Like Water for Chocolate My Green Life Project

Like Water for Chocolate My Green Life Project

About the Author • Laura Esquivel: – Born on September 30, 1950, in Mexico City, Mexico. – She is a screenwriter, novelist and teacher.

More on Esquivel • She likes to write stories that focus on the role of food in everyday experiences. • She also likes to explore gender differences, particularly in Mexican culture.

The Text • Like Water for Chocolate is considered Magical Realism. • Magical Realism = aesthetic style or genre of fiction in which magical elements blend with the real world. • It has also been called a cookbook/ love story. • It was made into a major motion picture in 1992.

Yummy Literature! EACH CHAPTER BEGINS WITH A NEW MONTH AND A NEW RECIPE.

T he S e t t i n g Where & When Historical Context • De La Garza ranch in a rural area • Mexican Revolution • Piedras Negras, Coahuila • The Mexican people rebelled against the dictatorship of President Diaz. • On the border of Texas in Northern Mexico • 1910 -1920 • Wealth was concentrated in the hands of a few. • Injustice and corruption were rampant.

The Socio-Cultural Context Mexicans Indigenous Peoples • Landowners • Native people of Mexico • Considered themselves to be of Spanish descent • Had darker skin color • Often had lighter skin color • Were considered inferior and evil by landowners • Treated the indigenous people as slaves • Had little access to education/rights • Provided their children with education and property rights • Were often indoctrinated through Catholicism

Characterization The Protagonist The Antagonist • Tita • Mama Elena • Character Traits: – – – – Hard-working Loyal Romantic Loves food Loves Pedro Beautiful Adventurous – – – – Cold-hearted Stubborn Tradition-bound Mean-spirited Class-conscious Controlling Hateful

Characterization Key Characters Minor Characters • Nacha – The Ranch cook and surrogate mother to Tita • Chencha - The ranch maid • Rosaura - The second daughter of Mama Elena • Roberto - The first child of Rosaura and Pedro • Gertrudis - The eldest daughter of Mama Elena • Esperanza - The second child of Rosaura and Pedro • Dr. John Brown - An American doctor who cares for Tita • Alex - The son of Dr. John Brown, and the father of the narrator. He marries Esperanza. • Pedro – The love of Tita’s life

Dialectical Journals STEP 1: STEP 2: • • Each chapter will have an assigned quote attack handed out at the beginning of the week. • Each quote attack should be annotated at AP level. • All commentary should be meaningful and relevant. Answer the questions for each chapter in a Word document entitled: Like Water for Chocolate Journal. • • Responses should be single spaced, Times New Roman 12 font. Each response should provide meaningful commentary.

Dialectical Journals Chapter 1: 1. What is the significance of Tita being unable to find solace in eating the Christmas Roll that Nacha left for her? 2. Why is Tita not allowed to marry Pedro according to Mama Elena and how does Tita feel about this stipulation? 3. How is Tita’s paradigm different than that of her sisters? 4. How does Esquivel use the sensory imagery of food to describe the way Pedro makes Tita feel? Chapter 1 Quote Attack: See Handout