The House of the Spirits

Reading Schedule 2010:
By Monday, October 4th have finished Chapters 1-3
By Monday, October 11th have finished Chapters 4-6
By Wednesday, October 27th have finished the novel, including the epilogue.

Class Handouts:

A House of the Spirits complicated family tree, with some theme kick-starters.
Here are some definitions of "magical realism". Can you relate them to aspects of this novel?
Your essay assignment, to write about some literary aspect of the book.
Some questions to think about for Chapters 1-3. (Remember, your page numbers may be different.)
Close reading of Chapters 2 and 3 --Things to highlight and underline in your text.
The questions for Chapters 7-10.
A comparison chart (for House of the Spirits, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and Bernarda Alba) to help you think about World Lit. Essay topics.

Internet Resources:

Isabel Allende has her own well-designed and content-rich website, with some of her speeches, and interviews, as well as photos. Take a look around.
The original Time magazine review of the novel, from 1985, offers some insights into its influences, strengths, and weaknesses.
Bill Moyers, a respected newscaster from the United States, interviewed Isabel Allende shortly after she published her autobiographical book My Invented Country. The interview covers a lot of information related to House of the Spirits.
The BBC has some excellent background in their article, "September 11, 1973: The Day Democracy Died in Chile". They also have prepared "The Pinochet Files," a collection of articles and information about Pinochet, including information about the more recent trials.
Ewin Martínez Torre has prepared a multi-page site about life in Chile during the time of Salvador Allende. Be sure to click on the buttons along the bottom of the page.
What role did the United States and the CIA have in the coup in Chile? Plenty, as declassified documents show. Peter Kornbluh of George Washington University has put some of the relevant ones online, as part of the GWU National Security Archives.

"I don't see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the
irresponsibility of its own people.

The issues are much too important for the Chilean voters to be left to decide for themselves."

--Henry Kissinger, U.S. Secretary of State in 1973

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