Discussion Topic: THE MEMORY OF SILENCE

[Jeffrey]

General:

What’s the best and worst?

How would you categorize the novel. (What type of novel is this? a neo-historical novel... etc) Is it akin to others we have read?

Take a look at the overall questions on the syllabus. Is there one in particular that lines up well with this novel, or do I need to add one.


Narratee:
What’s the target audience? Does it address a singular audience or multiple groups.

Before beginning the text, must the reader have a working knowledge of Cuban history? If so, is it similar to other works

Does the story stand on its own or is it hermetic without a working knowledge of cultural history? Is that the same for Kingdom of this World, Gabriela, and One Years of Solitude?


Discourse:
Thoughts on structure and style?

Discuss the author’s narrative strategy. (How is the story delivered and why.)

Discuss the characterization of the two sisters.

What is achieved by including other outside, or “authentic” texts? What’s their role(s)? Effective or distracting?

Describe the various sentiments of the primary characters (the sisters and supporting cast).

Specifically, what’s the most didactic passage; the most poetic passage? the most moving passage?

Cite and discuss examples of the most effective use of imagery and/or symbolism.


Theme / Content

How would you articulate the theme and its sub-categories

Discuss the conflict (there may be multiple layers of conflict).

The characters express a lot of different emotions throughout the text. What are they and how effective is the text at conveying the myriad of emotions. Do you share these emotions? Do you feel angry, sad, defensive...

What role doe “memory” play? And how does that compare to other works we’ve read.

Why “silence”?

Describe Miami through the eyes of Menchu and Havana through the eyes of Lauri.

What message or overriding principle do you walk away with?


Synthesis:
What’s the most memorable passage(s).

What do you know now that you didn’t know before reading the work.

How would you compare MoS to Kingdom of this World, Gabriela, Clove, and Cinammon, One Hundred Years of Solitude, or some of our other readings. Similar, dissimilar, etc. how so? For example, does MoS reveal an aspect of the Americas that the others do not?