Ready Reference Treatise: Bless Me, Ultima

By Raja Sharma

“Bless Me, Ultima” by Rudolfo Anaya was first published in 1972. It is considered to be one of the most widely read and critically acclaimed novel in the Chicano literary canon.

The story of the novel revolves around the young protagonist, Antonio Marez y Luna. The protagonist describes the story of his coming of age with the guidance and help of his mentor and protector, Ultima.

The novel is frequently used as a tool to introduce the students of schools and colleges to multicultural society.

The story is set in the 1940s in rural New Mexico. It shows Chicano culture. The author very skillfully uses Spanish use of cultural motifs and recounting of folkways. By presenting the scenes of the gathering of medicinal herbs, etc. the author succeeds in acquainting the readers with indigenous cultural ways which happen to be quite distinct from the mainstream culture and society.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raja Sharma
• Release date: Feb 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301966004

Raja Sharma

Raja Sharma is a retired college lecturer.He has taught English Literature to University students for more than two decades.His students are scattered all over the world, and it is noticeable that he is in contact with more than ninety thousand of his students.

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Ready Reference Treatise: Bless Me, Ultima

Raja Sharma

Copyright

Ready Reference Treatise: Bless Me, Ultima

Raja Sharma

Copyright@ 2013 Raja Sharma

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Chapter One: Introduction

Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya was first published in 1972. It is considered to be one of the most widely read and critically acclaimed novel in the Chicano literary canon.

The story of the novel revolves around the young protagonist, Antonio Marez y Luna. The protagonist describes the story of his coming of age with the guidance and help of his mentor and protector, Ultima.

The novel is frequently used as a tool to introduce the students of schools and colleges to multicultural society.

The story is set in the 1940s in rural New Mexico. It shows Chicano culture. The author very skillfully uses Spanish use of cultural motifs and recounting of folkways. By presenting the scenes of the gathering of medicinal herbs, etc. the author succeeds in acquainting the readers with indigenous cultural ways which happen to be quite distinct from the mainstream culture and society.

The book Bless Me, Ultima is considered to be the author’s best known novel. It was awarded the Premio Quinto Sol award. It was also included in the twelve classic American novels which were selected for The Big Read in the year 2008. The Big Read happens to be a community reading program which is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts.

The book was also included in the list of the United States Academic Decathlon in the year 2009.

The book remains controversial and challenged because some of its content is violent and contains sexual references.

The book was able to gain academic respect for Chicano literature. It is said to be an important and nonderivative type of American literature.

Bless Me, Ultima has been prescribed in the course of study in many schools and colleges in the Asian countries like India and Pakistan.

Chapter Two: Plot Summary

The story is set in Guadalupe, a small town in New Mexico. It covers the time period just after the Second World War.

Antonia Marez y Luna is generally called Tony. He begins to narrate his story with the help of the memories of his adult life. He goes back to his childhood and reflects and describes the process of his growing up.

The author takes the help of the basic structure of the Bildungsroman to create a story from the child’s point of view of good and evil, of life and death, of myth and reality. All these things challenge young Tony’s beliefs about God, his family and his fate. In his young age Tony happens to be quite skeptical.

Ultima happens to be and aged and wise member of the community. She is a highly respected woman, and Tony’s parents respect her too.

Tony’s progress in learning about life happens to be grounded in Ultima. Tony has a very special relationship with Ultima. She was the midwife when Tony was born.

She continues to pass her knowledge and wisdom to Tony throughout the story.

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