Lepe 1

Victoria Lepe
Mrs. Durrill
IB English A: Literature HL
16 October 2014
IO House of The Spirits Chapter 1
Motifs
Religion
1. Severo Del Valle was an atheist and a mason, but he had political ambitions and
could not allow himself the luxury of missing the most heavily attended mass on
Sundays and feast days (pg 3) Paragraph 2
2. He himself was a firm believer in in the value of a good thrashing to vanquish
weaknesses of the soul and was famous for his unrestrained oratory (pg 2)
Paragraph 4
3. Some of the women murmured prayers under their breath (pg 30) paragraph 4
Magic/ Defying the Natural Law/ Magical Realism
1. She preferred not to torment her daughter with earthly demands, for she has a
premonition that her daughter was a heavenly being, and that she was not destine
to last very long in the vulgar traffic of this world. (Pg 6) paragraph 1
a. Example of foreshadow or Foretelling
2. They had also grown accustomed to the youngest daughters prophecies. She
would announce earthquakes in advance (pg 8) paragraph 1
3. Why do only women seem to have these premonitions?
Lepe 2
4. Its true there have been timeswhen the salt cellar would shake and move
among plates and goblets without any visible source of energy or sign of
illusionists trick (pg 7) paragraph 3
5. Marcoss heroic resurrection made everyone forget about his barrel-organ phase
(pg 15) paragraph 2
6. Clara announced that there would soon be another death in the del Valle family
(pg 25) paragraph 2
7. When she came to Rosas door she stopped, gripped by a premonition. (pg 26)
8. Despite his sturdy character, Severo was overcome when his daughters
nightgown was lifter reveal the splendid body of a mermaid (pg 27)

Characterization
1. Esteban
a. I lived in a mine, in a wooden shack with a zinc roof that I built myself
I had never taken a hot bath, and my childhood memories were of cold,
of loneliness and of a perpetually empty stomach (pg 21)
b. Damn Her! She slipped though my hands! they say I shouted falling to
my knees beside her, scandalizing all the relatives, for now one could
comprehend my frustration at having spent two years scratching the earth
to make my fortune with no other goal than that of one day leading this
girl to the altar (pg 34) paragraph 2


Lepe 3
2. Clara
a. Pst! Father Restrepo! If that story about hell is a lie, were all fucked
arent we? (pg 7)
3. Rosa
a) The tone of her skin, with its soft bluish lights, and of her hair, as well as her slow
movements and silent character, all made one thing of some inhabitant of the sea.
(pg 4)
4. Severo de Valle
a. Severo Del Valle was an atheist and a mason, but he had political
ambitions and could not allow himself the luxury of missing the most
heavily attended mass on Sundays and feast days (pg 3) Paragraph 2
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Chapter One IO Questions
1. In what ways do time and place matter to this work?
a. Time and place matter because a lot of things were different than they are now a
lot more people are were religious and believed in getting married and having
children. Men also played a bigger role and womens only role was to have
children and take care of the house. Whereas today women and men are seen
closer to equals then they were before. Place plays a big role as well because
Latin-American culture is a lot different.
2. What was easy to understand and what was difficult in relation to social and cultural
context and issues?
a. It was hard to understand that women allowed themselves to be lower then men.
Another was how the Priest was able to make wild accusations, but because he
was apart of the church and has some power the people were scared to speak up.
In todays society people no matter the power they have they still have a voice.
3. What connections did you find between issues in the work and your own culture(s) and
experience?
Lepe 4
a. Latin- American Culture is a lot different than American culture. The men and the
Church play a bigger role in society. The magic realism was also really hard for
me to grab ahold of because in America magic is seen as hocus pocus and not
many people take part of magic.
4. What aspects of technique are interesting in the work?
a. Its interesting how Isabel Allende uses the technique of foretelling instead of
foreshadowing. Its interesting because this is the first novel in which I have read a
novel that has been so straightforward rather than hiding the truth by giving us
little hints with in the text that could potentially be telling us what could happen
next.
Word Count: 818





Notes
1. Nana
a) Is not apart of the family
b) Power struggle
c) Servant
1. Women
a) Are seen as an object
2. Clara
a. Her beast is real and she is grounded
b. Parallel- she takes care of Esteban and Barrabs (both considered beasts)
3. Rosa
a. Her beasts are embroidered and she is in lala land
b. Orange blossoms- purity
i. When she was dead Dr. assistant was gentle with her
4. Esteban
Lepe 5
a. Is a beast
b. Works underground
c. No magic
5. There is silence because there is a power struggle
6. Uncle Marcos
a. Compared to Jesus
i. Betrayed
ii. Barrabs is his dogs and survives biblical allusion
Chapter Two Notes
1. Ferula
a. Shadows
b. Spinster
c. Powerless
2. Many parallels between Ferula and Esteban