Example Literature Circle Preparation
Discussion Questions
On page 90, why do you think Mama Elena says, “no one will miss me very much” to
the general?
Perhaps Mama Elena knows that she is harsh but has accepted this. I think
that Mama Elena is not scared of death because she knows she has followed
tradition and will be remembered well for that. I also think that Mama Elena
knows that even if she is dead, she has embedded traditional values into her
daughters’ ways of life and believes they will carry them on.
Question: Why do you think John, who is so scientific, comes from a Grandma who is
so into traditional medicine? (I don’t have an answer for this)
Connections
Connection #1: Tita is very depressed after Pedro and Roberto left and she gets
totally lost in something that seems worthless, giving up most of her life because of
how bad she feels. When my grandmother passed away, my grandfather started
acting like this – all he would do was watch TV and eat until he passed away as well.
It’s interesting how dependent we are on having the people we love around us. Has
anyone else felt that way?
Connection #2: I connect to when Tita wants to just sit at John’s house and not
saying. Sometimes when I’m really upset I just can’t even figure out what I would
want to say so I say nothing. Has anyone else felt that way? Why do you think we
get silent when we are upset?
Quotes
The author really draws attention to how Mama Elena is “a pro” at “dividing,
dismantling, dismembering, desolating, detaching, dispossessing, destroying, or
dominating” on page 97. What deeper meaning do you think the author could be
suggesting about Mama Elena?