Another brief but important scene occurs near the end of the chapter, when Esperanza gives the piñata to the hungry children at the strikers’ camp.
Recall the scene. What can you infer from explicit details in the scene? Flip the cards to see a response. After you have considered each detail, answer the questions about the scene.
With what earlier event in the novel does this scene strongly contrast?
- This scene contrasts with the scene in the cart when Mama and Esperanza hid under the boards to escape to the United States.
- This scene contrasts with the scene on the train when Esperanza refused to let the peasant girl look at her birthday doll because the girl might get it dirty.
- This scene contrasts with the day on the ranch when Esperanza tells Miguel that there is a kind of river that separates ranch owners from ranch workers.
- This scene contrasts with the day in Mexico when Papa showed Esperanza how to hear the heartbeat of the land.
Think back to the train trip out of Mexico and to the behavior that Mama called rude.
Think back to the train trip out of Mexico and to the behavior that Mama called rude.
Think back to the train trip out of Mexico and to the behavior that Mama called rude.
Think back to the train trip out of Mexico and to the behavior that Mama called rude.
In what way has Esperanza changed so that she is glad to give the piñata to the hungry children?
- She has decided that spending money on the piñata was a mistake.
- She has learned to be more polite to other people.
- She has realized that children especially love a sweet treat.
- She has become more understanding about how life can go wrong.
Think about the contrasting scene. How did the younger Esperanza view people poorer than she was? How does she view them now?
Think about the contrasting scene. How did the younger Esperanza view people poorer than she was? How does she view them now?
Think about the contrasting scene. How did the younger Esperanza view people poorer than she was? How does she view them now?
Think about the contrasting scene. How did the younger Esperanza view people poorer than she was? How does she view them now?
What important ideas are developed by the scene in which Esperanza sees the strikers’ camp, speaks with the hungry family, and gives the piñata away? Select all correct answers.
- Small acts of kindness can bring happiness in sad times.
- Helping someone who is worse off can make the helper feel glad.
- Choosing to strike even if it costs some people their jobs is the right thing to do.
- All people deserve to be treated with dignity, regardless of their social status.
If you’re not sure, read the third paragraph again.
If you’re not sure, read the third paragraph again.
If you’re not sure, read the third paragraph again.
If you’re not sure, read the third paragraph again.
Summary
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