SPAN/ENG 113: Chicano/a Poetry

Explain Lorna Dee Cervantes's statement to the fact that woman's lot is symbol (while man's may be a metaphor).

A man's whole life is dedicated to something greater in society as he is the leader, but women will always carry a mother nature with them

The Sanctuary Movement and its role in Demetria Martínez's work.

A religious and political campaign in the United States that began in the early 1980s to provide safe-haven for Central American refugees fleeing civil conflict. It responded to federal immigration policies that made obtaining asylum difficult for Central Americans. In both poems Martinez discusses pregnancy as a way of bringing in "refugees" and allowing them to stay.

Tomás Rivera defined Chicano/a literature as "life in search of form." Discuss the ways in which Gary Soto transforms life experiences into artistic images in "Daybreak"

He adds a lot of detail, vividly captures moments that make you think you are there.

Compare the interplay of tradition and change in these poems by paying attention to how they portray history. (see Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales' "I Am Joaquín," and Pat Mora's "Desert Women")

I am Joaquin, says the history of his people as his own person however in Desert Women, the history is portrayed of only women in a certain setting.

What role does code-switching (bilingualism) play in this poetry?

I think it adds a layer of enjoyment and it is the only way through with the real message can come across as this is a reality in modern day life for Chicanos in the U.S that find themselves constantly mixing languages making one of their own. Adds continuity of a story.

How is the barrio portrayed in this poetry. Compare Alurista's "Tarde sobria" with Ricardo Sánchez's "Barrios of the World"

In Alurista's "Tarde Sobria", the barrio is presented in detail as one is passing through where as in Sanchez's "Barrios of the World" it is presented vaguely, explaining how in the real world the poor and the rich life separately, but doesn't offer details and instead reminds the reader that change is coming to the barrio.

Compare the interplay of tradition and change in these poems by paying attention to how they portray ancestors. (see Luis Omar Salinas's "My Father Is a Simple Man," and Jimmy Santiago Baca's "Roots")

In Jimmy Santiago Baca's "Roots" ancestors are portrayed having often dealt with unfair discriminatory happenings such as her father being taken away from his land. However, in Salinas's "My Father is A Simple Man" ancestors are seen to having lived simple lives that they conducted very well with not too much problem except the one of not being remembered.

Intergenerational connections in Chicana poetry create "a family of women" in which wisdom, protection, and love are emphasized over violence and abuse. Illustrate this idea by discussing C. Tafolla's "Marked," and/or Alma L. Villanueva's "There Were Times"

In Marked we see the instructions of generations for the younger women, to leave their mark to be remembered and never look back, regret, or erase a thing. In "There Were Times" the only thing that doesn't ever pass is love, protection as they only ate what they could, and wisdom as her mother raised her and in turn raised her own daughter.

Compare the interplay of tradition and change in these poems by paying attention to how they portray food. (see Bárbara Brinson Curiel's "Recipe," and Pat Mora's "Mango Juice")

In the first, the tradition sticks to the usual role of the women, in the kitchen preparing food, specifically what happens when cooking abilities are white washed and how the families feel about it. In Brinson's Curiel's "Recipe" we see the traditional role of the woman. In "Mango Juice" we see a complete reversal of the role of the woman, she is not inside cooking at all, instead everyone is enjoying themselves outside, mango seen as a food free of role.

Chicano/a poetry as militant art. Discuss Abelardo Delgado's "Stupid America" and raúlsalinas's "Los caudillos"

Militant: Combative and agressive in support of a political or social cause, and typically favoring extreme, violent, or confrontational methods. It is as militant art in the way of pinto poetry (poetry written in prison) with aggressive language to minimize ignorance on the role of Chicanos in the U.S. Aggressive language help establish a sense of urgency.

What role does nature play in Chicano/a poetics, as far as these poems are concerned (see Pat Mora's "Desert Women" and Jimmy Santiago Baca's "Roots")

Nature plays the role of personifying individuals. ADD MORE

Rascuachismo (see Jimmy Santiago Baca's "from Poem VI")

Professional limitations faced by young poet, combining inventiveness and a surrealist attitude

Contemporary Chicana poetry is characterized (among other things) by a rather direct language unafraid of addressing taboos. Illustrate that feature by discussing A. Gaspar de Alba's "Confessions" and/or D. Martínez's "Hit and Run"

Taboo: a social or religious custom prohibiting or forbidding discussion of a particular practice or forbidding association with a particular person, place, or thing. Confessions openly discusses rape, specifically by a priest, which is often try to be hidden by the Church. Hit and Run would have been a rape case, but turns it into something beautiful when she thinks of having her baby.

Many Chicano/a poems reflect on identity, as is the case with G. Anzaldúa's "To Live in the Borderlands Means You;" explain what kind of identity is envisioned in the metaphor of the crossroads.

The type of identity envisioned in the metaphor of the crossroads is an identity that is a mixture of two cultures/races and explains that to survive at the borderlands you must be the type of person that engages in both. You can not survive being just one.