Latin American Magic Realist Voices

Cuba's relations with the ___ and ___ influenced not only Cuba's foreign policy but also the feelings of Cuban writers.

Soviet Union United States

What is the advantage of reading from three different perspectives in Cristina Garcia's Dreaming in Cuban? It breaks up the narrative and prevents the plot line from becoming bogged down in one particular place or time. It allows the writer to experiment with a variety of different writing styles, as every speaker sounds distinctively different. The different perspectives underscore the larger idea that immigrants or exiles must shed their native traditions. It provides the reader with multiple perspectives on the Cuban Revolution and on the differences between life in Cuba and exile in the US.

It provides the reader with multiple perspectives on the Cuban Revolution and on the differences between life in Cuba and exile in the US.

Think about how a person your age, a person born thirty years before you, and a person born sixty years before you would tell the same story. Choose elements you think would be the same. Check all of the boxes that you agree with. the basic plot descriptions of people descriptions of locations the central idea of the story

select all

Highlight evidence of magic realism. At the far end of the sky, where daylight begins, a dense radiance like a shooting star breaks forth. It weakens as it advances, as its outline takes shape in the ether. Her husband emerges from the light and comes toward her, taller than the palms, walking on water in his white summer suit and Panama hat. He is in no hurry. Celia half expects him to pull pink tea roses from behind his back as he used to when he returned from his trips to distant provinces. —Dreaming in Cuban, Cristina García

Her husband emerges from the light and comes toward her, taller than the palms, walking on water in his white summer suit and Panama hat

Which best describes why Cristina Garcia chose a multi-narrative structure for Dreaming in Cuban? to illustrate that immigrants must choose one cultural identity over another to illustrate that there is not just one single Cuban identity to illustrate that the Cuban Revolution has not affected the younger generation to illustrate that people always value their own cultural identity most

Which best describes why Cristina Garcia chose a multi-narrative structure for Dreaming in Cuban? to illustrate that there is not just one single Cuban identity

Draya is a student who does not understand the following sentence from Dreaming in Cuban. She reads the newspapers page by page for leftist conspiracies, jams her finger against imagined evidence and says, "See. What did I tell you?" Which strategy would best assist Draya in making the excerpt easier to understand? relating the sentence to personal experience slowing down and rereading the passage reading the sentence out loud to herself relating the sentence to the previous segment

relating the sentence to the previous segment

Students who have read a section of a text and do not understand it should keep reading until the end of the story, when things will become clear. ask themselves when comprehension was lost. begin to copy any remaining text into their notes. push themselves to read faster in order to finish early and review.

ask themselves when comprehension was lost.

EXAM 100% Read the excerpt from Cristina Garcia's Dreaming in Cuban. My mother says that Abuela Celia's had plenty of chances to leave Cuba but that she's stubborn and got her head turned around by El Líder. Mom says "Communist" the way some people says "cancer," low and fierce. Which element from this excerpt best characterizes Garcia's story as one of magic realism? linking the words "communist" and "cancer" presenting the idea of leaving Cuba as an extraordinary event using El Líder as an additional narrator from Cuba connecting Celia with Latin American history

connecting Celia with Latin American history

The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 almost resulted in .

nuclear war

Use the information from the timeline to complete the statements below. In 1952 and 1959, Cubans were affected by a change in .

president

Compare your highlighting to the model. I highlighted [the same part] of the passage.

the same part

Celia is honored. The neighborhood committee has voted her little brick-and-cement house by the sea as the primary lookout for Santa Teresa del Mar. From her porch, Celia could spot another Bay of Pigs invasion before it happened. She would be feted at the palace, serenaded by a brass orchestra, seduced by El Líder himself on a red velvet divan. . . . . My mother says that Abuela Celia's had plenty of chances to leave Cuba but that she's stubborn and got her head turned around by El Líder. Mom says "Communist" the way some people says "cancer," low and fierce. She reads the newspapers page by page for leftist conspiracies, jams her finger against imagined evidence and says, "See. What did I tell you? . . . . They're dangerous subversives, red to the bone!" —Dreaming in Cuban,Cristina García What are the political opinions of Celia and her daughter Lourdes? Celia does not support Fidel Castro, but Lourdes does. Lourdes does not support Fidel Castro, and Celia supports him only on some issues. Celia and Lourdes have very different opinions about Cuban politics. Celia and Lourdes strongly agree about Cuban politics.

Celia and Lourdes have very different opinions about Cuban politics.

Q: As a daughter of Cuban exiles, you grew up with two very distinct cultures. What advice do you have for children or parents caught between two cultures? A: Embrace them both. It's not a question of either/or, better/worse, win/lose. We live in such a dichotomous culture sometimes that we find it difficult to reconcile what seems, on the surface, irreconcilable. —Interview with Cristina García,Frank Mundo Copyright ©2009 by Frank Mundo Which of the following statements best summarizes García's view of cultural identity? People must choose one cultural identity and stick with it. Even though it may be hard, people can grasp multiple cultural identities. People who come from diverse backgrounds must ignore others' expectations. No one comes from just one cultural background.

Even though it may be hard, people can grasp multiple cultural identities.

Which types of narrators do you think authors would use when writing about the Cuban Revolution? Select all of the narrator types that you believe would be appropriate. Cuban exiles who emigrated to the United States after the Cuban Revolution Cuban exiles who fought against Fidel Castro Cubans who stayed in their country after the Cuban Revolution Cuban citizens who are loyal to Fidel Castro Cubans citizens who do not always support Fidel Castro Americans who are neighbors of Cuban exiles Children of Cuban exiles who have grown up in the United States

1. Cuban exiles who emigrated to the United States after the Cuban Revolution 2. Cuban exiles who fought against Fidel Castro 3. Cubans who stayed in their country after the Cuban Revolution 4. Cuban citizens who are loyal to Fidel Castro 5. Americans who are neighbors of Cuban exiles

Q. You were a journalist before becoming a novelist. How has your experience in nonfiction affected your fiction writing? A: It's a fairly dim memory at this point! But the most salient aspect of journalism that continues to help me is an ability to research, digest, and translate a lot of background information for my characters. Whether it's the natural world of Cuba, the history of the Chinese migration to the island, or the fine points of Texas hold 'em, I can still absorb and distill what I need to pretty quickly. —Interview with Cristina García,Frank Mundo Which of the following statements best expresses García's main idea in this passage? García's background in journalism helps her conduct research and use realistic details. García believes that her career in journalism has made fiction writing more difficult for her. García's journalism background helps her add magic to her realism. García's journalism experience has made her a quick and thorough editor.

García's background in journalism helps her conduct research and use realistic details.

Which excerpt from Cristina Garcia's Dreaming in Cuban best exemplifies magic realism? Her name is Minnie French but she's weirdly old-looking for a young person. Maybe it's her name or the three shopping bags of food she has under her seat. I stared at them, tried to make them go away. I remember thinking, Okay, I'll start with their hair, make it fall out strand by strand. They always left wearing kerchiefs to cover their bald patches. There were beef cattle and dairy cows, horses, pigs, goats, and lambs. Dad fed them molasses to fatten them, and gave the chickens corn and sorghum until they laid vermilion eggs, rich with vitamins. Our house is on a cement plot near the East River. At night, especially in the summer when the sound carries, I hear the low whistles of the ships as they leave New York harbor.

I stared at them, tried to make them go away. I remember thinking, Okay, I'll start with their hair, make it fall out strand by strand. They always left wearing kerchiefs to cover their bald patches.

Read the excerpt from Cristina Garcia's Dreaming in Cuban.I was only two years old when I left Cuba but I remember everything that's happened to me since I was a baby, even word-for-word conversations. I was sitting in my grandmother's lap, playing with her drop pearl earrings, when my mother told her we were leaving the country. Abuela Celia called her a traitor to the revolution. Mom tried to pull me away but I clung to the Abuela and screamed at the top of my lungs. My grandfather came running and said, "Celia, let the girl go. She belongs with Lourdes." This was the last time I saw her.How does the structure of the excerpt add meaning to the passage? It manipulates the chronological order of events to reveal the difficult relationship between Lourdes and Celia. It provides characterization for Celia as it reveals her physical appearance. It introduces several of the narrators who will share their points of view. It includes dialogue to indicate that the characters in the nonfiction account are real people.

It introduces several of the narrators who will share their points of view.

Read the excerpt from Cristina Garcia's Dreaming in Cuban. I don't really want to talk about my father but I end up telling Minnie how he used to take me horseback riding on our ranch, strapping me in his saddle with a leather seat belt he designed just for me. Dad's family owned casinos in Cuba, and had one of the largest ranches on the island. There were beef cattle and dairy cows, horses, pigs, goats, and lambs. Dad fed them molasses to fatten them, and gave the chickens corn and sorghum until they laid vermilion eggs, rich with vitamins. He took me on an overnight inspection once. We camped out under a sapodilla tree and listened to the pygmy owls with their old women's voices. My father knew I understood more than I could say. He told me stories about Cuba after Columbus came. He said that the Spaniards wiped out more Indians with smallpox than with muskets. How does the structure of the excerpt add meaning to the passage? It includes historical information about the Spaniards and Indians to indicate the work is nonfiction. It describes the setting of the ranch owned by Pilar's Cuban grandparents to explain family values. It uses several narrators to share their points of view about past and present life in Cuba. It manipulates the chronological order of events to reveal the close relationship between Pilar and her father.

It manipulates the chronological order of events to reveal the close relationship between Pilar and her father.

How does the text structure reflect the way Cubans - both those who left and those who stayed - respond to history, politics, and cultural influences? Multiple narrators show that children of Cuban exiles have their parents' perspectives. Multiple narrators show how history is interpreted by different generations. Multiple narrators show how Cuba welcomes exiles as well as native Cubans. Multiple narrators show how all Cubans have the same opinions.

Multiple narrators show how history is interpreted by different generations.

Read the excerpt from Cristina Garcia's Dreaming in Cuban.My father knew I understood more than I could say. He told me stories about Cuba after Columbus came. He said that the Spaniards wiped out more Indians with smallpox than with muskets.Which best describes an element of magic realism used by Garcia in this excerpt? She shows the close relationship that Pilar had with her father. She connects the events to the colonial history of Latin America. She is a modern writer developing a story about Spanish history. She characterizes Columbus's discovery as an extraordinary event.

She connects the events to the colonial history of Latin America.

Choose the statement that best describes your experience of reading the excerpts from the novel. The excerpts from the novel were very difficult to understand. The excerpts from the novel were somewhat difficult to understand. The excerpts from the novel were easy to understand.

The excerpts from the novel were easy to understand.

Using what you have learned from the interview and Dreaming in Cuban, explain the effect of the novel's multi-narrative structure.

The structure illustrates how to embrace multiple cultural identities.The structure illustrates that there is not a single Cuban identity. The structure illustrates how the Cuban Revolution has affected many generations. The structure illustrates that people do not need to choose between cultures.

Based on the entire excerpt, identify the statement that best describes the Cuban exiles in Dreaming in Cuban. They are confused about their situation. They are desperate to return to Cuba. They embrace the American way of life. They respond differently to their situation.

They respond differently to their situation.

All of the ideas below could be included in a strong answer. Which of these ideas did you include in your answer? Check all that apply. The structure illustrates how to embrace multiple cultural identities. The structure illustrates that there is not a single Cuban identity. The structure illustrates how the Cuban Revolution has affected many generations. The structure illustrates that people do not need to choose between cultures.

select all

Now decide how the stories would be different. In your opinion, which elements would change if different generations told the same story? Check all of the boxes that you agree with. the use of slang words and phrases references to popular culture historical and cultural influences descriptions of people the central idea of the story

select all

You may have used some of the comprehension strategies below while reading the excerpts from Dreaming in Cuban. Select any of the comprehension strategies you used. breaking up long sentences into shorter phrases slowing down and rereading the passage, or reading it aloud relating the confusing segment to what came before looking up unfamiliar words looking for something familiar that I can relate to personal knowledge

select all

Read the excerpt from Cristina Garcia's Dreaming in Cuban. That's it. My mind's made up. I'm going back to Cuba. I'm fed up with everything around here. I take all my money out of the bank, $120, money I earned slaving away at my mother's bakery, and buy a one-way bus ticket to Miami. I figure if I can just get there, I'll be able to make my way to Cuba, maybe rent a boat or get a fisherman to take me. I imagine Abuela [grandmother] Celia's surprise as I sneak up behind her. She'll be sitting in her wicker swing overlooking the sea and she'll smell of salt and violet water. There'll be gulls and crabs along the shore. She'll stroke my cheek with her cool hands, sing quietly in my ear. The complex narrative structure used in the excerpt is an example of establishing a work of fiction that is based on nonfiction. several narrators being used. unconventional text features. the chronological order of events being manipulated.

the chronological order of events being manipulated.

What image is created by combining this element of magic realism with the narrative structure? the image of family members who are separated by distance yet united by love the image of family members who are separated by oceans of political disagreements the image of family members who have lost all connection with each other

the image of family members who are separated by distance yet united by love

"Lourdes, I'm back," Jorge del Pino greets his daughter forty days after she buried him with his Panama hat, his cigars, and a bouquet of violets in a cemetery on the border of Brooklyn and Queens. His words are warm and close as a breath. Lourdes turns, expecting to find her father at her shoulder but she sees only the dusk settling on the tops of the oak trees, the pink tinge of sliding darkness. "Don't be afraid, mi hija. Just keep walking and I'll explain," Jorge del Pino tells his daughter. The sunset flares behind a row of brownstones, linking them as if by a flaming ribbon. —Dreaming in Cuban, Cristina García Identify the element of magic realism found within the passage. the items in Lourdes's father's coffin the colors and approaching darkness the effect of the sunset on the brownstones the meeting between Lourdes and her dead father

the meeting between Lourdes and her dead father

Who chooses what we should know or what's important? . . . . Most of what I've learned that's important I've learned on my own, or from my grandmother. Abuela Celia and I write to each other sometimes, but mostly I hear her speaking to me at night just before I fall asleep. She tells me stories about her life and what the sea was like that day. She seems to know everything that's happened to me and tells me not to mind my mother too much. Abuela Celia says she wants to see me again. She tells me she loves me. —Dreaming in Cuban, Cristina García Identify the element of magic realism. Pilar credits Celia with giving her knowledge. Pilar and Celia write to one another. ✔ Pilar hears Celia speaking to her from Cuba.

✔ Pilar hears Celia speaking to her from Cuba.