¡Viva Las Mariposas! Voice and Agency in In the Time of the Butterflies

Lesson 17
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ELA

Unit 4

9th Grade

Lesson 17 of 28

Objective


Analyze how Alvarez uses religious imagery and symbolism to develop the reader's understanding of Patria after her family has been arrested.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez  pp. 200 – 226 — Chapter 10: Patria

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Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

What role does Patria's faith play in her life after her family's arrests? Provide specific examples from the text and carefully explain your thinking.

Sample Response

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Key Thinking


Close Read Questions

What do the biblical allusions and religious imagery reveal about Patria? Provide specific evidence from the text and carefully explain your thinking.

Explain the symbolism of Trujillo's portrait in this chapter. Provide specific evidence from the text and carefully explain your thinking.

Patria says, “Once the goat was a bad memory in our past, that would be the real revolution we would have to fight: forgiving each other for what we had all let come to pass” (222). What does she mean by this? How is this idea reflected in this chapter? Provide specific evidence from the text and carefully explain your thinking.

Vocabulary


Text-based

salvation

n.

(p. 207)

deliverance from sin and its consequences, believed by Christians to be brought about by faith in Christ

sacrilege

n.

(p. 207)

violation or misuse of what is regarded as sacred

ingenious

adj.

(p. 210)

clever, original, inventive

wistful

adj.

(p. 211)

having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing

Homework


Read Chapter 11.

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • Where is Mate writing from? Why is she writing this time?

  • Who is Santicló? What kind of guard is he?

  • Why do Mate and Minerva not accept a pardon?

  • What does Mate realize is the cause of her physical illness?

  • What is the rumor going around in the movement?

  • What information do the women learn from the smuggled newspaper clipping? How is this a turning point of the revolution?

  • What does Minerva want Mate to address to the OAS committee? How does Mate respond?

  • How does Mate hide the notes? Why does she decide not to drop the second note?

  • What happened to Mate in La 40?

Annotation Focus

  • How do Minerva and Mate respond to their imprisonment?

Notes for Teachers

This reading contains sexual harassment and innuendos.

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Standards


  • L.9-10.5 — Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
  • 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.
  • RL.9-10.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).
  • RL.9-10.9 — Analyze how an author draws on and transforms source material in a specific work (e.g., how Shakespeare treats a theme or topic from Ovid or the Bible or how a later author draws on a play by Shakespeare).

Supporting Standards

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

Next

Analyze how narrative point of view and structure contribute to the reader's understanding of how Mate's imprisonment affects her.

Lesson 18
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