Bless Me Ultima
Jasmine Tran
Ms. Brzowski
English 2 PDP - Period 1
09.12.2012
Seminar Notes: Bless Me Ultima
1. Bless Me Ultima fits the description of "magical realism" because the story talks a lot about a curandera named Ultima. As we all know, a curandera is a healer. Rudolfo Anaya portrays Ultima as this old lady who has magical and spiritual powers. She seems to bring life to things around her.
"When she came the beauty of the llano unfolded before my eyes, and the gurgling waters of the river sang to the hum of the turning earth. The magical time of childhood stood still, and the pulse of the living earth pressed it mystery into my living blood." (Anaya, 1)
"Your daughter will not lift the curse, and so I must work the magic beyond evil, the magic that endures forever-" (Anaya, 94)
2. Archetypes in Bless Me Ultima:
Virgin of Guadalupe, Ultima = Mother. Motherly is an archetype in Bless Me Ultima. It reflects the cultural heritage of Ultima because she is a curandera and she was at Antonio's birth and his catechism. She is like his protector.
Tenorio, his daughters = Dark, evil figures. Evil figures is an archetype in Bless Me Ultima. It reflects the cultural heritage of Tenorio's daughters because they lost faith in God and used dark magic on poor, unsuspected people.
"They are women who long ago turned away from God," she answered, "and so they spend their time reading in the Black Book and practicing their evil deed on poor, unsuspected people. Instead of working, they spend their nights holding their black masses and dancing for the devil in the darkness of the river. (Anaya, 99)
3. Ultima's owl plays as a protector, a guard, a comforter, and as Ultima's soul. Owls symbolize death according to ancient cultures.
"I felt safe in the warm sweetness of the room. Outside the owl sang its dark questioning to the night, and I slept." (Anaya, 25)
"It was when he said that the owl was the spirit of Ultima that everything I had ever known about Ultima and her
Ms. Brzowski
English 2 PDP - Period 1
09.12.2012
Seminar Notes: Bless Me Ultima
1. Bless Me Ultima fits the description of "magical realism" because the story talks a lot about a curandera named Ultima. As we all know, a curandera is a healer. Rudolfo Anaya portrays Ultima as this old lady who has magical and spiritual powers. She seems to bring life to things around her.
"When she came the beauty of the llano unfolded before my eyes, and the gurgling waters of the river sang to the hum of the turning earth. The magical time of childhood stood still, and the pulse of the living earth pressed it mystery into my living blood." (Anaya, 1)
"Your daughter will not lift the curse, and so I must work the magic beyond evil, the magic that endures forever-" (Anaya, 94)
2. Archetypes in Bless Me Ultima:
Virgin of Guadalupe, Ultima = Mother. Motherly is an archetype in Bless Me Ultima. It reflects the cultural heritage of Ultima because she is a curandera and she was at Antonio's birth and his catechism. She is like his protector.
Tenorio, his daughters = Dark, evil figures. Evil figures is an archetype in Bless Me Ultima. It reflects the cultural heritage of Tenorio's daughters because they lost faith in God and used dark magic on poor, unsuspected people.
"They are women who long ago turned away from God," she answered, "and so they spend their time reading in the Black Book and practicing their evil deed on poor, unsuspected people. Instead of working, they spend their nights holding their black masses and dancing for the devil in the darkness of the river. (Anaya, 99)
3. Ultima's owl plays as a protector, a guard, a comforter, and as Ultima's soul. Owls symbolize death according to ancient cultures.
"I felt safe in the warm sweetness of the room. Outside the owl sang its dark questioning to the night, and I slept." (Anaya, 25)
"It was when he said that the owl was the spirit of Ultima that everything I had ever known about Ultima and her