Reading Questions
1. The significance of the ‘fly tracks scattered across the page”
a. How do they change Belisa’s life?
The encounter with written language is portrayed as somewhat of a turning point in the characters life. They allow her a foundation to build a new life upon and give her an objective. Words become a tool that Belisa Crepusculario harnesses to improve her current situation, they allow her to pursue an occupation other than the standard of her class and in turn allow her some level of success in her life when compared to her origins.
b) How do they change the story of her country?
Words and specifically Belisa’s use of them allow people to connect and share despite distance. They allow for the trade of information …show more content…
In this story, Isabel Allende illustrates the dual nature of the power of language – that it can be both positive and negative. What is this dual nature and how does the author develop this view? Refer to specific evidence from the text in your response.
Throughout the text the author highlights both the positives and negatives of the power of language. They make the point that language can inspire and empower as well as bring together people of all backgrounds and allow for the sharing and preservation of knowledge it also has the power to control and influence others. The author also shows the power we place in language and how this is not always a good thing. The two major examples of this is seen through the reaction of the public to the colonel’s speech. Despite being widely disliked and eared amongst society the colonel managed to gain innumerable support as a result of the speech written by Belisa Crepusculario. In this case the public opinion was swayed by words alone and someone who was generally considered bad was elevated to a position of power. Another example of this is the slow deterioration of the colonel as a result of his obsession over the words given to him by Belisa. These events show our obsession with words and their meanings and how the power we place in them has the power to control and …show more content…
Consider how the Colonel feels after learning the ‘two words’. In what ways do words have power over him?
After being given his two words the colonel becomes obsessed. He equates these two words with the memory of Belisa and in turn allows them to distract him from his ambition. While the meaning of these words is never explained within the text they were obviously powerful enough to force the colonel to forget about his greed for admiration and instead focus his thoughts on the women who gave them to him.
4. In what ways can words have an effect on and a power over us? Refer to your life experience for this
1. The significance of the ‘fly tracks scattered across the page”
a. How do they change Belisa’s life?
The encounter with written language is portrayed as somewhat of a turning point in the characters life. They allow her a foundation to build a new life upon and give her an objective. Words become a tool that Belisa Crepusculario harnesses to improve her current situation, they allow her to pursue an occupation other than the standard of her class and in turn allow her some level of success in her life when compared to her origins.
b) How do they change the story of her country?
Words and specifically Belisa’s use of them allow people to connect and share despite distance. They allow for the trade of information …show more content…
In this story, Isabel Allende illustrates the dual nature of the power of language – that it can be both positive and negative. What is this dual nature and how does the author develop this view? Refer to specific evidence from the text in your response.
Throughout the text the author highlights both the positives and negatives of the power of language. They make the point that language can inspire and empower as well as bring together people of all backgrounds and allow for the sharing and preservation of knowledge it also has the power to control and influence others. The author also shows the power we place in language and how this is not always a good thing. The two major examples of this is seen through the reaction of the public to the colonel’s speech. Despite being widely disliked and eared amongst society the colonel managed to gain innumerable support as a result of the speech written by Belisa Crepusculario. In this case the public opinion was swayed by words alone and someone who was generally considered bad was elevated to a position of power. Another example of this is the slow deterioration of the colonel as a result of his obsession over the words given to him by Belisa. These events show our obsession with words and their meanings and how the power we place in them has the power to control and …show more content…
Consider how the Colonel feels after learning the ‘two words’. In what ways do words have power over him?
After being given his two words the colonel becomes obsessed. He equates these two words with the memory of Belisa and in turn allows them to distract him from his ambition. While the meaning of these words is never explained within the text they were obviously powerful enough to force the colonel to forget about his greed for admiration and instead focus his thoughts on the women who gave them to him.
4. In what ways can words have an effect on and a power over us? Refer to your life experience for this