Luis Leal: “ In Search of Aztlán“ Study Questions

  1. What is criticism and what is the function of a critic?
  2. Leal traces the emergence of Chicano literature to which events?
  3. Why can’t Chicano literary symbolism be separated from Chicano cultural background?
  4. Why does 1848 seem to be such a seminal event in Chicano history?
  5. What is symbolism and how has it played a role in giving unity to the Chicano movement?
  6. Why is the black eagle of the Farm Workers of such importance as a symbol?
  7. What symbol helped to create Mexican nationality and independence?
  8. .Why is “the symbol…a sensory image..”?
  9. .What is the myth of Aztlán and why is it important in Chicano Literature?
  10. How does the Mexican flag reflect the origins of the Mexican people?
  11. .In the search for Azatlán what did the emissaries of Moctezuma I have to do ?
  12. .What is the “Spiritual Plan of Aztlán” and why is it important to the Chicano Movement?
  13. .Who is Alurista and what is his connection with Aztlán?
  14. .What is the connection between Azatlán and peregrinos?
  15. .Leal feel that in order to find Aztlán what must Chicanos do ?
  16. .Define and/or identify the following:

Albuquerque

Aztecs

Cede

César Chávez

Coatlicue

Cuacuhtémoc

Father Miguel Hidalgo

Huitzilopochtli

Literary symbols

Linguistic

Literature

Myth

New Mexico

Pilgrimage

Luis Leal: “A HistoricalPerspective”

  1. Why does Leal argue in favor of establishing a historical perspective for Chicano literatura?
  2. What is meant by a Chicano Renaissance as used by Phillip D. Ortega?
  3. Why is Chicano literature referred to as a “living organism”?
  4. What is meant by approaching Chicano literature from a Chicano perspective?
  5. Why does Leal think that to consider Chicano literature as part of American literature is an object “too idealististic for the time being”?
  6. Does Leal think that Chicano literature is a branch of Mexican literature, if so why, if not why not?
  7. What do Octavio Paz and Jose Vasconcelos have to say about Mexicans in the United States?
  8. What does Paz have to say about the Pachuco?
  9. Why is it believed that the attitude toward the Pocho by Mexicans has changed?
  10. What is Edward Simmens definition of a Chicano and why does he think that Chicano literature is of a recent origin and how does this differ from the position of Luis Davila,Herminio Rios C. and Luis Leal?
  11. What are the five literary periods that Leal sets forth for Chicano literature?
  12. The first period is characterized by what types of writing and why does Federio De Onis argue that it does not belong to Spanish Literture?
  13. Why does Menendez Y Palayo argues that Spanish American literature had its origins..”in the contemplation of a new world….”?
  14. What types of popular literature of Mexico were brought to the Southwest by early settlers from Mexico?
  15. What was one of the early Spanish American writings in California?
  16. What is the importance of Corridos and folktales according to Leal?
  17. Define the following terms, places, names and events:

Genres

reainissance

perspective

conversant

Plight

Echo

curanderos(a)

derogatory

ambivalent

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