Plot Overview

Briefly, but using the entire space, discuss the plot,

conflict, and rising action to summarize the plot.
Use your own words.

About the Author

Include important information about the author. You
may want to include what inspired them, other
works they have written, significant life events, what
time period he or she wrote in, and how the time
period influenced the writing.

The book starts with the present time of

Alvarez was born in the United States, then moved
Dede being interviewed about the truth
back to Dominican Republic when Trujillo was the
about her sisters. Until Minerva meets a dictator. Her own father was involved in the
underground, but left the Dominican Republic just 4
girl at her school that all the men in her
family were killed by Trujillo, she starts to months before the Mirabal sisters were
assassinated. Returning back to the United States,
have different judgement of him. At first, Alvarez had trouble with English for being raised in
no sister could understand Minerva and a Spanish speaking country for 10 years. She said
the experience, having to work harder than the
her problem with Trujillo until the family
goes to his party. Minerva insults Trujillo, other kids in language arts, made her become a
writer. After 5 years of traveled across the country to
so he imprisoned her father for a few
teach creative writing classes, she settled down into
weeks. Later, Minerva and Maria got
a tenured job. In 1991, she published her first novel
How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents. Her first
arrested but soon were released after
turned out to be successful, so she quit her
Trujillo forgive them. On their way to visit novel
tenured job and works at Middlebury College
their husbands in jail, they were attacked (private liberal arts school).
by Trujillos henchmen. Their death were
Historical Context
recorded as accidents, but only Dede
Include information on the time period, social,
survived out of the four sisters. In the
economical, cultural, and other significant
influences that characterize this novel.
Epilogue, Dede talks about what really
happened to her sister's death before
The book is a historical fiction with real
the funeral.
people and real events. A
political/underground movement started
in 1950s called Las Mariposa, started by
Minerva, to go against Trujillos
dictatorship in the Dominican Republic.

Novel Notes
In the Time of the
Butterflies
Julia Alvarez
Estefania Villicana-Albanil
25 Sept. 2015

Essential Quotes
Add two quotes that capture the essence of the
novel. Be sure to cite the quotations properly.
This is certainly one reason why Dede shies from
these interviews. Before she knows it, she is setting
up her life as if it were an exhibit labeled neatly for
those who can read: THE SISTER WHO
SURVIVED (Alvarez 5).
A chill goes through her, for she feels it in her
bones, the future is now beginning. By the time it is
over, it will be the past, and she doesnt want to be
the only one left to tell their story (Alvarez 10).
Add Work Cited Here:
http://www.juliaalvarez.com/about/

Character Analysis

Identify each major character in the novel.

Describe the most import traits that characterize
this person. (Speech, Thoughts, Effects on other,
Action, Looks)

Themes
Identify and analyze some of the significant themes
in the novel.

Motifs and Symbols

Identify and interpret some of the major motifs and
symbols in the novel.

Bravery: Everyone in the book found Religion: This is a huge impact in the

courage to go against Trujillo. Minerva,

story, especially with Patria.
she was inspired by girls from her school
Patria: The oldest sister, she is very
that has been affected by Trujillo.
religious and spiritual. Joined the underground
Eventually, she got encourage and took
movement later in the story, because she
couldnt understand Minervas problem with the stand to fight for whats right. Without
politics and she had a family to take care of.
Minerva, La Mariposa wouldnt exist if
she wasnt brave enough to go against
Mariposa: Meaning butterflies in
Dede: The only survivor of the night of the Trujillo.
assassination. She is very responsible and
Spanish, what Minerva named the
reliable. Stops being in the movement after her
political party to overthrow Trujillo's
sister's death, because she doesnt want to put Justice/Freedom: The citizens of
dictatorship in Dominican Republic.
her family in danger.
Dominican Republic are all under
command. When people started
Minerva: The motivator of the family. She Trujillos
joining the movement, they represented
inspired a lot of people to take a stand and take
freedom and justice. Thats what the
risks. She also started the political movement
story is about, fighting for justice and
to come up of Las Mariposa to overthrow
Trujillo and the way he ran Dominican Republic. getting their natural rights as humans
back.

Maria Teresa: The baby of the family,

she is the most playful. Joins the rebellion after

meeting Leonardo (before they got married).

Trujillo: The dictator of Dominican

Republic for three decades. Rules with anger

and fear. Everything always had it to be his
way.