The following questions are taken from your blog posts…
On Secrets
Do you think more content from Rigoberta’s cultural identity/traditions would have helped this mission? Or does its exclusion help clarify the deeper message of her stories.
Did the idea of secrets and lies affect the story’s ability to resonate with you? Did it cause you to get wrapped up in the guessing game of secrets?
What do you think the significance of her choosing to tell us that she has chosen to keep this secret is?
On Truth and Errors
How did knowing this detail (errors in the story) affect your reading and take away?
If some events are lies, does that change your whole perspective on content? Would you consider the author a liar, or would you still have a strong attachment to her?
How “credible” did you think Menchú’s book is, in terms of objective credibility? Not in terms of historical accuracy, per se, but more on how credible the book felt to ‘you’. Were there any parts of the book that seemed to indicate bias? Should we even care about objective credibility when engaging in biographical works such as this?
Does the revelation that some of the stories in the book were fabricated leave you feeling “betrayed” or does it make the reading experience more captivating? How do the distortions and exaggerations of events impact your reading experience?
After hearing about the contradiction between Rigoberta’s account and the people who looked into the background of Rigoberta, how has the feelings towards her story changed for you? Do you believe her, and what is you take away from the novel now that this has come to light?
How much do you think matters that all the details are true, given the genre of the book? Do you think it should be disclosed if some parts are stretched from the truth? Would that undermine the whole narrative?
On Religion
What did you think about Menchú’s relationship with religion? Did it surprise you? How do you think this impacted her outlook and struggles throughout her life experiences dictated in the novel?
How does one separate Christian doctrine from the heinous colonial acts done in the name of Christianity? Is this possible? Why or why not?
What do you make of the questioning of her faiths at the end of the book?
On Indigeneity
Do you know of any other Indigenous communities that have been or are facing discrimination similar to what Menchú describes in the book?
What did you think of the mentality that Menchú’s Kiché community has, in always being prepared for death, are there any other situations that this mentality can be applied to, such as in stressful events?
Do you think the oral tradition is respected or maintained by the book? Why? Why not?
On Struggle and Resistance
Do you think that if members of her family hadn’t died she wouldn’t have become as big of an activist like this?
Do you think the community’s culture, hard work ethic, and the oppression they faced started Menchú’s path to becoming a leader and activist? What are some examples of oppression, events or characters you thought of that shaped Menchú into taking on a leadership role?
What aspects about Rigoberta’s way of “fighting” back were the most interesting to you? And also, do you find it important for not only university students in a Latin American literature class but also students in general to read this book?
How do you think Rigoberta Menchú was able to push through the grief she experienced in her life and continue to be an activist?
If you’ve every experienced an injustice, how could you turn it into a greater cause without writing about it?
What kind of power / how much power does the act of personal storytelling hold?
On Language
Disconnect between languages is a recurring problem in this book. What does using Spanish as a lingua franca symbolize as a result? Why is Menchú reluctant to learn Spanish?
In what ways does the language of the autobiography articulate, but also hold captive, the stories authors try to tell?
On the Curriculum
What do you think the importance is of having read ‘testimonios’ or first-hand accounts of indigenous peoples’ experiences? Do you think more books like this one should be implemented into the school curriculum? Why or why not?
Even though the truth of the novel has been brought into question, do you think that the novel should be mandatory reading, like what Stanford did?
On Impact
Was there one element of Rigoberta’s testimony that most emotionally struck you? Were you surprised by her ‘positive’ approach of such heavy topics?
What part of the text was the most shocking/eye-opening for you?
How did the book make you think about the world we live in, and the privilege we have in society? Did it make you reflect on your own positionally?
Do others feel that this book changed their mind on any major points, or did it just reinforce or augment existing beliefs?
Do you think this book and Rigoberta’s life story contributed to raise awareness about the indigenous rights movement in Guatemala at an international level? How?
In what ways do you think this book may have contributed to discourse on human rights? How does Menchu portray memory throughout her testimonio?
On the Introduction
Did you think that reading the introduction affected the way you read the rest of the book (i.e. Rigoberta’s voice)?
Do you think Rigoberta Menchú and Elisabeth Burgos-Debray were as close as the introduction would lead us to believe?
Other
What did you think of what Rigoberta and her mother have to say about machismo?
Which family member’s death do you think had the most impact on the story and Rigoberta?
Some blog posts mention Mama Blanca’s Memoirs when trying to digest this week’s blog post. Are there similarities and/or differences that you noticed, and is there one you prefer over theother?
Is it essential for cultures to blend and come together? How can this be done in a way that still preserves traditional values and beliefs?
What was your favorite quote from the book and why?
Was this your first time reading a testimonio from this time period/region? If not, how did I, Rigoberta Menchu, compare to what you have read in the past?
What was the biggest conflict you felt Menchu overcame to progress the influence of her voice?
What do you think the significance of that ending paragraph is?
Do you think Menchú was in the wrong when she told her “own” stories of the indigenous communities facing oppression and being silenced?