Questions and Answers
La Llorona advises the girls to be noble and kind.
True
The lechuzas (owls) attack the girls in the barn.
True
The lechuzas say mean things to the girls.
True
The lechuzas speak in the voices of Teresita, Cecilia, the mother of the girls and others.
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To kill the lechuzas, Odilia makes knots in a silk thread.
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Words like 'lechuzas', 'chupacabras', 'cinco hermanitas', etc., are examples of local color because the novel is set in Mexico.
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Chencho, the goat herder is a chupacabras.
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Pita's leg was bitten by a scorpion.
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Abuelita cures Pita with special herbs.
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Abuelita tells the girls their father left them because he is spoiled.
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The girls leave their identification papers at Abuelita's house by mistake. They need the papers to get back into the USA.
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The girls are magically transported to the border.
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Their mother meets the girls at the border and they give her beautiful white lilies.
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Papa is in their house when the girls and their mom return. He promises to never leave and all the girls are happy.
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Papa's plan is for his new woman and her daughters to move in with his own five daughters and Mama.
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Odilia gives her mother's flowers to La Llorona.
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La Llorona and her two children become butterflies in the sky.
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Odilia has a quinceanera party when she turns 16.
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Papa comes to the party and wants to apologize.
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Mama takes Papa back and the family is reunited.
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Butterflies represent growth and change into something beautiful and free, just as the sisters and their mother grew and changed.
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Study Notes
La Llorona and the Girls
- La Llorona advises the girls to embody qualities of nobility and kindness, impacting their journey.
- The lechuzas, representing danger, attack the girls in a barn, showcasing the theme of fear.
- The lechuzas taunt the girls, using voices of familiar figures such as Teresita and their mother, emphasizing the psychological struggle the girls face.
- To combat the lechuzas, Odilia utilizes a traditional method of making knots in a silk thread, illustrating cultural rituals in the story.
- Local color is highlighted through terms like "lechuzas," "chupacabras," and "cinco hermanitas," grounding the narrative in Mexican culture.
Key Characters and Events
- Chencho, the goat herder, is identified as a chupacabras, linking folklore to character development.
- Pita's injury from a scorpion bite is incorrectly noted; rather, Abuelita cures her with special herbs, showcasing folk medicine.
- Abuelita reveals that the girls' father left due to feeling spoiled, which informs family dynamics.
- An important plot point is the girls mistakenly leaving their identification papers at Abuelita's house, a crucial element for their return to the USA.
Magical Elements and Themes
- The girls experience magical transportation to the border, emphasizing the fantastical elements of their journey.
- Their mother does not meet them at the border, nor do they exchange beautiful white lilies, contrasting expectations of reunion.
- Papa's absence during their homecoming and his broken promises create emotional tension, as he is not present when the family reunites.
Symbolism and Transformation
- Butterflies symbolize growth, change, and freedom, paralleling the sisters' and their mother's transformation throughout the story.
- Odilia’s act of giving her mother's flowers to La Llorona reflects themes of sacrifice and connection to heritage.
- The quinceanera, an important cultural milestone, does not occur for Odilia, reflecting the broader struggles of the family.
- Papa attempts to apologize at a party but the family's reunion is not fully realized, leaving unresolved conflict.
Conclusion
- The storyline intertwines elements of folklore, cultural identity, and the significance of family ties, highlighting both struggles and growth experienced by the protagonists.
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Description
Test your knowledge on chapters 13-22 of 'Summer of the Mariposas' with this engaging quiz. Explore themes such as kindness and the mysterious lechuzas that challenge the girls. Dive deep into the story's developments and characters in a fun way.
