OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS WE BEGAN A MYTHOLOGICAL and psychological analysis of the novel Like Water for Chocolate. Besides reviewing some basics relating to Jungian psychology (Dr. G. Boeree’s essay on Jung and this approach), we also watched parts one and two of a documentary on Jung’s personality theory. This week students will complete a personality assessment from the book Finding the Hero Within, through which they identified their core archetypes. This week, we finish our reading of the short—albeit excellent—Mexican novel about a woman’s survival of a crushing and abusive relationship with her mother (and how her culture saves her) via her heroic journey ala Joseph Campbell.

MONDAY

Writing a descriptive analysis of comfort-food (or an emotional response to food from your life). We will briefly discuss Three-Kings Cake and then begin work on “September” in LWFC.
HW: Read chapter ten.

TUESDAY

Today, students will write about a positive family memory that is associated with an important food (one that carries cultural or other significance). We will then have a writing day, in class, about the most important, least obvious lesson in The Ramayana.
HW: Finish writing your response to the Ramayana question.

WEDNESDAY

Short discussion of chapter nine, adding to your myth/psych charts on Tita’s life experiences. Then turning to chapter ten, “October.” How is Tita’s emotional and psychological chaos mirrored in the literal world of the Ranch? Then turning our focus to the parallels between John’s nurturing of Tita and Tita’s nurturing of Pedro. We will also examine the destructive force of the chicken-tornado and her dissolution of her relationship with John.
HW: Read chapter eleven.

THURSDAY

Writing day. Adding to your analysis of The Ramayana by including personal narrative.
HW: Read chapter twelve.

FRIDAY

Examining food from our novel.
HW: None. Have a restful break. When you return from break, I will collect and grade annotations from LWFC, and we will workshop in small groups our essays on The Ramayana.