Like Water for Chocolate

My Green Life Project

About the Author

• Laura Esquivel:

– Born on September 30, 1950, in Mexico City, Mexico.

– She is a screenwriter, novelist and teacher.

More on Esquivel

• She likes to write stories that focus on the role of food in everyday experiences.

• She also likes to explore gender differences, particularly in Mexican culture.

T h e T e x t

• Like Water for Chocolate is considered Magical Realism.

• It has also been called a cookbook/ love story.

• Magical Realism = aesthetic style or genre of fiction in which magical elements blend with the real world.

• It was made into a major motion picture in 1992.

Yummy Literature!

Click icon to add picture

EACH CHAPTER BEGINS WITH A NEW MONTH AND A NEW RECIPE.

T he S e t t i n g

Where & When

• De La Garza ranch in a rural area

• Piedras Negras, Coahuila

• On the border of Texas in Northern Mexico

• 1910-1920

Historical Context

• Mexican Revolution

• The Mexican people rebelled against the dictatorship of President Diaz.

• Wealth was concentrated in the hands of a few.

• Injustice and corruption were rampant.

The Socio-Cultural Context

Mexicans

• Landowners

• Considered themselves to be of Spanish descent

• Often had lighter skin color

• Treated the indigenous people as slaves

• Provided their children with education and property rights

Indigenous Peoples

• Native people of Mexico

• Had darker skin color

• Were considered inferior and evil by landowners

• Had little access to education/rights

• Were often indoctrinated through Catholicism

Characterization

The Protagonist

• Tita

• Character Traits:– Hard-working– Loyal– Romantic– Loves food– Loves Pedro– Beautiful– Adventurous

The Antagonist

• Mama Elena

• Character Traits:– Cold-hearted– Stubborn– Tradition-bound– Mean-spirited– Class-conscious– Controlling– Hateful

Characterization

Key Characters

• Nacha – The Ranch cook and surrogate mother to Tita

• Rosaura -  The second daughter of Mama Elena

• Gertrudis -  The eldest daughter of Mama Elena

• Dr. John Brown  -  An American doctor who cares for Tita

• Pedro – The love of Tita’s life

Minor Characters

• Chencha -  The ranch maid

• Roberto -  The first child of Rosaura and Pedro

• Esperanza -  The second child of Rosaura and Pedro

• Alex -  The son of Dr. John Brown, and the father of the narrator. He marries Esperanza.

Dialectical Journals

STEP 1:• Answer the questions for each

chapter in a Word document entitled: Like Water for Chocolate Journal.

• Responses should be single spaced, Times New Roman 12 font.

• Each response should provide meaningful commentary.

STEP 2:• Each chapter will have an

assigned quote attack handed out at the beginning of the week.

• Each quote attack should be annotated at AP level.

• All commentary should be meaningful and relevant.

Dialectical Journals

Chapter 1:

1. What is the significance of Tita being unable to find solace in eating the Christmas Roll that Nacha left for her?

2. Why is Tita not allowed to marry Pedro according to Mama Elena and how does Tita feel about this stipulation?

3. How is Tita’s paradigm different than that of her sisters?

4. How does Esquivel use the sensory imagery of food to describe the way Pedro makes Tita feel?

Chapter 1 Quote Attack: See Handout