Bless Me, Ultima Study Guide

English 9—Mr. Yanoti/Mrs. Napora
Bless Me, Ultima Study Guide
Name:______________________________
Chapter 1, pp. 1-13
1) Antonio, the main character, says that everything changed the summer that Ultima
arrived. What word does he use to describe this change________________________
2) Why has Ultima come to stay with the Merez family _________________________
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3) According to Antonio, where did the family used to live, why did they move, and how
does his father feel about this_______________________________________________
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4) Where are Antonio’s older brothers________________________________________
5) Ultima is a curandera, which means________________________________________
6) Describe the first dream that Antonio tells us about.___________________________
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7) What occupation does Antonio’s mother wish for him________________________
Chapter 2, pp. 14-26
1) What is Antonio’s father’s dream_________________________________________
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2) What does Ultima teach Antonio What does she believe about the
land___________________________________________________________________
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3) What crime does Lupito commit What makes him do this What is the
consequence____________________________________________________________
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4) How does Antonio feel about the river and his town after he witnesses this How
does he feel about the owl_________________________________________________
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5) Why does Gabriel Marez (Antonio’s father) choose to build a house in the hills instead
of the fertile river valley___________________________________________________
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6) What role does Antonio take on in his last dream of this chapter_________________
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Chapter 3, pp. 27-38
1) What are some of the differences between Antonio’s mother and father What are the
differences between the Luna and Marez families_______________________________
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2) What does Antonio’s mother mean when she says that “growing into manhood is a
sin”___________________________________________________________________
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3) How does Tony (Antonio) feel about going to school at first How does this change
when he meets the boys on the way to church__________________________________

Chapter 4, pp.39-46
1) What does Ultima believe about all of the plants______________________________
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2) What do you think is this presence of which Tony speaks_______________________
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3) What is Tony’s view of God at the end of this chapter_________________________
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Chapter 5, pp. 46-50
Describe the town of El Puerto_______________________________________________
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Chapter 6, pp. 51-59
1) How does Tony feel on the morning of his first day of school___________________
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2) What blessing do you think Ultima is giving Tony on page 55___________________
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3) Describe Tony’s experiences on the first day of school. Were they good or bad_____
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Chapter 7, pp. 60-64
1) What two important events occur in this chapter______________________________
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2) What do you think is the significance of Tony’s dream about his brothers_________
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Chapter 8, pp. 65-69
1) How has the war affected Leon, Eugene, and Andrew (Tony’s brothers)__________
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2) In what ways does Tony seem to be different from his brothers_________________
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3) Explain the dramatic irony in Tony’s statement to his brothers, “I will bless you!”
_______________________________________________________________________
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Chapter 9, pp. 70-82
1) What does Tony dream about at the beginning of this chapter___________________
________________________________________________________________________
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2) When Tony’s brothers leave town, how does this put more pressure on him________
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3) According to Samuel, why is it bad luck to fish for carp What is the Golden Carp
_______________________________________________________________________
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Chapter 10, pp. 83-105
1) What is the cause of Uncle Lucas’ illness___________________________________
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2) Why is it so important that Tony be there to help lift the curse__________________
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3) What piece of wisdom does Ultima give Tony on page 98 Do you agree__________
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4) What did the brujas use to place their curse__________________________________
Chapter 11, 106-121
1) Why is Tony reluctant to believe in the Golden Carp__________________________
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2) What makes Tony feel sick on page 111____________________________________
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3) How does Cico explain the boys’ behavior__________________________________
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4) Why can Tony and Chico see the Carp, but some others cannot__________________
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5)How is the prophecy of the Carp like the biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah
________________________________________________________________________
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6) The struggle in Tony’s last dream of this chapter is really between _______________
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Chapter 12, pp. 122-135
1) Why do Tenorio and his men want to hurt Ultima____________________________
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2) Why can’t a bruja (witch) pass the sign of the cross___________________________
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Chapter 13, pp 136-142
1) What does Tony question about God on page 137____________________________
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2) How do the people of El Puerto know that the Trementina sister is a witch_________
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3) What do Tony’s uncles ask of his parents___________________________________
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Chapter 14, pp. 143-176
1) What do some of the kids tease Tony about when he returns to school
________________________________________________________________________
2) Why do Tenorio and Narciso continue to fight_______________________________
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3) Why is Tony shocked when he follows Narciso to Rosie’s_____________________
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4) What happens to Narciso________________________________________________
5) What does Tony do for Narciso___________________________________________
Chapter 15, pp.177-185
1) Why do things change between Tony and his brother Andrew at this point_________
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2) Why are Leon and Eugene particularly embarrassed about what happened to their car
_______________________________________________________________________
3)What fact about his sons has Gabriel Marez come to accept____________________
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Chapter 16, pp. 186-189
1) Why does Tony begin to have some doubts about his faith______________________
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2) What does Tenorio mean when he says to Tony, “Your curse is that you know too
much!”_________________________________________________________________
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Chapter 17, pp. 190-202
1) How does Tony feel about his upcoming Holy Communion____________________
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2) Describe Florence’s views on religion. Why do these thoughts trouble Tony_______
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Chapter 18, pp. 203-216
1) Of what fact of existence does Ash Wednesday remind Tony___________________
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2) Why is Tony upset by the “confession game_________________________________
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3)Why do all the kids become angry with Tony at the end of this scene_____________
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Chapter 19, pp. 217-221
1) What is Tony’s reaction to his first communion_______________________________
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Chapter 20, pp. 222-235
1) What is the reason for the curse on the Agua Negra ranch and the Tellez family_____
_______________________________________________________________________
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Chapter 21, pp. 236-242
1) Why don’t Cico and Tony tell others about the golden carp_____________________
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2) What do they decide about Florence_______________________________________
3) What happens to Florence_______________________________________________
Chapter 22, pp. 243-262
1) About which three people does Tony have a nightmare_________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2) What advice does Ultima give to Tony on page 245___________________________
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3)What advice does Gabriel Marez give to his son on page 246___________________
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4) Why does Tenorio kill the owl____________________________________________
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5)Why does Tony ask Ultima to bless him___________________________________
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6) What last piece of Ultima’s advice does Tony remember_______________________
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