship between Celia and Felicia? Use specific details from this chapter. 

Key Questions


  • How does the author establish setting and narrator on p. 105?
  • How does the opening paragraph set the mood?
  • Why is Felicia fighting with the guerillas?
  • What happened to Ivanito and why on p. 107?
  • How does Felicia feel about the current political climate in Cuba? How does this impact her relationship with Celia?
  • Why are some of the others there?
  • Why does Felicia volunteer to do the night watch on p. 109?
  • Why is poetry significant in Felicia’s language? 
  • What does Celia and Felicia think of El Lider? Why?

Obituary

  • How did an article written by a Mr. Matthews in 1956 portray Castro?
  • What happened in 1957 that caused Americans’ opinions of Castro to change?
  • Why is this section of the obituary called “Man of the Mountains”?
  • What is the relationship between this article and the novel?

Notes


  • Be sure students understand what is meant by “guerilla warfare.”
  • Castro is prominent in this chapter. Use excerpts of his New York Times obituary, especially the section “Man of the Mountains,” which discusses guerilla warfare. If desired, the obituary in its entirety could be read on the previous day of class.

Next

Trace the development of Celia’s internal conflict and how she attempts to solve it. 

Lesson 16
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