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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the name of the city where Cleofilas was born and raised?

2. In the folk tale of La Llorona which is cited in “Woman Hollering Creek,” the heroine is not allowed into heaven until she has found what?

3. In what year did the treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo end the Mexican-American war?

4. What is Cleofilas’ full name in “Woman Hollering Creek”?

5. What is the name of the wealthy son that the heroine of Maria de Nadie falls in love with?

Short Essay Questions

1. Cleofilas believes that the town of Seguin was built in such a way as to keep women dependent in what way?

2. Where does Juan Pedro promise to take Cleofilas to obtain her wedding dress? Why does he want to marry quickly?

3. What is the turning point for Cleofilas and her perceptions of identity in the story?

4. How does Cleofilas compare romantic love to the love between parent and child?

5. How does Juan Pedro behave toward Cleofilas after he has beaten her for the first time? What is Cleofilas’ response?

6. Aside from the instances of abuse, when does Cleofilas find her marriage difficult, according to the narrative?

7. How is the first time that Juan Pedro beats Cleofilas described in the narrative? How does Cleofilas react?

8. How would you characterize the plot structure of “Woman Hollering Creek”?

9. How would you describe the use of “archetypes” and “stereotypes” in “Woman Hollering Creek”?

10. Why does Cleofilas plead with Juan Pedro to take her to the doctor in the story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the history, location, and mythology of Woman Hollering Creek, located near Seguin, Texas. When was the creek given this name? Who gave the creek this name? Why is this name used as the title for the short story? How does the creek relate to Cleofilas as protagonist?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the origin, history, and characteristics of Spanish-language telenovelas in Latin America. How do these television shows differ from soap operas in the United States? What are common plotlines and themes in the telenovelas? Why does Cleofilas enjoy these shows? With whom does she watch them in Mexico, and later, in America?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Cleofilas’ fears of death by abuse as indicated by her references to Alarma! magazine in the narrative. How does Cleofilas compare her situation with Juan Pedro to the stories in Alarma!? Why does she make these comparisons?

(see the answer keys)

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