¡Viva Las Mariposas! Voice and Agency in In the Time of the Butterflies

Students will examine how Julia Alvarez structures her historical fiction novel and gives voice to the four Mirabal sisters as they come of age under Trujillo's dictatorship in the Dominican Republic. 

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ELA

Unit 4

9th Grade

Unit Summary


In an interview with the National Endowment for the Arts, Julia Alvarez quotes German novelist Novalis who writes, "Novels arise out of the shortcomings of history." In Time of the Butterflies arises out of the incredible true story of the four Mirabal sisters–Minerva, Patria, María Teresa, and Dedé–young women who came of age during the dictatorship of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo in the Dominican Republic.
Alvarez moves beyond the myth of the sisters to depict them as real women with their own individual motivations, desires, and reasons for becoming revolutionaries, or not.

To begin the unit, students will read an informational text on Trujillo's rise to power and eventual demise, establishing some of the historical context of the novel. For the most part, though, students will learn about life during Trujillo's regime through the novel, considering the emotional impact of learning about events through historical fiction and characters rather than hard facts. 

While reading the novel, students will analyze its nonlinear structure and narrative point of view. With each chapter being told from a different sister's perspective, students will examine how and to what end Alvarez creates a distinct voice for each sister. Through their individual thoughts and actions as women living in a patriarchal society and under an oppressive dictatorship, the Mirabal sisters will push students to think about what courage is and how it can be displayed in the face of adversity. 

After reading the novel, students will complete a Performance Task in which they rewrite a scene from the point of view of a different Mirabal sister, channeling her voice and emotions while reimagining events from her perspective. Finally, students will read Alvarez's short essay "Butterfly Power," using it as inspiration to research a woman/group of women who are using their voices to create change in the world. Through this project, students will not only see that the legacy of the Mirabal sisters is alive and well but also contemplate how they can use their own voices to tell important stories.

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Texts and Materials


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Core Materials

Supporting Materials

Assessment


This assessment accompanies Unit 4 and should be given on the suggested assessment day or after completing the unit.

Key Knowledge


Intellectual Prep

Unit Launch

Before you teach this unit, unpack the texts, themes, and core standards through our guided intellectual preparation process. Each Unit Launch includes a series of short videos, targeted readings, and opportunities for action planning to ensure you're prepared to support every student.

Essential Questions

  • What is courage? How can we display courage in the face of adversity?
  • How does gender impact an individual's roles and responsibilities in society?
  • What is the importance of memory/storytelling to both an individual and society?
  • How does an author use structure and narrative point of view to create meaning?

Vocabulary

Text-based

adamant admonish blithely brazen cajoling chide circumscribed commemoration curt desecrated despot frivolity gallantly genial homage imperious impertinent imported ingenuity intone incarnation ingenious indignant infiltrate monolithic narcissism oracle peevish pervasive posthumous proprietary resolve reticence salvation sacrilege seductive sinister succumb subservient tenuous transcendence veritable vehemence wistful

Literary Terms

allusion epistolary format epilogue first person frame narrative historical fiction imagery literary foil motif narrative point of view second person structure symbol third person third person limited third person omniscient tone voice

To see all the vocabulary for Unit 4, view our 9th Grade Vocabulary Glossary.

Notes for Teachers

Trujillo was known for his heinous human rights violations, including the torture and murder of anyone who challenged his authority. In addition, he was notorious for preying on young women, drugging and raping them. He orchestrated the murder of the Mirabal sisters, an act that was motivated by their gender. The novel alludes to and/or depicts Trujillo's sexual harrassment, sexual assault, torture, and violence. As always, preview the content ahead of time, and be mindful of the diverse experiences your students bring with them into the classroom and how the unit content might impact them.

Lesson Map


Common Core Standards


Core Standards

L.9-10.1
L.9-10.5
RI.9-10.2
RI.9-10.3
RI.9-10.7
RL.9-10.1
RL.9-10.2
RL.9-10.3
RL.9-10.4
RL.9-10.5
RL.9-10.9
SL.9-10.1
SL.9-10.2
SL.9-10.4
SL.9-10.6
W.9-10.1
W.9-10.2
W.9-10.3
W.9-10.4
W.9-10.5
W.9-10.7
W.9-10.8
W.9-10.9

Supporting Standards

L.9-10.1
L.9-10.2
L.9-10.3
L.9-10.6
RI.9-10.1
RI.9-10.2
RI.9-10.10
RL.9-10.1
RL.9-10.3
RL.9-10.4
RL.9-10.5
SL.9-10.1
SL.9-10.6
W.9-10.4
W.9-10.5
W.9-10.6
W.9-10.9
W.9-10.10
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Unit 3

Power, Justice, and Culpability: Of Mice and Men and The Central Park Five

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Unit 5

Gender and Power in The Taming of the Shrew

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