La cascada de la novia
Reading Strategy
RECOGNIZE CHARACTERISTICS OF LEGENDS If you picked up
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” what would you anticipate about
the story? Do you think it takes place in the present or in the past?
Is it based on written records or oral storytelling? Is it scientific or
romantic? Is it happy or tragic? Which of these characteristics do
you find in «La cascada de la novia»?
Características de esta leyenda
el pasado
cuento oral
romántico
trágico
After reading this legend, try out your storytelling skills.
What You Need to Know
This reading is a Costa Rican legend. Legends form part of the oral
tradition of a people. Sometimes they explain the origin of natural things,
such as rivers, volcanoes, plants, and animals. This legend explains the
origin of «la cascada de la novia» that is found near the town of Paraíso,
about twenty miles from San José. This area of the Valle de Orosí is
known for its breathtaking views, lush landscapes of the rocky Orosí
River, and tropical rain forests.
52
Lecturas para todos
Guía del maestro
¡En español! Level 2
This reading can also be
found on pages 386–387
of the Level 2 Pupil Edition.
The audio is on CD 15,
Tracks 5 and 6.
READING TIP Remember
the vocabulary you have
learned for people and
celebrations: novia, novio,
boda, risa.
APUNTES
La
cascada
de
la
novia
A pocos minutos de Paraíso se encuentra
5
10
una cascada de seiscientos pies de altura que
se llama «la cascada de la novia». Se cuenta
que la cascada recibió ese nombre a principios
del siglo XX, cuando según la leyenda, se hizo
un paseo a ese lugar.
Para celebrar una boda, una popular pareja de
novios organizó un paseo al Valle de Orosí.
El grupo de amigos muy alegres salió de
Cartago en caballo.
GRAMÁTICA
You have just learned to choose
between the prepositions por
and para. Find and underline
these two words wherever they
occur in the reading. Explain
below why por or para is used
for each.
Para is used to state a purpose.
Por is used to express periods of
time and reasons.
CHALLENGE What was being
celebrated at the outing to the
Valle de Orosí? (Clarify)
a birthday
a graduation
✓ a wedding
an anniversary
PA L A B R A S C L A V E
la cascada waterfall
el paseo ride; outing, trip
Unidad 5,
1, Etapa 3
1
Loscascada
La
latinos de la
Estados
novia Unidos
53
READER’S
SUCCESS
STRATEGY
Use words you
already know to help you
figure out new words that are
part of the same word family.
For example, you know the
adjective alegres in line 9.
What do you think the noun
alegría in line 14 means?
Also, you have just learned
the noun brindis in line 14.
What do you think the verb
brindar in line 15 means?
Write your answers below.
Alegría means “happiness.”
Brindar means “to toast.”
15
20
1. Number the following events
in the correct order.
(Sequence of Events)
3 There are toasts to the
___
bride.
2 The friends arrive at the
___
Valle de Orosí.
5 The white veil rises from
___
25
the abyss.
Por fin llegaron al maravilloso Valle de Orosí,
un lugar de belleza espectacular. Hubo bailes,
risas, algunos versos, sonrisas cariñosas,
mucha alegría y algunos brindis. El novio
brindó por la novia, por su sonrisa, por su
vestido elegante con su velo bordado a mano 1,
por sus ojos grandes y su belleza singular.
Como todo, lo bueno termina. El grupo tuvo
que regresar. Todos montaron sus caballos
y comenzaron la caminata de regreso a
sus casas.
Al pasar cerca de la cascada, de repente el
caballo de la novia, por una razón ya
olvidada 2, se asustó de tal manera que se
lanzó 3 al abismo. Se llevó con él a la novia
buena de los grandes ojos.
1 The group of friends
___
leaves Cartago on
horseback.
4 The horse hurls himself
___
into the abyss.
2. Think of one question that
you would like to ask about
the ending of the legend.
Write it below. (Question)
Answers will vary. Sample
answer: What happened to the
groom?
30
Los detalles de la historia ya se han olvidado 4.
Solamente se acuerda la gente de cómo subió
el velo blanco bordado a mano de la novia
hermosa. Dicen que apareció como una
cascada de agua —«la cascada de la novia».
1
3
handmade
hurled himself
2
4
already forgotten
have been forgotten
PA L A B R A S C L A V E
la sonrisa smile
cariñoso(a) loving, affectionate
el brindis toast
54
Lecturas para todos
Guía del maestro
el velo veil
la caminata long trek
el abismo abyss
¡En español! Level 2