88 pages 2 hours read

Tomás Rivera

And The Earth Did Not Devour Him

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1971

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Answer Key

Chapter 1

Reading Check

1. “[L]ost” (Chapter 1)

2. He is calling himself in the dream. (Chapter 1)

Short Answer

1. The boy finds himself lost in his thoughts, feeling that there is “no way out.” (Chapter 1)

2. He delays telling his mother that he drank the glass of water that she leaves out for the spirits. (Chapter 2)

Chapters 2-4

Reading Check

1. That “he is fine” and will be “returning already next month” (Vignette 2)

2. “[A] little medallion of the Virgen de San Juan del Valle” (Chapter 3)

3. Utah (Vignette 3)

4. Check hair for lice (Chapter 4)

5. The cemetery (Chapter 4)

Short Answer

1. After forbidding his employees to take unmandated breaks for water, the boss becomes angry when he sees one of the child workers disobeying him. He tries to scare the child by firing a warning shot, but then accidentally kills the boy. He “got off free” for his actions. (Chapter 2)

2. Chapter 3 is written in the style of a prayer to God.