Literature Analysis 4.

"Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo A. Anaya

1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read.
    The story takes place during World War II in a small town called Guadalupe which is in New Mexico. It is about a young boy named Antonio Márez who is trying to figure out his identity. His family has taken in an old healer named Ultima who uses folk magic in service of the community and has healing powers. Antonio's mother is a Catholic and his father is a cowboy of the great plains of New Mexico. Due to such a difference of who they are, they bump heads about what their expectation of Antonio's future would be like. His mother hopes he would become a Catholic priest and his father hopes he will become a cowboy like him. Ultima takes great part throughout the novel. She teaches him much about nature and the Native American religion. By spending so much time with Ultima, Antonio begins to realize what he wants to do for himself in his own future.

2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.
    Independence. You must have your own opinion of what you want to do in the future because it's your own life ahead of you.

3. Describe the author's tone.  Include three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).
    The authors tone is very serious and somber. We can see the seriousness when Antonio is trying to figure out his moral decisions and which path to take for his future. Another excerpts is when Ultima is trying to cure the illness of Lucas, but one of Tonorio's daughters passes away. Another example is the ending when Ultima is killed due to the fact that Tonorio killed her owl that helps with her magical healing.

4. Describe five literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the theme and/or your sense of the tone.  Include three excerpts that will help your reader understand each one.
    -Symbolism: The author uses the Ultima's owl as a symbol of her life and powerful folk magic. The owl helps comfort Antonio which ties into the theme by helping him decide what he wants to be.
    -Imagery: Antonio encountering the golden carp.
    -Foreshadowing: When Antonio hears a voice of the river which foreshadows that the peacefulness is about to end.
    -Magical realism: The author portrays the realistic story of Tony coming of age and figuring out his future and combines that with the fantasy of the Ultima.
    -Mood: The mood of the novel is very curious in which Antonio keeps wondering about himself and his future.