A Place Where the Sea Remembers

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Consider the dichotomy between the words tradition and modernity. How are these two words different? How do they work in tandem?

Teaching Suggestion: This question invites students to consider the theme of Tradition Versus Modernity from a theoretical standpoint. For Benitez, these two dichotomous terms exist in tandem; as one pushes, the other pulls. Individuals in the community of Santiago must navigate their daily lives negotiating this relationship. You may wish to revisit this question after students have read Chapters 1-5, asking for examples. For instance, characters must manage superstitions in the form of religious and spiritual traditions while also falling prey to the economic lure of modernity and financial prosperity. Ultimately, the character of Remedios functions as the sole link to Santiago’s cultural history who is able to resist the temptation of modernity, and understands the cyclical nature of Life and Death.

• This article from the 2008 edition of the Revue Française de Sociologie discusses the dichotomy of tradition and modernity in an academic study exploring European values.
• This article from Cornell International Affairs Review explores this dichotomous pair in the light of Mexico’s history.

2. Consider some of the effects of economic instability on populations. How does economic instability affect politics and society in different countries?

Teaching Suggestion: This question is related to the main Activity and segues directly to the Short Activity. The question orients students with the socioeconomic context of the novel: struggling communities in Latin America. Benitez uses the community of Santiago to explore the variety of ways in which economic instability is woven into the culture and daily lives of many people living in Mexico. For the majority of the characters in the novel, money is a concern, as they are worried about feeding their families, keeping their jobs, and providing for those they love. However, Benitez does not bring these problems to the forefront of the novel; rather, they function as shadows that linger over the characters. In doing so, Benitez focuses her plot on the tragic circumstances that different characters experience through the lens of magical realism.

• This article from the University of Texas explores the sociodemographic effects of the economic crisis of the mid-1990s in Mexico. 
• This paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research explores the effect of the financial crisis in Latin America on Mexico in the late 20th century.

Short Activity

Author Sandra Benitez’s work is considered to be an example of magical realism. Working in small groups, research and identify one example of literature from the magical realism genre to share with the class. In your presentation, discuss the background of the author, a summary of the plot, and the inclusion of relevant themes such as Tradition Versus Modernity, Life and Death, and Preserving the Memories of Others. Be sure to include relevant visuals, media clips, and excerpts of literature in your presentation.

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Activity invites students to explore the subgenre of magical realism within the context of group work. The links below may be used for both context, as well as a starting point in their research. This Short Activity connects with the first Full Essay Assignment.

• Masterclass.com’s article “What Is Magical Realism?” both explains the characteristics of the subgenre and provides suggestions for important novels in the genre.
• Penguin Random House shares a compilation of magical realist authors and their works in “Magical Realism Books You Need To Read.”

Differentiation Suggestion: For a more geographically-focused exercise, this Short Activity can be amended to focus on authors from Latin America. In this vein, the following question can be added: What is the function of magical realism as a subgenre of realism in the context of Latin American literature, and how is this particular story an example?

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

Consider the dichotomy of the stages of Life and Death. Are these concepts in silos, or are they related? How do different cultures view life and death? How does the preservation of memory link with these two words?

Teaching Suggestion: This prompt invites students to consider the themes of Life and Death and Preserving the Memories of Others in their own understanding. Benitez approaches the cyclical and transitory states of life and death with the importance of preservation in memory. Benitez’s narrative speaks to the fact that as humans, we are not in control of who dies and who lives; however, we are in control of how we preserve the memories of those we love after they are no longer with us. This prompt segues to the Discussion/Analysis Prompt.