Daughter of Invention

by Julia Alvarez pg 663-674

Vocabulary:
 Innumerable – too many to count
 Provoke – to make angry
 Tentative – uncertain; hesitant
 Reconcile – to reestablish a close relationship

Author's perspective - the viewpoint he/she expresses in a piece of literature. An author's perspective is
often disclosed through characterization.

Characterization:
EX: "...She did not want to go back to the old country where she was only a wife and a mother (and a
failed one at that, since she had never had the required son)."
-by suggesting that the mother might feel like a failure for giving birth to only girls, the author may be
expressing a critical view of the old country and its values.

1. How would you characterize the mother based on the first paragraph? (pg 664)
-The mother believes that men invent the "important things" and women can only do lesser things.The
tone may be sarcastic; as she disagrees with the traditional view of women and their capabilities.

2. How is the family's existence in the Dominican Republic characterized (what is the author saying
about the Dominican Republic?)
-fear and terror. The author might be criticizing the government at that time.

Historical Context:
Rafael Trujillo was the dictator of the Dominican Republic. In the twentieth century the US became the
major investor in Dominican sugar, cocoa, and bananas. This investment allowed the US to maintain
political control over the island. However, the US left the country in the 1920's leaving Trujillo in charge
of the Dominican National Guard. Trujillo then ran for president and dishonestly claimed 95% of the
vote. Once in power he terrorized all opponents and established his own military service (MIS)...

Theme: What is the general observation about life or human nature expressed in the story?
 America provides everyone with an equal opportunity to be independent
 Success comes through hard work
 Everyday provide a new experience or opportunity

Cultural Context: Recognizing distinctive characteristics of other cultures through reading. Why would
the father invoke his authority and forbid the speech to be given?
-In his family and as defined by his culture, he is the ruler. Once he speaks he must be obeyed etc.

Making Inferences: draw inferences and support them with textual evidence and experience.

1. Why wouldn’t the narrator have yelled Chapita at her father if she had thought about it? (pg 672)
-Chapita was the nickname of the dictator that made life miserable in the Dominican Republic, and the
man responsible for the deaths of the father’s brothers and friends… calling him Chapita would anger
and hurt him… BUT the father is feeling fear for his child because what would have happened to her in
the Dominican Republic if she had presented her speech (he cannot separate the two places in his mind
and he’s just trying to protect her). It was mean…

Real World Link:

Read the article If You Build It by Debra Phillips and Cynthia E. Griffin on pg 679 and write a brief
summary of the information.

 Young inventors can find ways to acquire a patent for their product without having to spend
their own money. List the ways…

What is the main idea of the article? (Make an inference based on stated facts and logical guesses)
-Although the patent process is expensive, there are ways for a young inventor to get a patent without
spending too much money.

Idioms
What is an idiom?
An idiom is a combination of words that has a figurative meaning, due to its common usage. An
idiom's figurative meaning is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of
which it is made.

Examples of common idioms: http://www.idiomsphrases.com/

Barking up the wrong tree

Looking in the wrong place. Accusing the wrong person.

Bite off more than you can chew

To take on a task that is way too big.

Let the cat out of the bag

To share information that was previously concealed.

Steal someone's thunder

To take the credit for something someone else did.

Best thing since sliced bread

A good invention or innovation. A good idea or plan.