Dreaming in Cuban

Lesson 22
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ELA

Unit 5

11th Grade

Lesson 22 of 31

Objective


Analyze the impact of the author’s choice in chronology.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Dreaming in Cuban by Christina Garcia  pp. 161 – 165 — "Celia's Letters: 1950-1955"

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Target Task


In these letters, we learn much about young Lourdes, Felicia, and Javier. Explain the impact of Garcia’s choice to place these letters after we have learned so much about their adult life. 

Key Questions


  • Establish the time line for this set of letters.
  • What does Celia claim about her mother-in-law, Berta, on p. 161?
  • What do we learn about the relationship between Jorge and Javier on p. 162?
  • What is happening in Cuba? Who is Batista?
  • How is the relationship between young Lourdes and Celia similar to the relationship between Lourdes and Pilar? 
  • What do we learn about Javier as a child on p. 164?
  • What has happened to Batista? 

Notes


  • This lesson can be combined with the day before or assigned as homework after the previous day.
  • The written target task can be asked as a writing task or multiple choice. Students should get that it is more tragic to know what they were like as children after learning about their unsuccessful adult lives. The choice creates irony.

Next

Explain how the author develops Lourdes’s character.

Lesson 23
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