LAC - Rebellion and Resistance Lesson

Rebellion and Resistance

Revolutionary Beginnings

The Pre-Columbian years and the Golden Age of the Mayans come to an end as Columbus discovered the Americas, and the Colonial Period began for Latin American Literature. Spain was the first European power to colonize areas in the Caribbean and South America, and the Catholic religion was spreading due to the power of Spain. Spanish cities were founded beginning in 1496 in the areas now called Latin America. Therefore, literature was often in the hands of the church, and the Latin American novels appeared in the 19^th Century.

In this lesson, literary nonfiction and poetry will be the genres of literature revealing the theme of Resistance and Rebellion. Click here to access the Genre Term Reference Sheets. Links to an external site.

Historical Nonfiction

As the revolution begins, Captain Bernal Diaz del Castillo participated in the conquest of Mexico. He writes his first-person narrative about his experiences with the conquest of Latin America. Francisco López de Gómara published a book that did not provide the true story of real warriors on both sides. Díaz del Castillo's account at least partly tries to describe the conquest as a battle fought by courageous soldiers against fierce warriors. Written to reveal the truth, Castillo's account highlights the themes of this unit: Resistance and Rebellion.

The following piece of literature belongs in the literary nonfiction genre and is part of a memoir. A memoir is an account of a personal experience of an author. Therefore, when reading a memoir, notice the facts and intimate details that the author provides from the personal account during the particular event.

The previous two microlessons have provided some practical and theoretical ideas about literary merit. In this micro lesson, we will look at two literary devices that are almost always present within works of literary merit: ambiguity, and irony.

Reading Assignment: Castillo Memoir

Click here to read chapters from "Castillo Memoir." Links to an external site.

While reading note how the informational text provides insight into the history of Rebellion and Resistance of the Latin American people.

History of Rebellion Self-Assessment

See what you've learned in the following interactivity.

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