When I Was Puerto Rican Questions

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When I was Puerto Rican By Esmeralda Santiago Santiago's memoir stretches from the time she was four years old through her early adolescence at age 14. The memoir is centered in the Puerto Rican towns of Macún and Santurce until Santiago is 13, when she, her mother, and her siblings move to the United States. The final three chapters take place in Brooklyn, New York. The book can also be taught thematically, focusing on macro-level development of sociological and historical themes. CHRONOLOGICAL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Prologue: How to Eat A Guava 1. What tensions does Santiago introduce immediately with her comparison between imported "Shop and Save" guava and native, home grown guava?
2. Why does Santiago begin her childhood memoir in the present?
3. Why does Santiago frame her narrative around fruit?
4. What is the relationship between food and culture? Jíbara 1. How would you characterize the Santiago's home in Macún?
2. How is the family's socioeconomic status revealed?
3. What is a jíbara?
4. What is the significance of a word and category like jíbara?
5. How is the term jíbara related to the history of Puerto Rico?
6. How would you characterize the relationship between Mami and Papi?
7. What is the significance of Esmeralda's nickname, "Negi"?
8. How would you characterize Esmeralda's relationship with her sibilings? Fighting Naked 1. Who is fighting naked in this chapter?
2. How would you characterize Mami and Papi's relationship based on the new information revealed in this chapter?
3. How does Mami feel about Macún?
4. How would you characterize Mami in her relationship with Papi?
5. How would you characterize Mami when she leaves Papi?
6. What lessons does Santiago learn at school?
7. How are the children socialized?
8. How do they learn to categorize other people? Someone is Coming to Take Your Lap 1. What new meaning does

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