Chapter 7-8 (section 2) Summary

Chapter 7: In the beginning of the chapter, America, is waiting in front of the post office for Candido. As she waits for him, she starts to analyzes the people who walks passes her. From teenagers to adults, her eyes become fond of how different the culture really is. The man who had offer him a home, had stolen all his money and beaten Candido up. He comes back to America, hoping to die. Stranded thousands of mile away with no money, they find whatever they can at the trashcans.  
Chapter 8: In the start of chapter eight, Delaney is talking about the seasons of California and how it always changes.  Later that day, he escorts Kyra to the Das Ros house. On the other hand, Kyra is in a good mood to let anything ruin it. After leaving hte Das Ros house, Delaney and Kyra heads to the supermarket, to buy all the found for visiting guest. They get a free turkey because they had spent more than $50. On the other side, Candido and America returns to their camping site. At the camping site, America does not want to cook and is fed up. The next day, Candido was able to buy food for his family and receive a free turkey as well. After showing America, the big turkey, shes is ecstatic and can not wait to cook it.

Chapter 4-6 (section 3) Vocabs

Chapter 4: 
Scourge: Whip or lash 
Incorrigible: Bad beyond correction 
Pantomimed: Act or technique of conveying emotions
Veranda: Large open. porch 
Tumult: Violent and noisy commotion 
Defiant:Boldly resistant 
Rigid: Long, narrow elevation of land 
Surge: Strong, wake like, forward movement 

Chapter 5: 
Pallid: Pale , because of health 
Scat:  Go away; leave
Noxious: Harmful; deadly 

Chapter 6: 
Ritualistic: Killing of a 
Belligerent: Hostile and aggressive
Exasperated: irritated intensely 
Defied: Refuse to obey
Gait: A persons manner of talking 

  

Chapter 1-3 Background information (section 2)

Chapter 1: 
-Delaney was at the desert, where he got his car stolen 
-Delaney goes to his dealership in hopes to find his car
*Delaney, getting his car stolen causes tension and conflict throughout the book. He changes his perspective on anyone who is not white, because he assumes that he had stolen his car. 
Chapter 2: 
-After successfully getting a job at the construction place, Candido counts his own luck
*He is grateful for being able to get a job at the construction, but doubts how long he could keep this job because he was a temporary replacement 
* Candido also, realizes in this chapter that America, is getting bigger and bigger with her pregnancy but he does not have any stable job or real home for her and the baby. 
Chapter 3: 
* Exposes what Americans believe should happened to Mexicans
*Does not trust anyone out of the community and wants to build a wall to keep immigrants away

Chapter 8 summary (Part 1)

The last chapter of part one, shows Candido waiting for America, in front of the supermarket. At that moment, he is concern about where America is but he knows that the supermarket, is the only place America would go looking for him. After waiting for a while, he finally gets re-united with America. America, was getting out of Sherilyn's car. At the same moment, he feels ashamed. He is ashamed that his wife has to work for money for the family. It was a man's job to be the provider of the family, not the wife. As they got back to their camp site, America and Candido enjoy a wonderful night, uplifting their spirit. The next day, they both awoke early to head towards the labor exchange. At the exchange, America, got work early and left with Jim. Jim takes her back to his house, where she continues to clean Buddhas. Out of no where, her hands started burning and she need to pee real back. Taking her chances, she rushes to the bathroom. After work was done, Jim drops her off and gives he $25. She then waits for Candido, hoping he got work. After waiting for a while, she heads down to the camp site, where she runs into Jose. Knowing she is in danger, she rushes up the hill. A tragic occurs when Jose catches her and rapes her. She is then traumatized and tells Candido. 

Vocabs for Chaper 3 part 1

Chapter 3:

Ubiquitous: Presenting, appearing, or found everywhere

Allot: Give or apportion to someone as a share or task

Desertification: Fertile land becomes desert

Scuffed: Scrape or brush the surface against something

Clatter: continuous rattling sound as of hard object

Abhorred: Regard with disgust and hatred

Sapling: Dig a sap or saps 

Umbrage: Offense or annoyance

Mentum: Projection like a chin formed by the sepals 

 

The Tortilla Curtain Part || Vocab Ch. 7 - 8

Chapter 7: 
Apparition - Divide Calculate 
Penurious - Don't want to spend money
Frenetic - Widely excited or active 
Diminutive - Extremely small in size, tiny 
Innundate - To flood, to overflow 

Chapter 8:
Recrimination - An accusation 
Voyeur - Obsessive 
Blithely - Care free, nonchalant 
Venal - Open to bribery 
Myopia - Lack of long range perspective 

Tortilla Curtain Part 2 Questions Ch. 4-6

Chapter 4:
1. From the past events, how do you feel about Delaney? Why?
2. If you were in America's position, what would you do if you were pregnant without a stable home?
3. Why does Candido stop looking for a job?

Chapter 5:
1. How many times has Delaney been married?
2. What is strange about Kyra and Delaney's concern about the dog in the car?

Chapter 6:
1. Why does Delaney accuse the man of stealing? (Race, Gender)
2. How successful is Kyra for being a real estate agent?

The Tortilla Curtain PART 2 Chapters 1-3 Summaries

Chapter 1

          The Tortilla Curtain part two opens out with Delaney going to the Acura dealership to get a new car. He is able to get a car that looks like his stolen car; Kenny Grissom, the Acura salesman, tells him that Mexicans are the ones that always steal cars, Delaney dislikes Kenny Grissom because his personality. He then drives his new car to an Indian restaurant and meets up with Kyra for lunch. They discuss plans to build a new, taller fence for their backyard. As they're discussing this Delaney has the urge to tell Kyra that losing his car has mad him upset and resent Latinos. As they were leaving the restaurant Kyra notices a dog that has been mistreated then she goes onto confront everyone in the restaurant asking about the car; after a while she leaves forgetting about the dog in the green jeep and goes on with her day by working at the office. Meanwhile, Delaney tries to create a "mouse trap" for Latinos and anyone that tries to steal his car. After closing at the office Kyra checks up on the fencing going on at her house and notices Candido's injuries and realizing that he's the man that Delaney hit with his car.

Chapter 2 

          

          Candido is extremely proud of himself for being able to get a job at a reconstruction place although the pay is extremely low he imagines the future him and America can have if he saves up his money. As Candido's and America's lives were looking up, they soon realized that someone tipped the immigration off and officers were looking for them. Candido and America got away from the officers and now lived at Topanga creek. Candido realizes that wherever they are living, he can't give America the life that they dreamed of. He is reminded of that every time he looks at her because he sees that she is week and pregnant. 

Chapter 3 

          Delaney and Kyra continue to discuss the issue of the gang of Mexicans; Kyra informed Delaney that she showed Mike Bender the problem and convinced him to use his connections to get the gang out of the area. Delaney at first stunned by the news soon excepts it and gives it heavy thoughts. Delaney and his friends soon exchange stories and crimes about the hispanics, and brain storm a way to prevent the crimes from happening. He soon discovers that they tell him this because they want to build a wall around Arroyo Blanco. He puts deep thought into building the wall and wonders what would happened if all the Mexican immigrants would survive with that wall up. As Kyra, Jordan, and Delaney continue on with their day Delaney notices a horrific sight on Kyra's face; he turns around and finds a coyote back in their year after Osbert. The coyote grabs the dog and runs across the fence so fast that the little dog's life cannot be spared. 

Background Info Chapter 8

The Coyote - Recurrent motif throughout the novel, at the same time one of the strongest symbols of 
immigrant

Construction of "The Walls" - A physical barrier keeping people and cultures apart 
(Stonewall & gate installed in order to protect community against immigrant and criminals)

Opossum - Candido's dinner, believes it taste like wet rat

"Pilgrim at Topanga Creek" - monthly column for a nature magazine called Wide Open Spaces

Arroyo Blanco Community Center - White stucco building with an orange tile roof and features a kitchen, a wet bar, a stage, a P.A. system, and seating for two hundred people 

Chapter 4,5,6 Tortilla Curtains Question

Chapter 4:

1. Why does America return mad?

2.Who was Candido married to before America? What relationship does his ex-wife and America have?

3. What does Candido hear, after drinking water in the stream?

4..What are America's experience at the labor exchange?

5.Who is Candelario Perez?

Chapter 5:

1.What does Delaney admit to Kyra?

2.What sense does Kyra uses, to analyze the houses she sell?

Chapter 6:

1.Why does America snap at Candido?

2.How much money does America make for working six hours?

  

Vocabulary; Chapters 5, 6, & 7.

Chapter 5:

p. 63 rancid: rotten; strong scent

p. 68 consummate: ultimate; best

p. 69 nuance: slight difference 

p. 71 haggard: worn; weak

p. 72 auspicious: encouraging; favorable 

                                                      Chapter 6:

p. 81 irremissible: required; necessary 

p. 84 insinuating: provoking doubt 

p. 85 tepid: lukewarm 

p. 86 perpetual: continue; lasting 

p. 94 truncated: shorten


Chapter 7: 

p. 99 detonation: explosion 

p. 100 erroneously: wrongly; defectively 

p. 105 perverse: mean; troublesome 

p. 105 obliterated: eliminated 

p. 105 vacillation: irresolution 

Tortilla Curtain Chapters 1 & 2 Questions

Chapter 1

1. If you were in Delaney's position would you have handled the situation in the same way?
2. What are the pros and cons of his decision?
3. Do you think he will get caught?


Phuong Ha
1. No, I would have gotten Candido help instead of giving him money because the feeling of guilt would haunt me. 

2. The pros of his decision is that he got rid of the problem just by handing over money to Candido because he did not ask for anything else; also, Delaney was not sued because handing over money was a simple action to take considering the fact that Candido could not sue him because he was afraid of getting deported. The cons are that he would not have known if Candido got any help and would have to live with that guilt; also, karma would get him back for the action he has taken as result of the accident. 

3. Yes, I think he will get caught because since he is injured he brings even more attention to himself. 

Chapter 2

1. Put yourself in Candido's shoes, would you have gone to the doctor?
2. Why did America seek work?
3. Why does Candido not approve of her working?

Phuong Ha
1. No, I wouldn't have. I wouldn't have gone because if people had found out I was an immigrant, I would have to suffer being injured along with getting deported because there was a low chance I was going to get any help at all. 

2. To help Candido since he was injured; but also to help him succeed in living the life they had planned to live together. 

3. Candido wants to feel like he can provide for America and doesn't want America to be suffering the way he does trying to find a job. 

Chapter 8 & 9 Vocabs

Chapter 8

Innumerable: Too many to be counted

Inexplicable: Unable to be explained or accounted for.

Indiscernible: impossible to see or clearly distinguish.

Armistice: An agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting for a certain time; a truce.

Incessantly: endlessly: with unflagging resolve

Vestibule: An enclosed entrance compartment in a railroad car.

Corroborate: Confirm or give support to

Forlorn: Pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely

Fortuitously: fortunately: by good fortune

Amorphous: Without a clearly defined shape or form

 Chapter 9

 Pasquinade: A satire or lampoon, originally one displayed or delivered publicly in a public place.

Surmise: Suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it

Ulster: A man's long, loose overcoat of rough cloth, typically with a belt at the back.

Indignant: Feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment.

Bulbous: Fat, round, or bulging.

Complacent: Showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements.

Deficiency: A lack or shortage

Interminable: Endless

Lustreless: Lackluster: lacking brilliance or vitality

Provincial: Of or concerning a province of a country or empire.

Raspingly: gratingly: in a harsh and grating manner

Commensurate: Corresponding in size or degree; in proportion.

Tortilla Curtain Chapter 3-4 Questions

Chapter 3:
1. What does America eat instead of Protein?
2. List the differences between the lives of the Mossbachers and the Rincons.
3. Explain the "gate debate" that occurred at the Homeowner's Association meeting.

Chapter 4:
1. What causes Candido to feel hope again?
2. How much money has Candido and America saved up and what did they plan on doing with that money?
3. What were some reasons Candido did not want to go back to Mexico?

Tortilla Curtain Summary 1 & 2

Chapter 1:
T. Coraghessan Boyle, the writer of The Tortilla Curtain begins the novel with a huge accident involving Delaney Mossbacher, a white man, hitting a Hispanic person with his car; this causes a significant dilemma throughout the novel. Considering the fact that the person Delaney hits is Hispanic, they have a difficult time trying to communicate with each other. The Hispanic man and Delaney finally managed to communicate; the Hispanic man leave Delaney confused as he requests for money instead of going to see a doctor. After a couple of hours, Delaney continuously has flashbacks of the incident and finally comes to the conclusion that there is a chance that the Hispanic man he hit was an immigrant camping in Topanga State Park, that is why he did not want to go see the doctor.

Chapter 2:
This chapter changes the point of view of this novel; this novel is now being told in the point of view of the Hispanic man that got hit my Delaney, Candido Rincon. Having been hit with a car, he is overwhelmed with pain along with having to deal with his wife, America, and him not having a place to life. America finds her husband, Candido, while on her way to the bus stop and realizes that he is in excruciating pain. Still struggling with not calling a doctor America tries her best to maintain his blood, after several hours of nurturing him America has she leave to work; as much as it hurt Candido seeing America have to work because of his weakness he let her because she reminds him of their future in own a home and being stable in life.

Tortilla Curtain Background info

This book reaches into the struggles of middle class and immigrates trying to fit into a American Dream. A American dream, is the hopes of living in a world of freedom, equality, and opportunities. Millions of immigrates come from Mexico, Europe, and Asia for a better lifestyle. But when they come here, they are exposed to the struggles of fitting in. This book compares a American lifestyle, to a Immigrant who is trying to live the same lifestyle. The novel came out right after California's vote and rejection of Prop 187. Prop 187 was a bill that restricted immigrants from using public resources such as health care and free education.     

Chapter 8-9 summary

Chapter 8
After a day of misfortune, Nick rises, and goes over Gatsby's mansion. When he arrives, he warns Gatsby to leave long island but Gatsby refuses because he does not want to leave Daisy behind. He continues to ramble about his feelings towards Daisy and why he loves her. He states that Daisy was the first girl he felt a connection with even though he lied to her about his background. After Daisy and Gatsby made love, she promises to wait for him after he left the war but at the same time, she was married to Tom, who had everything going for him and her parents approval. Nick goes to his office and refuses to go on a date with Jordan Baker.Then the story shifts to what happens at the garage after Myrtle's death. The morning after the accident, the eye doctor looks for Tom, because he was knows who drove the car but he makes his way to Gatsby's house. When he gets to Gatsby house, he see Gatsby in his pool and shoots him. He dies instantly and then ends up shooting himself. Nick hurries back to Gatsby house and finds Gatsby dead in the pool. Nick then imagines Gatsby's last thought, and pictures him empty without Daisy.
Chapter 9
Money does not buy happiness. Two years after Gatsby's death, Nick writes about Gatsby funeral using exaggeration and untrue stories. Understanding that Gatsby does not want to hold a funeral alone, Nick arranges for a large funeral. As a result, only a few people attend, him, owl eyes, servants, and Gatsby's father. Gatsby's life, he was known for his wealth and glamorous parties that would occur every week. Hundreds of people would attend these parties. He was killed by Wilson because he thought he killed Myrtle but realistically, Daisy did. With all that money, he could not buy Daisy's love. The funeral was suppose to be as huge as his parties but when he loses everything, no one cares about him anymore. 

Chapter 8-9 Background Information

Chapter 8:
Eyes of T.J EckleBurg - Loss of spiritual values in America
The Green Light -  Gatsby's dream, which is Daisy
Valley of Ashley - Poverty & hopelessness; Farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills

Chapter 9:
Gatsby's Mansion - Justifies that from Gatsby living alone, the time period of 1920 was filled with emptiness; also Gatsby's love for Daisy
Green Breast - The light blinking across the bay that belonged to Daisy

      

Chapter 5,6 & 7 Background Information

Background Information

Chapter 5:

Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States.

Delicatessen is a term meaning "delicacies" or "fine foods". In English, "delicatessen" originally meant only this specially prepared food.

Clay's Economics is an introductory economics text, written by the British economist Henry Clay

Marie Antoinette born an Archduchess of Austria, was Dauphine of France from 1770 to 1774 and Queen of France and Navarre from 1774 to 1792.

Chartreuse is a French liqueur made by the Carthusian Monks since the 1740s.

A hydroplane (or hydro, or thunderboat) is a fast motorboat

Chapter 6:

Long Island is an island in the U.S. state of New York. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean

Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally demarcated Great Lakes of North America. 

Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. 

Bootlegging, is the illegal business of transporting (smuggling) alcoholic beverages where such transportation is forbidden by law.

Chapter 7:

Trimalchio is a character in the 1st century AD Roman work of fiction Satyricon by Petronius.

Bona fide definition, made, done, presented, etc., in good faith; without deception or fraud: a bona fide statement of intent to sell.

Coupe A closed four-wheel carriage with two seats inside and one outside. 2. A closed two-door automobile. 

The Plaza Hotel New York is a testament to timeless elegance.

Yale University is a private Ivy League research university located in New Haven, Connecticut.

Chapters 5, 6, & 7 Vocabs!

Chapter 5
Bleared (p. 87) : Make dim; blur
Demoniac (p. 92) : Possessed or influenced by a demon
Incredulously (p. 93) : Indicating; Showing unbelief 
Thatched (p. 93) :  Cover (a roof or building) with straw or similar material 
Meditatively (p. 94) : Given to; characterized by 

Chapter 6
Transpire (p. 97) : To occur; happen; take place
laudable (p. 97) : deserving praise; praiseworthy  
meretricious (p. 98) : Attractive w/ out integrity
ramification (p. 99) : an action that complicates a situation
senile (p. 101) : showing a decline or deterioration of physical strength or mental functioning lethargic (p. 106) : drowsy; sluggish; slow
dilatory (p. 108) : tending to delay or procrastinate; slow; tardy   

Chapter 7
caravansary (p. 114) : any large inn or hotel 
boisterous (p. 121) : rough and noisy; unrestrained   
precipitate (p. 125) : proceeding rapidly 
inquest (p. 136) : an inquiry; unexpected death

expostulation (p. 138) : the act of expressing protest
laden (p. 138) : burdened; loaded down
luminosity (p. 142) : the quality or condition of radiating or reflecting light 
rift (p. 144) : an opening made by splitting, cleaving, etc.