Literary Analysis: The Siesta of Tuesdays

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Questions and Answers

What was the father's primary concern as the woman and child tried to leave?

  • He wanted to ensure their safety by not letting them leave through the front door. (correct)
  • He was concerned about the woman and child being exposed to the sun.
  • He was worried about the children staring at them.
  • He was afraid of being seen by the neighbors.

What can be inferred about the significance of the woman and child's visit?

  • The woman and child were close friends of the family.
  • The visit was a distraction from a larger issue.
  • The visit was a simple social call.
  • The situation surrounding the visit was secretive and potentially dangerous. (correct)

What is the most likely explanation for the father's statement "The people have realized"?

  • The father has recognized the people staring through the window.
  • Someone has realized the people are watching the house.
  • The people have discovered the father's secret. (correct)
  • The people have noticed something unusual about the woman and child.

What is the significance of the father's sister's statement, “It's the same”?

<p>She is highlighting the futility of their efforts to avoid attention. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the most likely reason the father did not want the woman and child to leave through the front door?

<p>He was trying to be discreet and avoid drawing attention to the house. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the weather like when the train departs?

<p>The air is humid without the sea breeze. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the first thing the girl tries to do when the woman warns her about the window?

<p>Lower the window. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the girl do with the dead flowers?

<p>Puts them in water. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the mother appear to be carrying on her lap?

<p>A discolored patent leather purse. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is the woman described in relation to her daughter?

<p>She appears quite old for her daughter. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do both the mother and daughter carry as they travel?

<p>A plastic bag with food and a dead flower bouquet. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is mentioned about the cleanliness of the shadows outside the train?

<p>They appeared clean and mysterious. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of train class are the mother and daughter traveling in?

<p>Third class. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the weather like, prompting some inhabitants to have lunch in the patio?

<p>Warm and sunny (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the woman request from the priest when she arrived at the rectory?

<p>Keys to the cemetery (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the priest react upon learning the identity of the woman’s son?

<p>He showed surprise (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Carlos Centeno's occupation before his death?

<p>Boxer (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the woman claim she advised Carlos Centeno to do regarding stealing?

<p>To never steal anything he needed for food (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the priest's statement about the woman's son suggest regarding his past?

<p>He had the potential to change his life (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What action did the girl take as they were in the rectory?

<p>She gathered flowers (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the reaction of the woman and the girl after requesting the cemetery keys?

<p>They were indifferent (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason the woman tells the girl to put on her shoes?

<p>The woman is preparing the girl for a possible change in scenery and activities after they get off the train. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the town the train is passing through?

<p>The town's arid landscape and barren fields signify a difficult and lonely journey ahead. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the BEST interpretation of the woman's instruction to the girl: "If you have the urge to do something, do it now."?

<p>The woman is warning the girl about the harsh conditions they will face upon arrival. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the woman's advice to the girl: "Don’t drink water anywhere, even if dying of thirst."?

<p>The water in the town may be contaminated, representing a possible danger. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the BEST interpretation of the woman's instruction to the girl: "Don’t cry"?

<p>The woman is telling the girl to be strong and resilient in the face of challenges. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the last sentence in the passage: "The town floated in the heat"?

<p>The town’s heat and stillness suggest a sense of oppressive atmosphere and suffocating heat. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the most likely reason for the girl's departure from the train?

<p>The girl and the woman have reached their final destination, ending their journey on the train. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the most likely relationship between the woman and the girl?

<p>The woman is the girl's mother, and she is caring for the girl while on a journey together. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Train

A type of transportation used for carrying passengers and goods over long distances, typically on rails.

Ox Cart

A type of transportation that is pulled by animals, usually oxen.

Town

A place where people live, often in close proximity to each other.

Train Station

A place where trains stop for passengers and cargo to be loaded or unloaded.

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Mid-day

The period of time during the day when the sun is highest in the sky and the temperature is warmest.

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Drowsiness

The feeling of being tired and sleepy, often accompanied by a desire to rest.

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Bouquet

An arrangement of flowers, often given as a gift or used for decoration.

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Public Restroom

A place where people go to relieve themselves and wash their hands.

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Sopor

The feeling of drowsiness and tiredness, often associated with hot weather.

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Billard Saloon

A place where people gather to play billiards, a game involving cue sticks and balls.

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Small Town

A small, rural town, often characterized by its quietness and lack of activity.

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Siesta

The act of resting for a period during the day, especially in hot weather.

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Almond Tree

A type of tree that produces almonds, known for its shade and pleasing appearance.

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Crowd

A group of people sitting or standing together in a public place, often waiting for something or watching an event.

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Band

A musical group that plays instruments, typically for entertainment or special occasions.

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A crowd of onlookers

A group of people who are watching something, often from a distance.

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Looking in through the window

Describes a person who is paying attention to a situation or event while trying to remain unseen or unnoticed.

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Feeling uncomfortable

The feeling of being uncomfortable or uncomfortable.

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The back door

The part of a house that is at the back, opposite the front door.

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The sun is too hot

The sun's rays are strong and might harm the people outside.

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Robbery

A situation where someone breaks into a building to steal something, often with the intent to harm the owner of the property.

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Thief

An individual who engages in illegal activity, particularly stealing or harming others, to gain something.

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Murder

The act of killing another person, often illegally.

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Cemetery

A place where bodies are buried after death.

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Parrish priest/father

A religious leader, typically a priest, who is responsible for overseeing the spiritual needs of a parish.

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Mourner

A person who has lost a loved one through death.

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Mourning

The act of expressing sorrow, regret or loss.

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Boxing

The act of striking someone repeatedly with the fists.

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Study Notes

The Siesta of Tuesdays

  • Story's setting: A humid, banana-filled region. The time is 11 am.
  • A woman and her child are traveling by train, in third class.
  • They are poor and have limited possessions, primarily food and flowers.
  • The woman is stoic and carries a worn-out purse.
  • The child is observant.
  • The train stops frequently in small towns, all hot and seemingly lifeless during the midday heat.
  • The train's journey is slow; the midday heat has a noticeable effect on the characters and the region.
  • The towns are described as having similar characteristics, showing repetitive architecture and apparent tranquility.
  • People are taking a siesta.
  • The train eventually reaches a larger town with a crowd in the plaza, and a band is playing.
  • The child's mother doesn't eat but says to put on her shoes.

The train journey and atmosphere

  • The train journey is slow, and the towns are all hot and seemingly lifeless during the midday heat.
  • The effect of the heat is evident on the characters and the region.
  • The narrator emphasizes the midday heat and the towns' quietness.
  • People in the towns are resting and taking a siesta.

Character discussion

  • The mother is depicted as stoic and seemingly resigned to poverty.
  • The child is observant and shows signs of weariness.
  • The characters' encounters with other people, particularly on the train and in the towns, are brief.

The final destination

  • Train stops at a town with a band playing.
  • The larger town has more people and a lively atmosphere by comparison in contrast to the other towns before, in the plaza.
  • The setting changes from hot and lifeless towns to one with life and sound, contrasting the rest of the journey.
  • The character's eventual destination isn't explicitly stated, just the towns they traverse.

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