Blog Task #5: Chapters 9-12 Discussion Questions

Answer the following set of questions. Pay attention to the keywords in the question stem to
plan your answer, and to the grading indications of each to ensure you are meeting the
requirements.

1.Explore the character of Gertrudis in Chapters 9 and 10; how does she act as a
Foil for Tita?How does she challenge gender norms?( /2 K / 1 I /1 C)
- For Gertrudis, he act as foil for Tita, because she always be strong and confront with the
problem, not scare of. In Ch 10, when her sister,Tita, got problem, pregnancy, with
Pedro. Her sisters problem is a big problem and may make her shame,, but instead of
telling her sister to avoids, she recommended to confront with him.
- Gertrudis also challenge gender norms she became a general in revolution war. That role
seem to be fit for men, but she can does it very well and be successful in the end. Usually
women at that time, were supposed to working at house, doing houseworks.
2.In Chapter 10, Tita experiences significant character development. She confronts the ghost of
Mama Elena; after doing so, how do the following events in the novel suggest she has changed?(
/1 K / 1 I /1 C)
- After she confronts with ghost Mama Elena; Tita has blood coming out from her body
and she found out that she doesnt pregnant anymore. It make me understand that Mama
Elena let her be free to the rest of her life. Be free from her since she was borned. So in
this time Tita has power to chooses whatever she wants,, such as to be with Pedro or John
or remain single. This is just my opinion but I dont think that her pregnancy was her
imagination, but Mama Elena make it, and at the end when she think her daughter ready
to be experienced how cruel is on the outside world, so she make Tita has a new chance.
3.Brainstorm the significance of the following symbols: seeds, chickens, diapers, chile, fire.( / 5 I
/1 C)
- Seeds : Want to be alone, dont want to connect or hear anything from the outside.
- Chickens : I think chicken symbolize jealousy, as one chicken got food another one feel
angry and start the fight, at last most of them got eat up into the earth.
- Diapers : Diaper color is white, represent as innocent. When the fight begin the blood
make Diapers soaked with red, represent innocent people got affected by other people
jealously.
- Chile : it seemed to represent as enjoyment, as Pedro and Tita have get in last chapter.
- Fire : it represent as happiness, when Pedro and Tita get on their bed they lited up many
candles all around and after they got climax and happiness they body were on fire and
sleep forever in peace with joy.
4.In Chapter 11, Rosaura and Tita finally confront one another. Summarize this
confrontation,and analyse it by explaining how their views oppose one another. Then, respond to
it by suggesting who you think the better woman is.( /1 K / 2 I /1 C)
- Rosaura and Tita confront in the topics of Pedro and Family tradition, Rosaura tell Tita
that she really care about her own face in public, but she doesnt care that will her
husband and her sister will go make love together, however it need to be secret. Rosaura
also jumped into Esperanza topic which she, as her mother, want her daughter to follow
family tradition. But Tita doesnt agree. Rosause chose to bring this topic up because she
knew what Tita love the most is Esperanza.
 - I am with Tita side, because Tita knew that Esperanza will not happy in follow the family
tradition and try to fight for her. Instead of Esperanza real mother, she doesn't care will
her daughter be happy or not. What I think she does cares about is her convenient activity
if she let her daughter followed family tradition.

5.How do Pedro and John express their love differently to Tita? How does Johns
actions,especially in Chapters 11 and 12, challenge gender norms? Who is Titas better match,
and why?( /1 K / 2 I /1 C)
- Pedro is Titas first loved, she love him and he also does. But there have so many factors
that kept them apart. They both can stay close but have to keep some distance. However,
Pedro show his love to Tita publically, his action seem to be like a young child, he must
get what he wants. Instead of John Brown, he came in the middle of the story, he wasnt
Titas first love. But he show his love and loyalty to her by take care of her and want her
to be happy, no matter that will she be with him or not.
- Especially in Chapter 11 & 12, John did challenge gender norms by giving female
genders,Tita, choice to married or not.
- I think Tita should marry with John Brown. Why not Pedro, her first love?. What did he
do for Tita when she needs help? The answer is nothing. But instead be a troublemaker,
Pedro is a character that hurts Tita the most, marry with Rosaura, Titas sister.Instead of
John, he does everything he could to make her enjoy her life and also heal her mind in
CH4 after got kicked out from ranched by Mama Elena.
6.In the last chapter of the novel, we see Esperanza develop into an adult. What does her
development in the novel suggest about the novels main themes? View her development
through the lenses of gender, history and culture.( / 3 I /1 C)
Ans : Esperanzas development explain very well about always improvement and make change
not alway stuck with old things, seem to be fit as novels main themes. She did broke her family
tradition and mary with a man she wants. If we see through the history, gender and culture,
people always make improvement they all keep changing their life to fulfill what they want.
Such as civil right for women, women think that what they got treated dont fair for them and
start to fight for their right to be equal to men, and as a result a organization has been formed
name NOW.