The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao 

• Genre: Fiction; contemporary; magical realism 
• Originally Published: 2007 
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 1010L; College/Adult 
• Structure/Length: Approximately 335 pages; approximately 9 hours, 53 minutes on audiobook
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The protagonist, Oscar Wao, is a larger-bodied Dominican American, self-proclaimed nerd, and aspiring writer. The central conflict revolves around Oscar’s experiences with love and family as he struggles with acceptance and a curse that has plagued his family for generations. The story is set against the backdrop of Dominican history and dictatorship. 
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of dictatorship and violence; explicit language; sexual content; exploration of cultural identity and diaspora

Junot Díaz, Author 

• Bio: Born in the Dominican Republic in 1968; raised in New Jersey; known for his distinctive blend of Spanglish, erudite references, and street slang; explores themes of immigration, identity, and the Dominican diaspora; his works are noted for their vivid characterization and cultural commentary 
• Other Works: Drown (1996); This Is How You Lose Her (2012) 
• Awards: National Book Critics Circle Award (2007); Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (2008); Anisfield-Wolf Book Award (2008)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Use of Fantasy and Science Fiction to Explain Generational Trauma
• Dominican American Identity in the Late-20th Century
• The Damage Caused by Personal and Political Masculinity

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Gain an understanding of the literary, sociocultural, and historical contexts of the novel.
• Discuss paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of The Use of Fantasy and Science Fiction to Explain Generational Trauma, Dominican American Identity in the Late-20th Century, and The Damage Caused by Personal and Political Masculinity.
• Think creatively about the novel’s lively style by writing a narrative that makes use of “code switching.”
• Evaluate the themes, symbols, and motifs of the play in structured essay responses on the cultural incongruities of the Dominican diaspora, the representation of masculinity in the novel, and other topics.