The+Brief+Wonderous+Life+of+Oscar+Wao

by Junot Diaz

Discussion Time: 2W, Friday January 14, 7:55-9:25


 * Discussion Facilitator:** Peter Z


 * Participant's Names:** Matt H, Sarah G, Peter L, Peter Z, Janet L

El Jefe (Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina)

Oscar- "Ghetto Nerd" Overweight. Obsessed with Fantasy and Sci-Fi. Lola- Oscar's sister. Bad relationship with Mom. Belí- Mother of Oscar and Lola. Raised by La Inca after family was killed when she was very young. Trujillo- Dictator. Sexual desire for young girls. Abelard- Father of Belí and Jaquelyn. Killed before Belí was born because he would not "give" Jaquelyn to Trujillo and negative things he said about Trujillo. La Inca- Cousin of Abelard. Raised Belí as a mother figure after her family was killed. Jaquelyn- Oldest daughter of Abelard. Ybón- Older prostitute that Oscar develops a relationship with. Yunior- Narrator. Oscar's Rutgers roommate and boyfriend of Lola. Ana- Girl in Oscars SAT class that he grows to love. She rejects him. Manny- Abusive boyfriend of Ana. Olga- One of Oscar's first two girlfriends. Both ended quickly and none of the three have been successful in love since. Martiza- The other of Oscar's first two girlfriends. Jack Pujols- A person who Belí has a crush on, later a relationship. Constantina- Friend of Belí. Brings her to a club where she meets Gangster Ganster- Gets Belí pregnant. Also husband of "La Fea" "La Fea"- Sister of Trujillo. Orders forced abortion upon Belí getting some police out to field and beat her.
 * Characters:**

- Switches between English and Spanish - No quotation marks used on dialogue - Slang/swears used - Side notes made in smaller font (tell of history and relative details) - Many chapters written about different characters in the book. First few give background information
 * Writing Style:**

New Jersey and Dominican Republic 5-20 years ago Story dates back to Trujillo era in Dominican Republic
 * Setting:**

The importance of superstition in (Dominican) society: Fukú (The Curse and the Doom of the New World) and Zafa (The counter-spell of the fukú)
 * Themes/Motifs:**

The consequences and danger of Love.

The role of Race in (Dominican) society.

The importance of manliness/masculinity in their society.

Why does the author, Junot Díaz, make Oscar's death so predictable and undramatic when the whole novel leads up to it? The mongoose and a faceless man are mentioned at important times during the story to different characters. What do you think they mean?
 * Clarifying Questions**:

Told by author from his perspective Gives reader historical information about DR (footnotes) Sometimes switches to perspective of other characters (first person) ex: Lola recounts running away and schooling in DR
 * Narration**:

Beli getting beaten by Dominican officers The speech Oscar gives shortly before he is beaten to death (page 321)
 * Significant Passages**:


 * Discussion protocols:** introduction/conclusion commentary--for example, you might ask everyone to bring and share a comment about a passage they chose to open the discussion, or each take a different character and respond. We don't suggest planning every moment of the discussion or adhering to a strict protocol for the whole 90 minutes, but some ideas to start or options to go when a discussions stalls can be very helpful.

**Outside Sources:** http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/04/books/04diaz.html - New York Times book review

http://web.ebscohost.com.prxy2.ursus.maine.edu/ehost/detail?hid=122&sid=3b014105-bfd4-4d24-bdbc-c06734e58d68%40sessionmgr112&vid=3&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=f5h&AN=52289871