……And the Earth Did Not Devour HimAnd the Earth Did Not Devour Him: : They’ve Got Something to LoseThey’ve Got Something to Lose

FeracoFeracoSFHPSFHP

19 March 200819 March 2008

What’s In Store?What’s In Store?

““Layered stories and sketches Layered stories and sketches portray a Mexican-American portray a Mexican-American migrant community.”migrant community.”

Ramon Saldivar: “It’s a major Ramon Saldivar: “It’s a major document of Chicano social and document of Chicano social and literary history.”literary history.”

Twenty-seven stories, including Twenty-seven stories, including the two framing stories (“The the two framing stories (“The Lost Year” and “Under the Lost Year” and “Under the House”)House”)

A Word from the TranslatorA Word from the Translator

There's a lot of beautiful poetry in There's a lot of beautiful poetry in Tomás Rivera's novel, you'll find. You Tomás Rivera's novel, you'll find. You know, even though it's a very harsh know, even though it's a very harsh experience that the book conveys -- you experience that the book conveys -- you know, pain, suffering, the sun bearing know, pain, suffering, the sun bearing down on the people as they're working down on the people as they're working -- there are moments that are -- there are moments that are refreshing, and inspiring, like little refreshing, and inspiring, like little fleeting swirls of beauty. Like, for fleeting swirls of beauty. Like, for example, when [the child] goes out into example, when [the child] goes out into the silvery night. It is magical.the silvery night. It is magical.

--EvangelinaEvangelina Vigil- Vigil-PiñónPiñón

Another WordAnother Word From a literary point of view ... this is a From a literary point of view ... this is a

very, very sophisticated book. Not only is it very, very sophisticated book. Not only is it poetic, not only is the language poetic, but poetic, not only is the language poetic, but also the devices of plot construction and also the devices of plot construction and perspective are very, very highly literary and perspective are very, very highly literary and belong to the new novel. They belong to belong to the new novel. They belong to what people have assumed is the Latin what people have assumed is the Latin American boom, where the reader is American boom, where the reader is expected to construct the narrative. So there expected to construct the narrative. So there are all kinds of clues in the book that lead are all kinds of clues in the book that lead the reader to piece together who is speaking the reader to piece together who is speaking at what time, what it means, what are the at what time, what it means, what are the relationships of the characters, so this relationships of the characters, so this becomes somewhat of an artistic literary becomes somewhat of an artistic literary puzzle. puzzle.

- - NicolásNicolás KanellosKanellos

Why Are We Reading This?Why Are We Reading This?

Why is Why is And the Earth Did Not Devour HimAnd the Earth Did Not Devour Him a a good choice for high school students?good choice for high school students?And the Earth Did Not Devour HimAnd the Earth Did Not Devour Him is a great is a great book to teach in high school especially, book to teach in high school especially, because at this point in the life of a young because at this point in the life of a young person, they're trying to find out who they person, they're trying to find out who they are. There are all kinds of pressures, and are. There are all kinds of pressures, and emotions, and growing pains that we try to emotions, and growing pains that we try to make sense of -- the protagonist has to piece make sense of -- the protagonist has to piece together his identity from bits and pieces of together his identity from bits and pieces of overheard dialogue, from personal overheard dialogue, from personal experiences, from imaginings, from stories experiences, from imaginings, from stories that other people tell. It's really like what that other people tell. It's really like what happens in the real world, that you never get happens in the real world, that you never get the full story. the full story. - NK- NK

Who Are We Reading About?Who Are We Reading About?

The term “Chicano” – as in “Chicano The term “Chicano” – as in “Chicano literature” – refers to Americans of literature” – refers to Americans of Mexican descentMexican descent

Rivera was born in Crystal City, TX; his Rivera was born in Crystal City, TX; his parents were migrant workersparents were migrant workers

““Many Mexicans and Chicanos provide Many Mexicans and Chicanos provide labor for farmers throughout the United labor for farmers throughout the United States, particularly in the West and States, particularly in the West and Midwest. The work is seasonal, exhausting, Midwest. The work is seasonal, exhausting, and pays very low wages…Many migrant and pays very low wages…Many migrant workers still toil under oppressive workers still toil under oppressive conditions similar to those experienced by conditions similar to those experienced by the [characters] in Rivera's novel.”the [characters] in Rivera's novel.”

-paraphrased from Annenberg-paraphrased from Annenberg

WhatWhat Are We Reading Are We Reading About?About? ……And the Earth Did Not And the Earth Did Not

Devour HimDevour Him is a response is a response to certain realities of to certain realities of Chicano life – and the Chicano life – and the result of them as wellresult of them as well

Rivera focuses Rivera focuses particularly closely on particularly closely on the lives of Chicanos the lives of Chicanos serving as migrant serving as migrant agricultural workers agricultural workers during World War II and during World War II and up through the 1960sup through the 1960s

Bracero ProgramBracero Program Took place in 1942 – shortly before the Took place in 1942 – shortly before the

action in Rivera’s novel “begins”action in Rivera’s novel “begins” The U.S. and Mexican governments The U.S. and Mexican governments

instituted a set of labor laws intended to instituted a set of labor laws intended to provide fair treatment for Mexican provide fair treatment for Mexican nationals recruited to work in the U.S.nationals recruited to work in the U.S. These laborers were, in part, taking the These laborers were, in part, taking the

place of U.S. workers lost to World place of U.S. workers lost to World Wars I and II Wars I and II

The program didn’t protect the workers The program didn’t protect the workers fully, and they were often exploited.fully, and they were often exploited.

- - paraphrased from Annenbergparaphrased from Annenberg

Biography vs. FictionBiography vs. Fiction “ “Some try to see in this book a biography Some try to see in this book a biography

of Tomás Rivera. Well, [like] any author, of Tomás Rivera. Well, [like] any author, Tomás Rivera included incidents from his Tomás Rivera included incidents from his life, characters from his life are woven, but life, characters from his life are woven, but in no way was this a biography…He knew in no way was this a biography…He knew that he was constructing something that that he was constructing something that was in the mainstream of avant-garde was in the mainstream of avant-garde literature at the time that he was writing. literature at the time that he was writing. And he saw the world that way. So it was in And he saw the world that way. So it was in no way an autobiography. The main no way an autobiography. The main character is not Tomás. It's a broad character is not Tomás. It's a broad interpretation of the struggles of migrant interpretation of the struggles of migrant workers, Mexican Americans, other ethnic workers, Mexican Americans, other ethnic groups that need to find themselves in a groups that need to find themselves in a minority culture. It has epic dimensions…”minority culture. It has epic dimensions…”

Biography vs. Fiction IIBiography vs. Fiction II

“ “Many people have called this the Many people have called this the Chicano Chicano Grapes of WrathGrapes of Wrath. And the same . And the same kinds of historical background that tell us kinds of historical background that tell us about the dustbowl, and what John about the dustbowl, and what John Steinbeck documented through Steinbeck documented through The The Grapes of WrathGrapes of Wrath, is here. We have that , is here. We have that background. And, in fact, not only do we background. And, in fact, not only do we have that background historically, we have that background historically, we have it today. Because all of these issues, have it today. Because all of these issues, and all of these trends in immigration, and all of these trends in immigration, and farm labor, and unionizing labor, and and farm labor, and unionizing labor, and poor schooling for migrant workers -- and poor schooling for migrant workers -- and for poor kids -- still exist in this country.” for poor kids -- still exist in this country.”

- - KanellosKanellos

The Beginning of a TraditionThe Beginning of a Tradition

It was one of only a few novels It was one of only a few novels in print about Chicanos in this in print about Chicanos in this country at the time (late country at the time (late ‘60s/early ’70s)‘60s/early ’70s)

Rivera wasn’t even aware of Rivera wasn’t even aware of most of these when he was most of these when he was writing – or of a tradition of writing – or of a tradition of Chicano extended fictional Chicano extended fictional writingwriting

More KanellosMore Kanellos

Tomás Rivera had been writing before the Tomás Rivera had been writing before the official Chicano movement got underway official Chicano movement got underway (which historians and scholars place around (which historians and scholars place around 1965), when Cesar Chavez organized farm 1965), when Cesar Chavez organized farm workers in California, and tried to unionize workers in California, and tried to unionize them. Along with that unionizing came the them. Along with that unionizing came the birth of the El Teatro Campesino, with Luis birth of the El Teatro Campesino, with Luis Valdez, who very much developed a farm Valdez, who very much developed a farm worker theater and took it around the worker theater and took it around the country and popularized this new kind of country and popularized this new kind of literature that used the language of the literature that used the language of the people. It also had a political message along people. It also had a political message along with the civil rights movement and protests with the civil rights movement and protests against Vietnam.against Vietnam.

More Kanellos IIMore Kanellos II

In the late 1960s, some professors from the In the late 1960s, some professors from the University of California, Berkeley, began University of California, Berkeley, began publishing a very, very important magazine publishing a very, very important magazine called called El GritoEl Grito, and published the first really , and published the first really kind of academically respected anthology of kind of academically respected anthology of Chicano literature called Chicano literature called El EspejoEl Espejo, , The The MirrorMirror. Then they founded their publishing . Then they founded their publishing house, called El Quinto Sol. So in 1970, they house, called El Quinto Sol. So in 1970, they started giving the award for the best started giving the award for the best Chicano literature, one award per year, and Chicano literature, one award per year, and the first award they gave was to the first award they gave was to And the And the Earth Did Not Devour HimEarth Did Not Devour Him, by Tomás Rivera. , by Tomás Rivera.

Breaking New GroundBreaking New Ground

He was writing in a vacuum, so to speak – He was writing in a vacuum, so to speak – without a novelistic or fictional tradition to without a novelistic or fictional tradition to orient himselforient himself While he drew on the traditions Kanellos While he drew on the traditions Kanellos

just mentioned, it’s important to just mentioned, it’s important to remember that Rivera is breaking new remember that Rivera is breaking new ground hereground here

The result is something largely new – and The result is something largely new – and something incredibly influentialsomething incredibly influential

Rivera helped bring his narrative style into Rivera helped bring his narrative style into the mainstream with the mainstream with And the Earth Did Not And the Earth Did Not Devour HimDevour Him

WordplayWordplay

One of the aspects of Rivera’s work One of the aspects of Rivera’s work that people struggle with at first is that people struggle with at first is the narrative stylethe narrative style

The narrative isn’t expository The narrative isn’t expository (based on detailed linear and (based on detailed linear and realistic explanations) realistic explanations)

It’s based more on sensory It’s based more on sensory impressions and subjective impressions and subjective descriptionsdescriptions

SnapshotsSnapshots

Within this narrative framework, Within this narrative framework, conventions that we’ve grown conventions that we’ve grown accustomed to – linear chronological accustomed to – linear chronological development of a plot, for example – fall development of a plot, for example – fall awayaway

This means you get snapshots of dialogue This means you get snapshots of dialogue and thoughts / perceptions rather than a and thoughts / perceptions rather than a traditional “story”traditional “story”

This narrative style, similar to stream-of-This narrative style, similar to stream-of-consciousness writing, is called consciousness writing, is called fragmentationfragmentation..

What Does That All Mean?What Does That All Mean?

However, this isn’t to say that However, this isn’t to say that Rivera abandons plot and Rivera abandons plot and convention entirely; every story convention entirely; every story with a title has a definite plot and with a title has a definite plot and narrative stylenarrative style

Rivera even experiments with Rivera even experiments with different voices throughout the different voices throughout the novelnovel The scene at the end where the voices The scene at the end where the voices

from his stories blend together is from his stories blend together is amazingamazing

We Speak in Different VoicesWe Speak in Different Voices

Rivera wrote about the people – Rivera wrote about the people – la gentela gente The book is clearly influenced by the oral The book is clearly influenced by the oral

tradition – the practice of passing along tradition – the practice of passing along knowledge and entertainment through knowledge and entertainment through direct human interaction, face to facedirect human interaction, face to face

This concentration on multiple voices This concentration on multiple voices helps to connect the novel to the helps to connect the novel to the traditions we mentioned earliertraditions we mentioned earlier

It also emphasizes that the book is about It also emphasizes that the book is about a community (and communal experience) a community (and communal experience) rather than a traditional rather than a traditional protagonist/antagonist pairingprotagonist/antagonist pairing

The Space BetweenThe Space Between

The larger story itself is The larger story itself is framed by the opening and framed by the opening and closing sections, in which we closing sections, in which we are aware of a young boy are aware of a young boy who has lost everythingwho has lost everything

What could he represent?What could he represent?

An Emerging AwarenessAn Emerging Awareness In many ways, he represents the developing In many ways, he represents the developing

Chicano/migrant community – lacking self-Chicano/migrant community – lacking self-awareness, struggling to understand itself awareness, struggling to understand itself through experience, unaware of its powerthrough experience, unaware of its power This is a community in search of its identity; it This is a community in search of its identity; it

needs an idea of what that isneeds an idea of what that is The book is about that struggle to The book is about that struggle to

understand; if the boy can begin to understand; if the boy can begin to remember what he has forgotten, perhaps remember what he has forgotten, perhaps the community can come together in the community can come together in solidarity – and protect one another in a solidarity – and protect one another in a world that abuses themworld that abuses them

A Communal HistoryA Communal History

The tales and vignettes between the The tales and vignettes between the framing stories take place in framing stories take place in seemingly unrelated places and seemingly unrelated places and unspecified points in timeunspecified points in time

These stories allegorically depict These stories allegorically depict twelve months’ (one year’s) worth of twelve months’ (one year’s) worth of collective migrant experiences – and collective migrant experiences – and the novel serves as a communal the novel serves as a communal history, covering the lives, loves, and history, covering the lives, loves, and losses of oft-forgotten men and womenlosses of oft-forgotten men and women

Deep ConcernsDeep Concerns

The novel is deeply concerned with The novel is deeply concerned with exploitation, injustice, and oppression, exploitation, injustice, and oppression, whether it be economic, social, or whether it be economic, social, or spiritual in naturespiritual in nature

As a result, “And the Earth Did Not As a result, “And the Earth Did Not Devour Him” also functions as a Devour Him” also functions as a memorial to, and reconstitution of, the memorial to, and reconstitution of, the “forgotten history of a people’s “forgotten history of a people’s oppression and struggles” – and as an oppression and struggles” – and as an eruption of America’s suppressed eruption of America’s suppressed political unconsciouspolitical unconscious

Studying PoliticsStudying Politics As alluded to before, the novel was As alluded to before, the novel was

written during the organization of written during the organization of the United Farm Movement in the United Farm Movement in California and the Chicano Civil California and the Chicano Civil Rights MovementRights Movement

Allegorical reference to the farm Allegorical reference to the farm workers’ movement, coming out of workers’ movement, coming out of the fields and shadows as invisible the fields and shadows as invisible labor, demanding their place in the labor, demanding their place in the sunsun

Losing, Hoping, Wishing, Losing, Hoping, Wishing, WaitingWaitingIn many ways, the collection of In many ways, the collection of

stories in this book are about stories in this book are about gaining, re-gaining, or losing gaining, re-gaining, or losing something – whether it’s something – whether it’s identity, faith, or hopeidentity, faith, or hope

Remember, the child must go Remember, the child must go from being lost to being found from being lost to being found in order for the community to in order for the community to connect with itselfconnect with itself

The Kid - AgainThe Kid - Again

The narrator in “The Lost Year” The narrator in “The Lost Year” is stripped of subject and is stripped of subject and identity, born into a world of identity, born into a world of absence and loss, as Saldivar absence and loss, as Saldivar puts it puts it

He must attempt to rediscover He must attempt to rediscover his name, and to recover the his name, and to recover the events that compose events that compose un ano un ano perdidoperdido, the lost year, the lost year

Searching for SomethingSearching for Something

He begins the novel with no He begins the novel with no sense of name or place; he calls sense of name or place; he calls out and tries to listen without out and tries to listen without realizing that he is the one realizing that he is the one trying to speaktrying to speak

He is not even sure whether he He is not even sure whether he is awake or dreaming – unsure is awake or dreaming – unsure of who he is or what he is of who he is or what he is experiencingexperiencing

The Big QuestionThe Big Question What What isis the Chicano/migrant the Chicano/migrant

experience? This novel attempts to experience? This novel attempts to help define ithelp define it

If the child can remember, he – and If the child can remember, he – and the community – can gain self-the community – can gain self-awarenessawareness

As a result, we as readers are asked As a result, we as readers are asked to examine the relationship between to examine the relationship between individuality and collectivityindividuality and collectivity Shades of Shades of The AwakeningThe Awakening!!

Community-Building Community-Building ExercisesExercises What’s fascinating about this community What’s fascinating about this community

is the real way in which solidarity can is the real way in which solidarity can help protect people – can help them help protect people – can help them survive – in a world that refuses to care survive – in a world that refuses to care for or help themfor or help them Again, compare this to Again, compare this to The AwakeningThe Awakening

This community is forming because the This community is forming because the people people needneed it to form it to form

They’re in a position where they’ve They’re in a position where they’ve already lost just about everything, and already lost just about everything, and every day is simply a struggle to avoid every day is simply a struggle to avoid losing the restlosing the rest

Losing BattleLosing Battle So much is lost over the course of So much is lost over the course of And the Earth And the Earth

Did Not Devour HimDid Not Devour Him – lives, innocence, faith – – lives, innocence, faith – that the book can feel almost oppressive at that the book can feel almost oppressive at timestimes

That’s somewhat the point – there isn’t really an That’s somewhat the point – there isn’t really an escape for the migrant workers and families, at escape for the migrant workers and families, at least not one provided by the outside worldleast not one provided by the outside world

If they want to change their lives, change their If they want to change their lives, change their fates, they need to come together and agitate fates, they need to come together and agitate for changefor change

Only through the help of others can we help to Only through the help of others can we help to save ourselves – and only through our save ourselves – and only through our connections to others, to the world, can we connections to others, to the world, can we become truly self-awarebecome truly self-aware

““The Lost Year” in a The Lost Year” in a NutshellNutshellNow that we understand Rivera’s Now that we understand Rivera’s

intentions, the story doesn’t intentions, the story doesn’t seem so confusingseem so confusingBoy = Chicano migrant communityBoy = Chicano migrant communityYear = Sense of shared experiences Year = Sense of shared experiences

and heritageand heritageCall/Name = Community searching Call/Name = Community searching

for its identity and purpose; first for its identity and purpose; first steps towards self-awarenesssteps towards self-awareness

Heritage and unity will free usHeritage and unity will free us

Understanding the Stories Understanding the Stories That FollowThat Follow As Rivera wrote . . . And the Earth Did Not Devour Him As Rivera wrote . . . And the Earth Did Not Devour Him

(1967–1968), other Chicano writers and artists were (1967–1968), other Chicano writers and artists were finding expression for their ideas and opinions finding expression for their ideas and opinions

Production of art and literature exploded into a full-Production of art and literature exploded into a full-fledged movement (which, one could argue, means fledged movement (which, one could argue, means that Rivera’s book accomplished its task)that Rivera’s book accomplished its task)

The Chicano renaissance – El Movimiento – questioned The Chicano renaissance – El Movimiento – questioned accepted truths and focused on civil rights, labor accepted truths and focused on civil rights, labor struggles, and the Vietnam Warstruggles, and the Vietnam War

Chicano poets were among the first to gain Chicano poets were among the first to gain prominence in the movement because the verse prominence in the movement because the verse nature of their work allowed them to easily recite nature of their work allowed them to easily recite their writing before groups of students and workers their writing before groups of students and workers (and they wrote bilingually in order to reach a wide (and they wrote bilingually in order to reach a wide audience). audience).

Rivera promoted Chicano authors and contributed to Rivera promoted Chicano authors and contributed to the development of the new literary tradition. the development of the new literary tradition.

Questioning Accepted Questioning Accepted TruthsTruths One of the accepted truths Rivera chooses to question One of the accepted truths Rivera chooses to question

– or at least examine – is the role of religion in the – or at least examine – is the role of religion in the migrant experiencemigrant experience

Rivera posits that heritage and unity can free you – Rivera posits that heritage and unity can free you – but will faith simply convince you to accept your but will faith simply convince you to accept your bondage?bondage?

This is one of the controversial aspects of the novel, This is one of the controversial aspects of the novel, as the characters experience a great deal of religious as the characters experience a great deal of religious turmoilturmoil

This is also one of the reasons that the “innocence” This is also one of the reasons that the “innocence” theme is so important – Rivera shows the crumbling of theme is so important – Rivera shows the crumbling of faith faith in the young in the young as a response to a cruel and unjust as a response to a cruel and unjust worldworld

““In a book that's so small, so readable, and so poetic, In a book that's so small, so readable, and so poetic, there are the many, many very deep, philosophical, there are the many, many very deep, philosophical, theological issues. And it's fun to deal with them.” theological issues. And it's fun to deal with them.” - - NKNK

Questioning Accepted Questioning Accepted Truths IITruths II While faith is not placed in the best light While faith is not placed in the best light

over the course of the book, Rivera seems over the course of the book, Rivera seems less interested in criticizing faith than in less interested in criticizing faith than in studying the ramifications of its loss – and studying the ramifications of its loss – and what causes it to disappearwhat causes it to disappear

What he does seem to criticize – in keeping What he does seem to criticize – in keeping with El Movemiento’s philosophies – is with El Movemiento’s philosophies – is blindblind acceptance or acceptance or blindblind faith faith After all, the movement is predicated on After all, the movement is predicated on

questioning the things (and injustices) that we questioning the things (and injustices) that we have taken for granted, even unconsciouslyhave taken for granted, even unconsciously

If you understand the larger themes Rivera is If you understand the larger themes Rivera is grappling with – as well as his larger ideological grappling with – as well as his larger ideological concerns – it’s easier to understand why religion concerns – it’s easier to understand why religion plays the role it does early in this novelplays the role it does early in this novel

Does the search for the truth set you free?Does the search for the truth set you free?

Alone, TogetherAlone, Together I mentioned before that “Alone, Together” I mentioned before that “Alone, Together”

referred to the idea that one can be isolated referred to the idea that one can be isolated in a crowd – that we can isolate ourselves in in a crowd – that we can isolate ourselves in any number of waysany number of ways How many ways can How many ways can youyou do these things? How do these things? How

many ways can you – do you – separate yourself many ways can you – do you – separate yourself from the people and world around you?from the people and world around you?

The child in the second story is isolated by The child in the second story is isolated by his actions – and his knowledgehis actions – and his knowledge They separate him from his mother / family / They separate him from his mother / family /

communitycommunity The truth – as he understands it – is exceptionally The truth – as he understands it – is exceptionally

lonely; anyone who has kept a secret knows whylonely; anyone who has kept a secret knows why ““He’ll tell her when he grows up” – that’s a long He’ll tell her when he grows up” – that’s a long

time to carry something like thattime to carry something like that

The Reverse Santa ClausThe Reverse Santa Claus One of the noteworthy aspects of the story is One of the noteworthy aspects of the story is

the way that the “natural order” is reversedthe way that the “natural order” is reversed Rather than keeping secrets from the young to Rather than keeping secrets from the young to

keep them in line – Santa! – the mother is blind to keep them in line – Santa! – the mother is blind to the “truth,” and the child chooses not to tell herthe “truth,” and the child chooses not to tell her

He does this out of love – a deep, fiery love – He does this out of love – a deep, fiery love – because he knows that she will continue “doing her because he knows that she will continue “doing her duty”duty”

What would happen to her if she found out the truth?What would happen to her if she found out the truth? Think about Mother Teresa…Think about Mother Teresa…

By drinking the water, he shoulders a burden – and By drinking the water, he shoulders a burden – and he continues to carry it for herhe continues to carry it for her

This means that, on some level, she has lost himThis means that, on some level, she has lost him Who should we feel sad for – the boy and his Who should we feel sad for – the boy and his

losses, or his mother and hers?losses, or his mother and hers?

Theme-a-paloozaTheme-a-palooza

What were the themes we What were the themes we named, and how can we justify named, and how can we justify them?them?

It’s Conflict That Drives UsIt’s Conflict That Drives Us

Here’s an interesting question to follow Here’s an interesting question to follow throughout the book: Conflict!throughout the book: Conflict! More specifically, what’s the source of the conflicts More specifically, what’s the source of the conflicts

in each story?in each story? Identify what the conflicts are and whether they

are internal or external. If a conflict is external, decide into which of the three categories it falls: Character vs. Character Character vs. Society Character vs. Self

Note: Some work for multiple categories! If it is internal, determine what external factors

cause it.

The Children Couldn’t WaitThe Children Couldn’t Wait

If the previous story was a deeply If the previous story was a deeply intense internal conflict, how do we intense internal conflict, how do we grapple with what happens in this grapple with what happens in this story?story?

Is this the result of an internal or Is this the result of an internal or external conflict?external conflict?

Is this the result of a Is this the result of a lacklack of an of an internal conflict?internal conflict?

Where is the anger? Where is the Where is the anger? Where is the justice? justice? The boss tries to kill himself after he’s The boss tries to kill himself after he’s

acquitted; he knows better, and his acquitted; he knows better, and his actions indict society’s callousnessactions indict society’s callousness

Two Sides of the Same CoinTwo Sides of the Same Coin

From the first two stories, Rivera is From the first two stories, Rivera is contrasting several aspects of humanity – contrasting several aspects of humanity – some good, some bad, some in betweensome good, some bad, some in between

Is the child doing something wrong in the Is the child doing something wrong in the vignette? What about TCCW?vignette? What about TCCW?

Is the boss evil? How do we judge his suicide Is the boss evil? How do we judge his suicide attempt?attempt?

Start keeping track of the “good” and the Start keeping track of the “good” and the “bad” – and start monitoring what separates “bad” – and start monitoring what separates the two in your eyesthe two in your eyes The book contains many shades of greyThe book contains many shades of grey Consider these same questions for our next two Consider these same questions for our next two

stories – the mother in “A Prayer” and the child in stories – the mother in “A Prayer” and the child in “It’s That It Hurts”“It’s That It Hurts”

Quick WriteQuick Write

Which characters are Which characters are sympathetic? Why do you sympathetic? Why do you sympathize with them?sympathize with them?

How many stories have worked How many stories have worked for the themes you’ve chosen? for the themes you’ve chosen? Have you found any good Have you found any good material yet?material yet?

Quick Write IIQuick Write II

Think about the ways in which the Think about the ways in which the boy’s fears are tied up with his boy’s fears are tied up with his parents’ hopes for his future. How do parents’ hopes for his future. How do your hopes for the future compare your hopes for the future compare with your parents? Are your plans with your parents? Are your plans similar to theirs? Are they supportive? similar to theirs? Are they supportive? Demanding? Do you feel more Demanding? Do you feel more pressure to succeed because they love pressure to succeed because they love you, because they’re your family – or you, because they’re your family – or do you lose your drive because of do you lose your drive because of these expectations?these expectations?