Lit Analysis #3

Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya.
1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read according to the elements of plot you've learned in past courses (exposition, inciting incident, etc.).  Explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).
The protagonist of this book is Antonio Marez. The setting is Guadalupe, New Mexico. His father, Gabriel, a cowboy, would like to see his son grow up and follow in the same path that he did, but Antonio's mother Maria, a devout catholic, would like Antonio to become a priest. When Ultima, comes to stay with the family, she teaches Antonio about the earth around him and the basics of her craft.  Ultima is ultimately helping Antonio choose his own path in life and allowing him to become who he really is.  Antonio learns a lot from Ultima, not just about healing but about finding who you really are and following your heart.  Eventually Ultima begins to die and Antonio has to really take on what he has learned to be able to get through things. She asks Antonio to bury her owl, and he does so in honor of Ultima. In the end we see Antonio has developed the demeanor that Ultima has taught him.

2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.
I believe that the idea of self discovery and following your heart is the basic theme of the novel.

3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).
The author questions a lot of things that happen through Antonio's thought process, this keeps the readers curious but then satisfied when Antonio comes to terms with everything going on.

 "I had been afraid of the awful presence of the river, which was the soul of the river, but through her (Ultima) I learned that my spirit shared in the spirit of all things"

"The sun was good. The men of the llano were men of the sun. The men of the farms along the river were men of the moon. But we were all children of the white sun."

"There are so many dreams to be fulfilled, but Ultima says a mans destiny must unfold itself like a flower, with only the sun and the earth and water making it blossom, and no one else meddling in it."

4. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers. (Please include edition and page numbers for easy reference.)
Symbolism: Golden carp, Ultimas owl, Virgen de Guadalupe.
Diction: Anaya mixes Spanish words into the dialogue.
Direct Characterization: The author gives us a generalization of how the characters are.
Indirect Characterization: We see more about the characters through Antonio's thoughts.
Metaphor: Antonio's mother is referred to as a mother hen which represents her protectiveness over her children.
Synesthesia: Antonio goes through an internal change throughout the novel.
Aphorism: Used to send a message to the readers.
Motif: Loss of inocence.