1a. How does Arturo feel the minute he walks into the nursing home? What is the first thing he sees?
2a. What had Arturo's mother said in a sad voice about Abuelo's life?
3a. What does Abuelo say he always wanted to be?
4a. How does Abuelo respond to Mrs. Pink Running Shoes's announcement that it is poetry-reading day?
1b. Why does Arturo react to the nursing home this way?
2b. What does Arturo's mother mean by this statement? Why does she react the way she does?
3b. In what ways has he achieved this in his life? How has he failed?
4b. How does this response differ from his earlier demeanor?
5a. Outline what Arturo has learned about Abuelo by the end of the story that he didn't know at the start. What do the different events in Abuelo's life indicate about his character?
5b. What does Abuelo believe are the important things in his life? What has Arturo learned from Abuelo, and how has Arturo changed? How do you think Abuelo would label his life? Would he say, as Arturo's mother did, that his life was a "waste of a fine mind"? How does the telling of his story influence the interpretation of the phrase Así es la vida?
6a. What idea or ideas do you think Judith Ortiz Cofer would like to get across to the reader in this story? In what ways do you agree or disagree with this idea?
6b. Consider the narrator of Sandra Cisneros's poem "Abuelito Who." How does the narrator of this poem differ from the narrator of "An Hour with Abuelo"? How do the authors' ideas differ from one another? Imagine how the narrator of the poem might interpret the phrase As’ es la vida. How might the interpretation be different from that of Arturo's?
First-Person Point of View. "An Hour with Abuelo" is told from a young person's point of view and offers his personal interpretation of the events and characters in the story. Imagine how Arturo might tell this story if he were older. How might his description of the visit differ from what it is now?
Characterization. Refer back to your graphic organizer. What kind of adjectives and action verbs does the narrator use to enhance characterization? What kind of sensory details contribute to the reader's understanding of the characters? Now take a look at the poem "Abuelito Who" by Sandra Cisneros. How does the narrator of this poem use descriptive phrases to characterize the grandfather she is writing about?
1. Write an ending for Abuelo's book, Así es la vida.
2. Imagine that you have been hired to design a book jacket for Abuelo's autobiography. Describe, in directions to a designer, how you would like it to look.
3. Write a short editorial article for a local newspaper explaining what you think about the relationship between the younger and older generations of today.
Your Poem.
Definition of who.
Definition of whose.
Conducting an Interview. Make a list of questions to ask in your interview. Fill in the answers during the interview.
Question 1.
Answer 1.
Q 2.
A 2.
Q 3.
A 3.
Q 4.
A 4.
Q 5.
A 5.
Geographic Research: Research Log. Use the Internet or the library to research Puerto Rico. Find information about the island's history, culture, politics, language, and food. What makes Puerto Rico unique? What is life like there for young people? What do you find intriguing about its culture and people? Based on your research, create a travel brochure encouraging people to visit the island and highlighting some of the most interesting qualities Puerto Rico has to offer. Use this log to keep track of the sources you use, the information you find, and your reactions to what you learn.
Internet sources.
Books and print sources.
Investigating the News: Research Log. Using the Internet, newspapers, magazines, and/or other sources of news information, locate at least two articles that discuss the status of statehood for Puerto Rico. What are the advantages of statehood? What are the disadvantages? What rights do American citizens have that Puerto Ricans do not? What percentage of Puerto Ricans are in favor of statehood? After assessing the articles, write a statement of your beliefs on whether or not Puerto Rico should become a state. Use this log to keep track of the sources you use, the information you find, and your reactions to what you learn.
Researching Family Titles. In "An Hour with Abuelo," the main character, Arturo, visits his grandfather, or abuelo, in a nursing home. Using the list of family titles below, write down the equivalent word in your native tongue or from your ethnic background. For example, if you moved to the United States from Korea, write down the Korean word for each of the family titles. If your family came from many different countries, such as Ireland, Sweden, and Italy, select one country and do some research to find out what family titles are used there. You might also choose to include regional titles. For example, in Appalachia, grandfathers are often called pawpaw. Share your findings with the rest of the class.
Grandfather
Grandmother
Mother
Father
Aunt
Uncle
Brother
Sister
Cousin
