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

Lesson 9
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ELA

Unit 4

9th Grade

Lesson 9 of 28

Objective


Analyze how Alvarez develops ideas about gender roles within Dominican society and how Minerva challenges her role as a woman.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez  pp. 84 – 102 — Chapter 6: Minerva

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Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

What does the conversation between Minerva and her father on page 92 reveal about the gender roles within Dominican society at the time? How does Minerva challenge those roles so far in this chapter? Provide specific evidence from the text and carefully explain your thinking.

Sample Response

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Key Thinking


Close Read Questions

The subtitle of the first part of the chapter is "What do you want, Minerva Mirabal?" How and why does her answer to this change between pages 84–93? Provide specific evidence from the text and carefully explain your thinking.

How does Minvera's relationship with her father change as a result of her discovering his secrets? Provide specific evidence from the text and carefully explain your thinking.

How does Alvarez characterize Trujillo and his regime in the Discovery Day Dance scene? Provide specific evidence from the text and carefully explain your thinking.

Vocabulary


Text-based

seductive

adj.

(p. 96)

tempting and attractive; enticing

pervasive

adj.

(p. 97)

spread throughout so thoroughly as to be seen or felt everywhere

proprietary

adj.

(p. 98)

relating to an owner or ownership

gallantly

adv.

(p. 98)

in a brave or heroic manner

vehemence

n.

(p. 100)

display of strong feeling, passion

Homework


Read Chapter 6, pages 102–117.

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • Before he goes to jail, what does Papá ask Minerva to do?

  • What favor does Minerva ask of Carmen?

  • How does the old man at the National Police Headquarters outsmart the regime?

  • How does his imprisonment change Papá? What do you think causes that change?

  • What happens during the loaded dice game between Trujillo and Minerva?

  • How does Minerva describe the weather at the end of this chapter?

Notes for Teachers

Today's reading depicts family violence when Papá hits Minerva. This reading also references rape and contains depictions of sexual harrassment.

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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
RI.9-10.2
RL.9-10.1
SL.9-10.1
SL.9-10.6
W.9-10.9

Next

Analyze how Alvarez uses symbols and motifs to convey important ideas and show Minerva's character development.

Lesson 10
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Lesson Map

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