Bless Me Ultima Discussion Questions.
- When he begins to go to school, Antonio becomes part of a “gang” of Chicano kids. How did this happen? Can you see why it happens? Do you think things like this may be occurring in our community?
- What did Antonio discover about his culture when he started school?
- One of the key motifs of the novel is family. Throughout the story we watch the structure of the family and family relationships evolve. What sort of evolution do you see in your own family?
- The novel is full of images. One of the strongest is the river running through the center of the story. It provides a dividing line between the town and llano, vaquero and farmer, those who settle and those who wander, etc. We have a river that divides our communities. Does it serve a similar separating function? Are there other lines that we use to divide cultures and people? Where are they? How do we cross them?
- Why are people suspicious of Ultima? How does she belay those suspicions? How did she reinforce them? What about some of the other characters? Andrew? Tenorio? Narciso?
- Medicine and religion cross lines that may be new to us. How do Ultima’s character and her practices coincide or contrast with your own belief systems?
- Do you know any “healers” in the area? From what cultural tradition are they?
- Describe one image or recurring story from the novel that had an impact on you.