Characters
Who is the main character in the story?
The narrator
The mother would check the time on the clock, the one with a prayer for patience and grace. Which theme does this most likely highlight in the story?
Remaining hopeful in unfortunate situations.
"I could more or less program my Supergirl dreams in those days by focusing on the object of my OBSESSION"
A state in which someone think about something/someone constantly, especially in ways that is not normal.
A constant (unhealthy) interest in something/someone
What does the narrator's dream to fly represent?
Her desire to seek a better life
Which of her interests is most typical of "the beginning of adolescence", according to the narrator?
Looking into the rooms of the boys she liked.
How old is the main character?
Twelve
Longing and a desire for change.
. In the mornings I’d wake up in my tiny bedroom with the INCONGRUOUS —at least in our tiny apartment—white “princess” furniture my mother had chosen for me, and find myself back in my body: my tight curls still clinging to my head, skinny arms and legs ...unchanged.
out of place
not in harmony
What key aspect of the narrator's personality is revealed by the fact that she dreams of having long straight blond hair?
She isn't comfortable with her personal appearance.
Where does this story take place?
In America- in a Spanish speaking community.
Give one piece of evidence that tells us that the narrator loved comic books.
I spent my allowance of a quarter a day on two-cent comic books...
I had a stack of Legion of Super Heroes and Supergirl comic books...
Can you guess the themes based on the following clues:
The narrator's family were immigrants and they were poor.
The impact of poverty on immigrant families.
Guess the English for the word in bold.
And he would answer patiently, gently, MI AMOR do you know how much it would cost for all of us to fly there?
My love
Which detail from "Volar: To Fly" most clearly supports the main idea that the narrator grew up in a family of modest means?
"tiny apartment"
How does the conversation about Puerto Rico develop the narrator's understanding of her parents?
She learns that they cannot afford to travel to Puerto Rico and this makes her mother feel sad and hopeless.
The narrator says "...I could feel the disappointment if I interrupted them by getting up too early. " So I stayed in my bed..."
What does this tell us about the character?
She is very considerate.
Which theme is brought out by the idea of the narrator fantasizing to be Supergirl?
How people deal with difficult situations through hope escapism thinking.
The view was of a dismal alley that was littered with REFUSE thrown from windows.
Trash, garbage
What does the narrator convey by putting "wake me" in quotes in the following sentence: She would "wake me" exactly forty-five minutes after they had gotten up.
She is already awake when her mother goes to wake her.
Double Jeopardy!
Free turn
The narrator's father referred to the mother as "Querido", "mi vida", and "mi amor"
What can we infer about the father from this?
He cares deeply about his family/wife.
Which statement best describes the theme of the story?
1. Fictional superheroes can inspire people to be kind to each other.
2. Hope and imagination are important as they help one feel less confined.
Number 2.
"And I knew that soon she would rise from the table. Not ABRUPTLY".
Suddenly
What does the dream featuring the landlord suggests?
The landlord is very greedy; he loves money.
What lesson have you learnt from studying the short story "Volar"