All Flashcards
What is the meaning of 'Asimilación'?
Assimilation: The process of adapting or adjusting to the culture of a group or nation.
What is the meaning of 'Marginalización'?
Marginalization: The process where a group or individual is pushed to the edge of a society and prevented from participating.
What is the meaning of 'Resiliencia'?
Resilience: The ability to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
What is the meaning of 'Barracón'?
Barracks: A building or set of buildings used to house a large number of people, often soldiers or laborers.
What is the meaning of 'Usureros'?
Usurers: People who lend money at unreasonably high rates of interest.
What is the meaning of 'Quimera'?
Chimera: An illusion or fabrication of the mind; an unrealizable dream or hope.
What is the meaning of 'Sierra' in the context of the poem?
Mountain range, specifically referring to the Sierra Maestra, a hideout for revolutionaries in Cuba.
What is the meaning of 'Versos Libres'?
Free verse: Poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular meter.
What is the meaning of 'Rebelarse'?
To rebel: To resist authority or control.
What is the meaning of 'Sublevarse'?
To revolt: To rise in rebellion.
What is the meaning of 'Capitales'?
Capital: Wealth or resources.
Explain the use of first-person narration in 'Mujer Negra'.
The poem uses first-person narration to give a personal and intimate account of the narrator's experiences, making the themes of identity and oppression more impactful.
How does the use of free verse contribute to the poem's meaning?
The lack of a set structure reinforces the theme of freedom and liberation, mirroring the narrator's journey from slavery to revolution.
What is the effect of repetition in the poem, particularly in phrases like 'Nuestra la tierra'?
Repetition emphasizes collective ownership, unity, and the shared struggle of the people.
How does Morejón use imagery to convey the narrator's experiences?
Imagery such as 'barracón' and 'Sierra' creates vivid pictures of the narrator's past as a slave and her involvement in the revolution, respectively.
Explain the use of symbolism in the poem, particularly the symbol of birds.
Birds symbolize newfound freedom and liberation from oppression.
How does the poem's language reflect the narrator's evolving identity?
The language shifts from describing her experiences as a slave to asserting her role as a revolutionary, reflecting her reclaiming of identity.
What is the significance of short verses in the poem?
Emphasize her rise from oppression.
How does the poem use contrast to highlight the theme of liberation?
By contrasting the narrator's past experiences of slavery with her present involvement in the revolution, the poem emphasizes the theme of liberation.
What is the effect of using simple language in the poem?
The simple language makes the poem accessible and relatable, emphasizing the universal nature of the themes of oppression and liberation.
How does the poem use rhetorical questions to engage the reader?
Rhetorical questions, such as those about her African origins, prompt the reader to reflect on the narrator's search for identity and roots.
Explain the use of the past tense in describing the narrator's experiences as a slave.
The use of the past tense highlights the historical context of slavery and emphasizes the narrator's journey from that past to a present of revolution and freedom.
What is the significance of the year 1886 in Cuban history?
Slavery was finally abolished in Cuba.
What role did Fidel Castro play in Cuban history?
Led the Cuban Revolution, promising equality and worker ownership, gaining support from the poor and freed slaves.
Why is the Sierra Maestra significant in the context of the Cuban Revolution?
It served as a hideout and strategic location for the revolutionaries.
What does the poem suggest about the impact of the Cuban Revolution on formerly enslaved people?
It offered them hope for equality and liberation from oppression.
What does the reference to possible African origins (Guinea, Benin, Madagascar, Cabo Verde) signify?
Highlights the narrator's rediscovery and awareness of her African heritage.
What is the significance of the narrator having 'no name' for her son during slavery?
Symbolizes the dehumanization and loss of identity experienced by enslaved people.
What does the act of the narrator bringing stones to build the 'barracón' symbolize?
It shows the forced labor and suffering endured during slavery.
How does the poem connect to the broader theme of 'Sociedades en Contacto'?
It explores the oppression and marginalization experienced by Black women in Cuba due to colonialism and slavery.
What is Nancy Morejón's focus as a writer?
Politics, history, and Afro-Cuban identity.
What is the significance of the poem being written in 1975?
It reflects the post-revolution era in Cuba, where there were attempts to address racial inequalities and promote Afro-Cuban culture.
What is the significance of Diego Velázquez in Cuban history?
He colonized Cuba in 1511, marking the beginning of Spanish colonial rule.