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Like Water for Chocolate. ENGLISH 12: HOCK/GARCIA FALL 2016. LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE COMO AGUA PARA CHOCOLATE . Laura Esquivel, born in Mexico, 1950 Grew up in Mexico City; attended Escuela Normal de Maestros
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Like Water for Chocolate ENGLISH 12: HOCK/GARCIA FALL 2016
LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATECOMO AGUA PARA CHOCOLATE • Laura Esquivel, born in Mexico, 1950 • Grew up in Mexico City; attended Escuela Normal de Maestros • "I grew up in a modern home, but my grandmother lived across the street in an old house that was built when churches were illegal in Mexico.”-Laura Esquivel
About the BOOK • She also wrote the screenplay when it became a movie. • LWFC was published first in Spanish in 1989. • It was translated into English in 1992.
Genre: Magical Realism • Like Water for Chocolate belongs to the genre of magical realism. • This is a style of storytelling, which infuses magical elements into mundane everyday situations, conditions, and practices. • The idea is to reveal essential and extraordinary aspects of human relations imbedded in everyday activities.
Brief Synopsis • Reportedly, Esquivel used an episode from her own family to write her book. She had a great-aunt named Tita, who was forbidden to wed. • The book has been a tremendous international success: The No. 1 best-selling book in Mexico for three years; it's also been translated into 23 languages.
Set-up • Each chapter is a “monthly installment" and labeled with the months of the year; we learn of Tita's struggle to pursue true love and claim her independence. • Each installment features a recipe to begin each chapter. • Food is often a direct cause of physical and emotional unrest in the story, and serves as a medium through which emotions can be expressed.
Chapter OrganizationMonth by Month • January: Christmas Rolls • February: Chabela Wedding Cake • March: Quail in Rose Petal Sauce • April: Turkey Mole with Almonds and Pumpkin Seeds • May: Northern Style Chorizo • June: A Recipe for Making Matches • July: Ox Tail Soup • August: Champandongo • September: Chocolate and Three Kings Day Bread • October: Cream Fritters • November: Beans with Chile Tezcucana Style • December: Chiles in Walnut Sauce
Main Characters • Tita – the protagonist, youngest daughter of Mama Elena • Mama Elena – forceful, tyrannical matriarch of the De La Garza family • Pedro – Tita’s true love and soul mate • Rosaura – second daughter of Mama Elena, who marries Pedro • Gertrudis – eldest daughter, becomes a general in the revolutionary army • Dr. John Brown – falls in love with Tita, they have an unrequited love • Nacha – the ranch cook, Tita’s mentor • Chencha – Tita’s companion in the kitchen • Roberto & Esperanza – children of Pedro and Rosaura • Alex – son of Dr. Brown, father of the narrator. Marries Esperanza
Mexican Revolution of 1910 • For most of Mexico's developing history, a small minority of the people were in control of most of the country's power and wealth, while the majority of the population worked in poverty. • As the rift between the poor and rich grew under the leadership of General Díaz, the political voice of the lower classes was also declining.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT CONT… • It was during this time that the country broke into many different factions, and guerilla units roamed across the country destroying and burning down many large haciendas and ranches. • Overall, this was a time of political unrest in Mexico, which left the everyday citizens in constant fear of looting and violence by soldiers/militia. • Mexican revolution: began in 1910…culminated in the Mexican Constitution in 1917
Author’s Purpose • She explores the ideas of revolution and liberty, both literally with the war, and figuratively with Tita’s struggles within herself. • Esquivel uses the revolution to offer a political/social critique through themes like masculinity and gender identity.
Like Water For ChocolateThemes DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY, OBEDIENCE TEARS AS A FORM OF LIFE CRUELTY AND VIOLENCE VICTIM/VICTIMIZATION SEX/ GENDER NORMS & ROLES MACHISMO V. WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE MASCULINE SUPERIORITY IS CULTURALLY ACCEPTED LOVE AND PASSION SANITY V. SUPERNATURAL MODERNISM V. TRADITION FOOD AS CREATIVE EXPRESSION EMOTIONAL-OPPRESSION …………
While You Read...Annotate with Sticky Notes! • 1. VOCAB: unfamiliar words OR words that offer multiple meaning-YELLOW • 2. MAGICAL REALISM: HOW/WHY is it used?-PURPLE • 3. HISTORICAL CONTEXT: When does the text explain or refer to time and place? (i.e.: Mexican Revolution)-RED • 4. THEMES: FIGURATIVE LANG/SYMBOLISM? -BLUE • How is food used symbolically? Why?